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Masaaki Yuasa's Ride Your Wave Anime Film Video Shows Characters Singing Theme

TOHO began streaming a promotional video for director Masaaki Yuasa and Science SARU's Ride Your Wave (Kimi to, Nami ni Noretara) anime film on Wednesday. The video previews the main characters Minato (played by Ryota Katayose) and Hinako (Rina Kawaei) singing the theme song "Brand New Story."

The film will open in Japan on June 21. The film will also compete in the Features category at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, which will run from June 10-15 in the French community of the same name.

Ryota Katayose (pictured upper left in image above) of GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE will play Minato Hinageshi (upper left), a fireman with a strong sense of justice. On land, he can handle any task. The film will be Katayose's first voice acting role. He loses his life in an accident at sea, but he can appear again thanks to Hinako's song. Rina Kawaei (lower right) will play Hinako Mikaimizu (upper right), a college student who loves to surf. She has a bright and carefree personality but lacks confidence in her future.

Honoka Matsumoto (pictured lower left in image above) will play Yōko Hinageshi (upper left), a curt and blunt high schooler and Minato's younger sister. Kentaro Itō (lower right) will play Wasabi Kawamura (upper right), a cheerful rookie fireman who looked up to Minato before Minato passed away.

The love story follows Hinako, a college student who moves to a coastal town. She loves surfing, and when she's on the waves she's fearless, but on land she has trouble riding the waves of life. When a fire wreaks havoc in the town, Hinako encounters a firefighter named Minato. Minato can handle almost any task on land, but is a beginner at surfing. As they surf and spend more time together, Hinako feels drawn to someone like Minato who devotes himself to helping other people, and the two start a relationship. However, Minato loses his life in an accident at sea. Despondent, Hinako sings a song about their memories together, and Minato appears again from the water.

Reiko Yoshida (Lu over the wall, A Silent Voice, Liz and the Blue Bird) is writing the film's script, and Michiru Ōshima (Patema Inverted, The Night is Short Walk On, Girl) is composing the music. GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE is performing the theme song "Brand New Story."

Machi Kiachi ('Shōjo, Tokimeki ni Shinu,' Dekiai Kiss) launched a short manga inspired by the film in Shogakukan's Deluxe Betsucomi magazine in February. The manga is two chapters long with a total of about 80 pages. The manga depicts an original story of Minato and Hinako's first meeting.

Kimi to, Nami ni Noretara will be Yuasa's first new work since The Night is Short Walk On, Girl, Lu over the wall, and DEVILMAN crybaby.

Sources: Kimi to, Nami ni Noretara film's website via Ota-Suke