Interest
Studio Shaft's Ikebukuro Tourism Anime Premieres Online
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
The city of Toshima began streaming the full-length version of its promotional anime short for the Ikebukuro district on Thursday. The fantastical 4-minute short was animated by studio Shaft, the same studio behind the Monogatari anime series, Nisekoi, and Madoka Magica, and directed by key animator Yukio Takatsu.
The anime's story takes place in the year 2020, near the Hareza Tower building plaza. This is an area under development currently but is expected to be completed by 2020. A girl gives chase to an owl she sees in Ikebukuro. The owl then transforms into a boy named Fukurō (voiced by Shōta Aoi) and takes the girl on a colorful, high-flying ride through the district.
The main owl character was designed by Yuru Sōma, the winner of a pixiv contest. The winning design (pictured right) was adapted for the anime by Akio Watanabe (Monogatari anime series). Yukio Takatsu directed the anime and Reiko Yoshida (Liz and the Blue Bird) penned the script. Kenta Higashiōji composed the music.
The tourism anime is the result of a partnership between Toshima's local government and Animate, whose head office is located in Toshima. Both parties hope that in creating the anime, they can establish another pilgrimage site in Ikebukuro.
