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Monster's Kojima, Madhouse Reveal Tibetan Dog Anime Film (Updated)
posted on by Egan Loo
The veteran anime studio Madhouse has revealed its plans for a new film tentatively titled Tibetan Dog (Tibet Inu Monogatari) at France's Annecy, the world's largest animation film festival. Madhouse plans to release the film in 2010 or later. Director Masayuki Kojima (Monster, Piano Forest), Madhouse President and CEO Jungo Maruta, and chief creative officer Masao Maruyama discussed the project during a 90-minute lecture program.
The three Madhouse representatives revealed that Tibetan Dog is based on a bestselling Chinese novel. The story recounts the coming-of-age of a boy from the cities who suddenly must live in Tibet. The film will highlight the natural beauty of Tibet and a Tibetan Dog breed known for its strength, size, and gentleness.
Shigeru Fujita (Monster) will design the film's characters, and Yūji Ikeda (Fushigi Yuugi, Saiyuki, The Heroic Legend of Arslan, Monster) will oversee the art. At last year's Tokyo International Anime Fair, Madhouse had revealed that Kojima was working on a film that would be a "creative milestone in international cultural exchange," and teased an image of a dog. Documents from the Index Holdings company had previously alluded to a new joint film project between Madhouse and the China Film Group Corporation. Madhouse's other upcoming films include Summer Wars, Mai-Mai Miracle, Yona Yona Penguin, and Redline.
Source: animeanime.jp
Update: Monster and 20th Century Boys manga creator Naoki Urasawa is drawing the original character designs for Fujita to adapt into anime.
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