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I.G, Yuasa Offer More Kick-Heart Anime as Fundraising Goals
posted on by Egan Loo
The people behind the proposed Kick-Heart anime project are offering to make a second short film and even a feature film — if the project reaches two new, higher fundraising targets on the Kickstarter website. Director Masaaki Yuasa (Kaiba, Mind Game, The Tatami Galaxy) and the anime studio Production I.G are already planning to make a 10-minute love story about two wrestlers if they raise US$150,000 by October 31.
If the fundraising reaches the new "stretch goal" of US$400,000, the team will create a second 10-minute companion Kick-Heart short film. If US$1,000,000 is raised, Production I.G will create a Kick-Heart feature film. The team acknowledges, "This is a very ambitious goal, but if fans really want to make a crowd-funded feature animated film, we thought we would provide the option." All backers who pledged US$15 will receive any additional anime made.
The program's page describes the story:
Kick-Heart is a love story between Romeo, a successful pro-wrestler, and Juliet, a nun who lives a secret double-life as a female pro-wrestler. Romeo's secret is that he enjoys taking a beating in the ring, while Juliet feels invigorated when facing her opponents as a wrestler. When the two meet in the ring, the fireworks fly. Their story is set in the colorful backdrop of the professional wrestling world. Will Juliet reveal her true identity to the one she loves? Will Romeo be able to share his secret to the world?
The project lists Mamoru Oshii as a project consultant. Animator Michio Mihara is designing the characters, and Eunyoung Choi is the color key artist. Kevin Aymeric is handling the backgrounds.
The team posted new artwork alongside the new stretch goals on Friday:
Image © 2012 Production I.G
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