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Marvel Studios Founder Arad Is Gamba CG Anime Film's Executive Producer
posted on by Egan Loo
Bōkensha-tachi Gamba to 15-Hiki no Nakama, the children's novel that inspired the 1975 television anime Ganba no Bōken (The Adventures of Ganba), is now inspiring a 3D CG anime film. Shirogumi Inc., the studio behind the 3D CG anime film Stand By Me Doraemon, is producing the Gamba: Gamba to Nakama-tachi (Gamba & Companions) film for release on October 10.
Atsuo Saitō's original 1972 novel is set in Yumemigajima, an island ruled by a fierce white weasel named Noroi. The town mouse Gamba and his friends fight to save the island's mice.
It has been 24 years since the last Gamba film, 1991's Gamba to Kawauso no Bōken (The Adventures of Gamba and Sea Otter, pictured left). Ryota Kosawa (live-action Always: Sunset on Third Street, Parasyte, Aibō, Legal High) is writing his first anime screenplay for the new film. Shirogumi Vice-President Yōichi Ogawa is serving as chief director and project planner, and Yoshihiro Komori (Rule of Rose PlayStation 2 game) and Tomohiro Kawamura (Ukkari Penelope) are jointly directing the film.
Marvel Studios co-founder and current Arad Productions producer Avi Arad (Spider-Man, Iron Man, X-Men, Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures) is serving as executive producer. According to Shirogumi President Tatsuo Shimamura, Arad saw the film and said that it may even come to North America. Benjamin Wallfisch (12 Years a Slave's additional music, opening sequence music in 2009's Moon) scored the music and conducted its performance by a full orchestra at London's famed Abbey Road Studios.
The film has been in planning for 15 years and in production for 10 years. It has a budget of 2 billion yen (US$16.7 million). As a 3D CG production, its designs for the main characters have undergone some changes compared to the television version. The production is casting the voice roles, and the cast will include members from the television series. In addition to Stand By Me Doraemon, Shirogumi worked on the 3D graphics for Tiger & Bunny and the animation in Etotama and Moyashimon.
Sources: Cinema Today, MyNavi News
