Trailer: Visionary director Masaaki Yuasa’s ‘Inu-Oh’ combines theatrics from two distant eras

June 16, 2022

The latest trailer of the upcoming Japanese animated film “Inu-Oh” showcases the vibrant world of visionary director Masaaki Yuasa’s “revisionist rock opera.”

Taking place during 14th century Japan, the film follows a pair of performers — Inu-Oh, a masked dancer who has been afflicted by an ancient curse, and Tomona, a blind musician haunted by his past — who band together to stage electrifying large-scale concerts.

The duo and their performances are inspired by a classical Japanese form of theater called Noh, which is famed for its subtlety and expressiveness.

Similar to how Shinchiro Watanabe blended Edo-era Japan and hip-hop culture to create an unforgettable, unique atmosphere in his 2004 classic “Samurai Champloo,” Yuasa’s anachronistic interpretation of Noh theater promises to combine Bowie-esque theatrics with an ancient art form.

The film was released in Japan on May 28 and will have a limited release in the U.S. on August 12.

Feature image via GKIDS Films

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