Live Action Film Directed by AKIRA`s Katsuhiro Otomo Source: Barbican Centre Special Thanks to Laura Bushell, Sarah Harvey Publicity JAPANIMATION: MUSHISHI Tuesday 28 October
The third season of Japanimation returns with the latest live action movie by Katsuhiro Otomo, creator of the manga and anime movie classic AKIRA. MUSHISHI is based on the manga that inspired Revelation Films` current hit anime series of the same name. The manga, created by Yuki Urushibara and serialized in Kodansha`s Afternoon magazine from 1999-2008, has sold over 3 million copies. In 2006, it was nominated for the Kodansha Manga Award. The MUSHISHI film stars Joe Odagiri (SAD VACATION), Nao Omori (MIDNIGHT EAGLE), Makiko Esumi (PISTOL OPERA), Yu Aoi (HULA GIRLS), and Reisen Lee. The movie had its world premiere at the 2006 Venice Film Festival, and in January of 2007, MUSHISHI (under its alternate English title BUGMASTER) had two sold-out screenings at the Sundance Film Festival. Here Barbican Film presents two episodes from the series before the feature in this Mushi-fest introduced by anime expert and author Helen McCarthy (The Anime! Movie Guide, Hayao Miyazaki: Master of Japanese Animation, and founder of the magazine AnimeFX). MUSHISHI (15) (Japan 2006, Dir. Katsuhiro Otomo, 131 min) Director: Katsuhiro Otomo; Screenwriter: Katsuhiro Otomo; Executive Producer: Eiji Izumi; Art Director: Noriyoshi Ikeya; Costume Designer: Keisuke Chiyoda; Cinematographer: Takahide Shibanushi; Screenwriter: Sadayuki Murai; Executive Producer: Sunmin Park; Editor: Souichi Ueno; Composer: Kuniaki Haishima; Sound/Sound Designer: Yoshiya Obara; Producer: Satoru Ogura; Co-producer: Kiyoshi Inoue; Executive Producer: Kiyotaka Ninomiya; Visual Effects: Nobuaki Koga; Associate Producer: Yuji Kanda MUSHISHI brings the viewer into a dreamlike world where ghostly organisms called Mushi hover on the borders of perception. Neither plants nor animals, Mushi are primal life forms that possess the essential life force of the universe. Only a few human beings are able to see the mushi. A travelling mystical doctor, a `Bugmaster` named Ginko (Joe Odagiri), passes from village to village in the remote regions of Japan in an effort to learn more about these strange beings. Along the way, Ginko tries to help people who are suffering ill-effects for their encounters with the Mushi while trying to maintain a respectful relationship with the supernatural creatures.
MUSHI-SHI (15) (Japan 2005, Dir. Hiroshi Nagahama, 50 min) Planning: Yoshiro Kataoka, Yoshiaki Matsumoto, Yoshito Takaya; Executive Producers: Haruki Nakayama, Kenji Shimizu, Atsushi Suzuki; Director and Series Composition: Hiroshi Nagahama; Screenplay: Aki Itami, Kiniko Kuwabata, Yuka Yamada; Character Design and Chief Animation Director: Yasuhiko Umakoshi; Art Director: Takeshi Waki; Director of Photography: Yuki Hama; Music: Toshio Masuda; Music Producer: Yukifumi Makino; Sound Director: Kazuya Tanaka; Sound Production: Delphi Sound; OP and ED Director: Ichigo Sugawara; Production Manager: Noboru Ishiguro; Executive Producer: Hidenobu Watanabe; Production Cooperation: ADK; Producers: Yoshiaki Tamura, Hiroyuki Oizumi, Shin Hieda; Animation Production: Art Land; Production: Mushishi Production Committee (Marvelous Entertainment, Avex Entertainment, SKY Perfect Wellthink) Barbican will screen episodes 1 "Green Seat" and 3 "Tender Horns" of MUSHI-SHI. The acclaimed anime TV series ran for twenty six episodes in 2005-06. In 2006, MUSHI-SHI was awarded the grand prize for best television series and best art direction at the 5th Tokyo Anime Awards. The Barbican Centre is the largest multi-arts centre in Europe, featuring art, film, music, theatre, dance and education all under one roof. It is located on Silk Street, London EC2Y 8DS. For more information check the Cinema Hotline at 0845 120 7527. Ticket Prices: Book online and save up to £2 off every ticket! Standard: £7.50 online (£9.50 full price) Barbican Members: £6.50 online (£7.50 full price) Concessions: £7.50 Under 15: £4.50
