In celebration of the highly successful anime film 'Ghost Cat Anzu,' an original art exhibition featuring the characters will be held at Penny Lane in Harajuku, Tokyo, from August 1 to 7. In addition to displaying the original art from the anime, exclusive merchandise with illustrations drawn by the manga’s creator, Takashi Imashiro (64), will be available for purchase. Furthermore, on August 3, Imashiro will hold a talk event and signing session. The unique collaboration between the legendary Showa-era cafe bar Penny Lane, which made waves in the 70s and 80s, and the popular anime 'Ghost Cat Anzu,' spanning the Heisei and Reiwa eras, is expected to generate significant buzz.

'Ghost Cat Anzu' is a Japanese-French co-produced animation based on the manga of the same name by Takashi Imashiro. The film is directed by Yoko Kuno and Atsuhiro Yamashita, with actor Mirai Moriyama voicing the titular ghost cat, Anzu. The film has already been screened at the 77th Cannes International Film Festival's Directors' Fortnight and the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2024, where it has received high praise.

At Annecy, the film was shown in the Grand Hall of the Bonlieu Theater, the festival's largest venue, with tickets selling out in advance. Director Yamashita remarked during the stage greeting, "This film features many quirky characters (laughs), and I hope you come to love them." Director Kuno reflected on a cherished memory from the previous year’s Work in Progress session, where she shared five cuts of Anzu with the enthusiastic audience. She expressed her joy at watching the entire film with the audience and the creators of Anzu, resulting in a standing ovation after the screening.

As the film hits theaters nationwide starting on the 19th, the original art exhibition and talk event/signing session by Imashiro were planned to coincide with this release. Penny Lane, the venue for the exhibition, is known as a folk music landmark in Harajuku, immortalized by singer-songwriter Takuro Yoshida's famous song "Bourbon at Penny Lane." According to the organizers at For Life, the event was swiftly planned in conjunction with the gallery cafe’s recent reopening, creating a notable event that bridges eras and connects with the world.

Takashi Imashiro’s manga 'Ghost Cat Anzu' was serialized in Kodansha’s popular monthly children’s manga magazine 'Comic BomBom' from 2006 to 2007. The story follows the everyday life of Anzu, a ghost cat who has adapted to human society. A sequel titled 'Ghost Cat Anzu: Wind and Cloud Chapter' began serialization on 'Comic DAYS' in July this year.

The film has received high praise from many notable figures, including film director Shunji Iwai, manga artist Fusako Kuramochi, anime directors Rintaro and Kenji Iwaisawa, scriptwriter Ryo Takada, and actress Atsuko Maeda.

The character original art exhibition will be held from August 1 to 7, with the talk event and signing session by Imashiro scheduled for 2:30 PM on August 3.

Source : ORICON NEWS