Japanese studio Gonzo KK , best known
for iconic productions such as “Afro Samurai” and “Hellsing,” has
announced a new partnership with Oscar-winning director Peter Ramsey (Spider-Man:
Into the Spider-Verse) and American studio N Lite Animation to develop two
innovative anime productions. These projects, titled “Ripper” and
“Hotaru,” seek to break barriers in the anime industry and attract global
audiences through stories that explore universal themes of love, loss,
and cultural conflict.
The first of these projects, “Ripper,” is a noir
thriller set in post-war Japan and will be a combination of live-action and
anime-style animation. The story will follow two detectives in
pursuit of a serial killer who took the lives of the women they both loved,
exploring the cultural tensions and shared experiences between the
African-American and Japanese communities during World War II. Ramsey will
not only serve as executive producer, but also as co-writer on the project,
which is being developed by Samantha Inoue Harte, head of production at N Lite
Animation, along with writers Paul Alvarado-Dykstra and Rafael Antonio Ruiz. Viola
Davis and Julius Tennon’s JuVee Productions is also involved in the production,
adding even more weight to this high-profile international project.
Ramsey, who will also serve as executive producer on
“Hotaru,” expressed his excitement about the collaboration, highlighting the
importance of showcasing the historical and cultural intersection between
African Americans and Japanese in the context of the post-war period: “ It’s
an incredible time for anime in general, and as a true lover of the medium, I’m
eager to create something never seen before ,” he commented.
The second production, “Hotaru,” will be a science
fiction adventure series that tells the story of two warriors with magical
powers, united by love and sadness. Created by the
N Lite team, led by Inoue Harte, Alvarado-Dykstra and the company’s CEO,
Christiano Terry, this series seeks to capture the attention of anime fans with
its mix of fantasy and science fiction.
Christiano Terry, CEO of N Lite Animation, highlighted
that his company, a Tokyo-based studio, has a mission to build cultural bridges
and collaborate with industry legends like Gonzo. “ It’s an honor
that Ishikawa-san from Gonzo has decided to join us. Afro Samurai and many of
Gonzo’s classic titles are an inspiration for the work we’re creating today ,”
Terry said, highlighting his studio’s commitment to connecting fans around the
world with anime productions that fuse Afro culture with Japanese style.
Gonzo KK, known for creating the first anime with an
African-American protagonist in Afro Samurai, has found in this collaboration
with N Lite and Peter Ramsey an opportunity to continue developing inclusive
projects with international reach. According to Shinichiro Ishikawa, CEO of
Gonzo, these projects “ were conceived as inclusive international
co-productions for diverse audiences ”, and he was pleased with
the alliance, assuring that the projects “ demonstrate our
commitment to innovative narrative ”.
With this ambitious collaboration, Gonzo KK, Peter
Ramsey and N Lite Animation aim to revolutionize anime by offering a narrative
that combines noir, science fiction and historical context. , providing a
unique experience that will capture the interest of both anime fans and lovers
of cinema and animation worldwide.
Source: Variety
