The
acclaimed anime film On-Gaku: Our Sound, directed by Kenji
Iwaisawa and based on the manga by Hiroyuki Ohashi,
returns to Japanese theaters with a special edition. This new version,
titled "Brush-Up Version", includes more than 200
scenes personally retouched by Iwaisawa over six months of work.
The special
screening will premiere on September 19 at Tokyo's Shinjuku
Musashinokan Cinema, coinciding with the release of the director's new
film, 100 Meters (Hyakuemu). For the occasion, Iwaisawa also
illustrated a commemorative poster.
From an
independent manga to an international phenomenon
The
original ON-GAKU manga was self-published by Ohashi in 2005,
and later collected by Ohta Publishing in 2009. The story follows a group of
young high school delinquents who, with no musical experience, decide to form a
rock band to impress their friend Aya, take on a rival gang and, above
all, discover the strength of rock and roll.
The film,
animated almost entirely by Iwaisawa and with the participation of
musician Shintaro Sakamoto in the lead role, offers a unique
proposal: an irreverent and minimalist comedy with an unforgettable musical
climax.
A tour
full of awards
Since its
release, On-Gaku: Our Sound has received significant
accolades. Among them are:
- Grand Prize for Animation at the Ottawa
International Animation Festival (2019).
- Award for Best Original Music
at the Annecy
International Animation Film Festival (2020).
- Noburou Oofuji Award at the Mainichi Film
Awards (2021).
- Grand Prize in the
Entertainment division at the Japan Media Arts Festival Awards (2021).
In Japan,
the film debuted in January 2020, peaking at #3 in the mini-theater
rankings during its opening weekend. In addition, the project was made
possible thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign carried
out in 2018, which exceeded its initial funding goal.
Legacy
of a different anime
On-Gaku:
Our Sound has
established itself as a cult work that demonstrates how the
spirit of rock can transform even the most unexpected characters. With
this new enhanced version, fans will have the opportunity to
rediscover the strength of their sound on the big screen.
