Anime films that strongly connect with history leave a mark. The viewers get to experience the moments or the surroundings in action even when the plots are fictitious. Moreover, it enriches our minds with knowledge, but not like a documentary.
Sunao Katabuchi’s ‘The Mourning Children: Nagiko and the Girls Wearing Tsurubami Black’ also seems to share a part of Japanese history with all of us.
On Sunday, Studio MAPPA revealed more details about the film ‘Tsurubami-Iro no Nagiko-tachi’ (The Mourning Children: Nagiko and the Girls Wearing Tsurubami Black). These include the title above, a teaser visual, and a ‘behind-the-scenes’ video.
The behind-the-scenes video shows certain elements, including video storyboard for the film. At first, the style of the outfit is researched, followed by recreating the bamboo torches to see in the night. Next, the color dyes and the intricacies of the garment are observed when the person kneels or prostrates.
‘Tsurubami’ refers to the color of the acorns of the kunugi (sawtooth oak), which resembles a dark mouse. The color is dyed with boiled juice, resulting in the color used for mourning clothes in ancient times.
The film has been in development since 2017. Its story is set in 10th Century Kyoto featuring an epidemic, and when Sei Shōnagon, a historical figure wrote ‘The Pillow Book’. The author will also appear in the film as a character, along with the characters Koretada, Tokinaka, Chikatada, and Takaie.
The voice cast for the film has not been revealed as of now. However, the main staff members that are working on the film have been revealed:
| Position | Staff | Other Works |
| Animation Production | Studio CONTRAIL | – |
| Director | Sunao Katabuchi | In This Corner of the World, Mai Mai Miracle |
| Screenplay | Sunao Katabuchi | In This Corner of the World, Mai Mai Miracle |
| Co-director (Assistant Director) | Chie Uratani | Princess Arete, Ushiro no Shōmen Daare |
| Chief Animation Director | Masashi Ando | Princess Mononoke |
| Art Director | Toshiharu Mizutani | Akira, Banana Fish |
| Music | Akira Senju | Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood |
The concept looks intriguing, but the story and the characters are not properly disclosed. The design in the visual looks like a light novel cover. We will have to wait for more visual content to know if it looks promising, but knowing Katabuchi’s past work, this should be good.
About The Mourning Children: Nagiko and the Girls Wearing Tsurubami Black
The Mourning Children: Nagiko and the Girls Wearing Tsurubami Black (Tsurubami-Iro no Nagiko-tachi) is an original anime film written and directed by Sunao Katabuchi.
The story is set in 10th Century Kyoto, when ‘The Pillow Book” was written by Sei Shōnagon, who will also appear as a character in the film. It will feature an epidemic.
Source: Official Website , Comic Natalie
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