A story about a young child who discovers himself through an unusual friendship may sound as old as E.T. and Shane, but that age-old setup has never looked the way it does in Jellyfish Eyes. The live-action feature-film debut of Takashi Murakami brings the acclaimed visual artist’s trademark aesthetic to a live-action world; your elementary-school years may not have looked like this, but all that imagination and moments of wonder feel familiar all the same.

Jellyfish Eyes premiered at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s Bing Theater, last April, and in theaters in Japan immediately thereafter. It’s now preparing to embark on an eight-city tour of the United States, starting at the Dallas Museum of Art on May 1 and wrapping up in San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum on June 5. The film’s official synopsis is below, and ticketing information for all locations is available at the film’s official site.

Jellyfish Eyes tells the story of Masashi, a young boy who moves to a sleepy town in the Japanese countryside with his mother in the wake of a natural disaster. After returning home from his new elementary school one day, Masashi discovers a flying jellyfish-like creature whom he befriends and names Kurage-bo. Masashi soon discovers that all his classmates have similarly magical pets, known as F.R.I.E.N.D.s, which are controlled by electronic devices that the children use to battle one another. Despite their playful appearances, however, these F.R.I.E.N.D.s turn out to be part of a sinister plot that will threaten the entire town.

Screening locations and information:

Dallas, TX – May 1 (Dallas Museum of Art)

Boston, MA – May 1, 10, 11, 12, 25, and 26 (Institute of Contemporary Art)

Seattle, WA – May 2, 3, 4 (Henry Art Gallery)

Washington, DC – May 22 (Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden)

Chicago, IL – May 25 (Museum of Contemporary Art)

Los Angeles, CA – May 30 (The Theatre at Ace Hotel)

New York, NY – June 1 (Film Society of Lincoln Center)

San Francisco, CA – June 5 (Asian Art Museum)