1982-2002 series centers on boy who awakens hidden powers within him

The agency of novelist Baku Yumemakura posted a picture on Twitter on Monday to reveal that filmmaker Mamoru Oshii will adapt Yumemakura's Chimera novel series for the screen. The photograph is of the 13th Chimera volume Datenshi-Hen (Fallen Angel Metamorphosis, shown right), which shipped in Japan on Wednesday.

The announcement does not specify if the project will be animated or live-action, nor does it specify if the project is planned for film, television, video, or another format. It also does not specify if Oshii will direct, write, or produce the project.

The series centers on Kō Ōtori, a normal high school student who experiences a repeating dream of being eaten by a beast from inside himself. When Kō meets Reiichi Kuki, the elite student who rules his school, the encounter awakens hidden powers inside him.

Yumemakura published the first volume in the series in 1982. The first bunkobon edition of the series had 16 volumes from 1982 to 2002, and the series was re-released in a larger tankōbon edition in eight volumes from 2000 to 2002. Asahi Sonorama published both editions, and illustrator Yoshitaka Amano drew the front covers. Asahi Shimbun Publications is currently publishing a new edition of the series with cover art by Katsuya Terada, while Kadokawa is publishing another separate edition with covers by Shirow Miwa.

Yumemakura is a prolific writer, whose works have been adapted into manga, anime, and live-action. These works include Kurozuka , Onmyoji , Amon Saga , Psycho Diver: Soul Siren , and Majyugari , among others. He has written manga such as The Summit of the Gods , and Garoden .

Oshii is known for writing and directing numerous animated films, original video anime (OVA), television anime series, and live-action films. His early career included directing the first original video anime, Dallos. He also directed Urusei Yatsura 2: Beautiful Dreamer, Angel's Egg, and several Patlabor projects.

The 1995 science fiction animated feature Ghost in the Shell led him to international critical and commercial success. After the success of Ghost in the Shell, Oshii was involved in various projects such as Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, Blood: The Last Vampire, and The Sky Crawlers.

Oshii has worked on live-action projects in the past, such as The Last Druid: Garm Wars , the The Next Generation -Patlabor- project, and Nowhere Girl . He directed the hybrid live-action/CG micro-series "Sand Whale and Me" at Production I.G, which debuted on Adult Swim's Toonami block in March 2017.

Thanks for Gwyn Campbell for the news tip

[Via @RENATOLOGY (Renato Rivera Rusca)]

Update: Corrected language about Oshii's live-action works. Thanks, Arale Kurashiki.