The anime studio Madhouse officially announced on Friday that it resumed production on Yume-Miru Kikai , the unfinished last feature film from the late director Satoshi Kon ( Perfect Blue , Millennium Actress , Tokyo Godfathers , Paranoia Agent , Paprika ). Character designer and chief animation director Yoshimi Itazu ( Dennō Coil ) is now serving as "acting director," while Toshiyuki Inoue ( Blood: The Last Vampire , Blue Submarine No. 6 , Dennō Coil , Magnetic Rose , Paprika ) is now serving as joint animation director. Susumu Hirasawa ( Millennium Actress , Paprika , Paranoia Agent , Berserk ) will compose the music. Madhouse has not set the release date for the film.

Kon passed away on August 24 while he was working on his fifth feature film. Kon said in his final online message that he talked with MADHOUSE founder Masao Maruyama about his last film being incomplete. Kon said that Murayama assured him, "It's fine. Don't worry, we'll do whatever it takes."

Source: MyCom Journal

Update: More background information added.