Yuasa's 1st film with original story is slated for May 19 in Japan

Director Masaaki Yuasa announced on Thursday that he is working on a new original anime film titled Yoake Tsugeru Lu no Uta ( Lu over the wall or "Song of Lu who Informs the Dawn"). The film is slated to open in Japan on May 19.

Yoake Tsugeru Lu no Uta is Yuasa's first anime film with an original story. The story takes place in a harbor town where a gloomy middle school student named Kai meets a mermaid named Lu.

Tani Kanon and Shōta Shimoda are starring in the film as Lu and Kai, respectively. Shin'ichi Shinohara plays Lu's father and the comic duo Chidori play fishermen. Other cast members include Akira Emoto as a grandfather, Sōma Saitō as Kunio, and Minako Kotobuki as Yūho.

Yuasa is directing the film at his Science SARU studio, and is collaborating with Reiko Yoshida (Non Non Biyori, Tamako Market) on the script. Yōko Nemu ( Gozen 3-ji no Muhōchitai ) is providing the original character designs, and Nobutake Ito (Kaiba, Ping Pong) is adapting the designs for for animation and serving as animation director. Hiroshi Ohno (Wolf Children, Strawberry Marshmallow) is serving as art director, Eriko Kimura (The Tatami Galaxy, Ponyo) is serving as sound director, and Batisto Perón is serving as director of photography. Abel Góngora (Garo the Animation) and Juan Manuel Laguna (Garo the Animation) are handling Flash animation. Takatsugu Muramatsu (When Marnie Was There) is composing the music. Eunyoung Choi (animator on Kick-Heart and Ping Pong) is serving as producer.

Kazuyoshi Saitō is performing the theme song "Uta Utai no Ballad."

Toho began streaming a trailer for the film. The video begins by showing some of Yuasa's earlier anime, including his upcoming Yoru wa Mijikashi Arukeyo Otome film that is slated to open on April 7.

Yuasa revealed last month that he had another project in addition to Yoru wa Mijikashi Arukeyo Otome slated for this spring.

Source: Comic Natalie via Kevin Cirugeda