Anime director Yutaka Yamamoto, also known as Yamakan, recently announced a new perk for fans who participate in the crowdfunding for his upcoming anime film Hakubo (Twilight). Fans donating more than 500 yen would receive the utmost privilege of Yamakan unblocking them on Twitter.

However, Yamakan was forced to remove the reward in less than a day, as the crowdfunding platform refused to allow it. Skeptical fans also speculated that it would be very in character for Yamakan to unblock them and then immediately reblock them.

The remaining rewards include special character illustrations with a handwritten thank you note from character designer Sunao Chikaoka and a thank you phone call from the characters.

Crowdfunding for the project is currently sitting at about 9,200,000 yen (about USD $83,000), roughly 60% of its goal of 15,000,000 yen(about USD $135,500). Yamakan posted on Twitter that he plans to continue the project even if the crowdfunding goal is not met.

Twilight will be the last entry in Yamakan's self-described "Tōhoku trilogy" set in Japan's Tōhoku region in the northeast. The previous two Tōhoku projects, blossom and Wake Up, Girls!, were set in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture and Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, respectively, and Twilight will be set in Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami of March 11, 2011.

The crowdfunding site for Twilight, Campfire, recently released new information about the project, including the main staff, cast, and teaser visuals.

Yamakan has previously criticized the anime production committee system and called anime "dead." He also apparently became involved in a Twitter spat with director Seiji Mizushima (Fullmetal Alchemist, Concrete Revolutio, Mobile Suit Gundam 00), which ended with Yamakan blocking Mizushima on Twitter. Yamakan was recently criticized for comments he made about the stabbing of 21-year-old female singer Mayu Tomita by a fan, and felt that the backlash was undeserved.

Source: Hachima Kikō