Source: Toho Co., Ltd. Official Movie Site: red-turtle.jp (Japan) Distributor Toho Co., Ltd. has provided press notes and images for the Japanese release of Studio Ghibli`s latest film, THE RED TURTLE (??????? ??????, Reddo Taatoru Aru Shima no Monogatari), a co-production with Wild Bunch and Why Not Productions. The movie will open in Japan on September 17th. In related news, Sony Pictures Classics will release THE RED TURTLE in American theaters on January 20, 2017. INTRODUCTION

Initiated 10 years ago; production lasting 8 years... Studio Ghibli`s latest work is coming from France! It began with the short film FATHER AND DAUGHTER (2000) by Michael Dudok de Wit, a Dutch animator based in France. Despite a running time of only 8 minutes, it captured international attention for its emotional depiction of the bond between parent and child. FATHER AND DAUGHTER won numerous accolades, including the 2001 Academy Award for Animated Short Film. Studio Ghibli producer Toshio Suzuki was so impressed with the work that he arranged for its Japanese release -- where it was shown as THE TWO ON THE BANK (??????, Kishibe no Futari) -- and approached Dudok de Wit about making a full-length animated feature for the studio. With a promise of creative freedom, Michael Dudok de Wit readily agreed to Suzuki`s offer and began developing THE RED TURTLE. As a first-time feature film director, he consulted with Suzuki and Studio Ghibli director Isao Takahata (MY NEIGHBORS THE YAMADAS, THE TALE OF THE PRINCESS KAGUYA) to discuss details of the story, storyboards, sound effects and music during the various stages of production. The animation work done at Prima Linea Productions in Paris was completed over eight years. Dudok de Wit has created an impressive animation which won the special jury prize for the 69th Cannes International Film Festival`s "Un Certain Regard" category. This autumn, Studio Ghibli`s latest work comes from France to sweep across Japan! STORY Where did you come from? Where did a life go? A man, thrown into a raging sea during a storm, washing ashore on a deserted island. He desperately tries to escape, but is repeatedly pulled back to the island by some invisible force. Then, one day, a woman appears before the desperate man...

CREDITS Japanese Theatrical Release: Saturday, September 17, 2016 (Nationwide Roadshow) Staff Original Story, Screenplay and Director: Michael Dudok de Wit Adaptation: Pascale Ferran and Michael Dudok de Wit Artistic Producer: Isao Takahata Music: Laurent Perez del Mar Production: Toshio Suzuki (Studio Ghibli), Vincent Maraval (Wild Bunch) Distributor: Toho International Sales: Wild Bunch © 2016 Studio Ghibli – Wild Bunch – Why Not Productions – Arte France Cinéma – CN4 Productions – Belvision – Nippon Television Network – Dentsu – Hakuhodo DYMP – Walt Disney Japan – Mitsubishi – Toho

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About Toho Co., Ltd.

Founded in 1932 and headquartered in Tokyo, Toho Company, Ltd. is one of the leading entertainment conglomerates in Japan. Toho is best known worldwide as the producer of twenty-nine Godzilla motion pictures, based upon a character the company unleashed on the world back in 1954, and masterpiece films directed by Akira Kurosawa. Toho has been the number one distributor of motion pictures in Japan for twelve consecutive years since 2003. The company is also, throughout Japan, the leading producer of theatrical works and one of the largest owners of office buildings and theaters.

About Studio Ghibli

Studio Ghibli was founded in 1985 by animation directors Hayao Miyazaki and Isao Takahata and is one of the most successful and well-respected animation studios in the world. Cultivating a creative force of talented directors, animators, and storytellers under the revered brilliance of Miyazaki and Takahata, Studio Ghibli’s films have been praised for their originality, dazzling animation, and epic storytelling. The films have become a beloved part of Japanese popular culture, and have garnered worldwide acclaim from audiences and critics alike. Hayao Miyazaki’s SPIRITED AWAY won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2002 and in 2005 Miyazaki was named one of "the most influential people" by Time Magazine.

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For more information on THE RED TURTLE please see the earlier coverage here on SciFi Japan:

• Studio Ghibli’s THE RED TURTLE Press Notes