TOUKEN RANBU KAI Anime Prequel Film Press Notes and Images From Toho

Source: Toho Co., Ltd.
Official Site: https://touken-kai.jp/ (Japan)

Toho has provided information and images from the new anime film TOUKEN RANBU KAI - DEN CHIKASHI HABERAU MONORA - (刀剣乱舞廻 -々伝近し侍らうものら-, Tōken Ranbu Mawari - Den Chikashi Haberau Monora -)* , which will receive a limited 3-week theatrical run in Japan starting August 16, 2024.

The movie is the latest entry in the "Touken Ranbu" multi-media franchise, based on the concept of famous historical swords that transform into warriors who lead "Touken Danshi" (sword fighters) to fight to protect history. Kicking off in January 2015 with the hit game TOUKEN RANBU ONLINE by DMM GAMES and NITRO PLUS, the brand has been featured in anime, musicals, consumer games, stage performances, live action movies, and Kabuki, and is recognized as a major inspiration for the sword boom that has swept the nation.

The eight-episode anime series TOUKEN RANBU KAI KYODEN (刀剣乱舞廻 -虚伝燃ゆる本能寺-, Tōken Ranbu Mawari -Kyoden Moyuru Honnōji-) aired in Japan from April 2 - May 21, 2024, and is now streaming on Crunchyroll. The official plot synopsis reads...

In 2205 A.D., evil forces attack the past, threatening to alter the course of history. The judge calls on four swordsmen, with blades blessed by a Shinto priest, to protect the past and save the future. Loyal to their former master, the demon king Oda Nobunaga, they travel back to the Honnoji Temple where he was murdered. Can they stop evil in its tracks and preserve the past? Only time will tell.

TOUKEN RANBU KAI - DEN CHIKASHI HABERAU MONORA - is a prequel to the series, with an original story written by Kenichi Suemitsu, writer/director of the Touken Ranbu stage plays. The voice actors from TOUKEN RANBU ONLINE have provided the character voices for the new movie.

*An official English title has not been announced. The Japanese title roughly translates to "Sword Dance Maze -The Tales of the Nearby Samurai-".

STORY

Yamambagiri Kunihiro, who almost wiped out his own troops, decided to resign from the position of Kingslayer at his own request.

Heshikiri Hasebei is appointed as the new personal attendant by his master, the Saniwa. However, he is not happy with this.

When Heshikiri Hasebe is ordered to go into battle, he begs for Yamambagiri Kunihiro to join his unit in the battle of Bitchu Takamatsu Castle with Tsurumaru Kuninaga, Shokudaikiri Mitsutada, Masakuni Dotanuki, and Okurikara.

Hashiba Hideyoshi, with Kuroda Kanbei at his side, builds a levee to atatck Bitchu Takamatsu Castle with water. At the same time, Akechi's forces are searching for Nobunaga's head at Honnoji Temple.

Will they be able to find the answer to the question in this intertwined tale?

This is the story of a personal attendant, passed down and repeated.

DETAILS

Japanese Theatrical Release: Friday, August 16, 2024 (Nationwide Roadshow)

Voice Cast

Heshikiri Hasebe: Tarusuke Shingaki
Yamanbagiri Kunihiro: Tomoaki Maeno
Tsurumaru Kuninaga: Soma Saito
Shokudaikiri Mitsutada: Takuya Sato
Dotanuki Masakuni: Toru Sakurai
Okurikara: Shin Furukawa

Staff

Original Concept: TOUKEN RANBU ONLINE (DMM GAMES/NITRO PLUS)
Director: Kazuya Ichikawa
Screenplay: Kenichi Suemitsu
Character DesignMari Takada
Art Director: Hiroyuki Nemoto
Director of Photography: Tatsuya Nomura
Sound Director: Hiromi Kikuta
Music: Ryunosuke Kasai
Sound Production: Rakuonsha
Editing: Domerica

Production: "Touken Ranbu Kai" Production Committee
Animation Production: Domerica
Distributor (Japan): Toho

About Toho Company. 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-eight 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 (both domestic and foreign) for over ten consecutive years since 2003.