Filmmakers to Attend World Premiere at the Louvre Museum in January Source: Toei Co., Ltd. Official Site:
buddha-anime.com (Japan) Toei will release OSAMU TEZUKA`S BUDDHA 2 (BUDDHA 2 ????????????????, BUDDHA 2 Tezuka Osamu no Budda ~ Owarinakitabi ~) nationwide in Japan on February 8, 2014. Produced by Toei Animation in association with Tezuka Productions, the film continues the life story of Siddhartha -- later known as Buddha -- begun in OSAMU TEZUKA`S BUDDHA -THE GREAT DEPATURE- (???????? -?????????-, Tezuka Osamu No Budda Akai Sabaku Yo! Utsukushiku, 2011). After Siddhartha witnesses the deaths of his friends, he struggles with the questions "Why must mankind suffer? Why we do live?"
BUDDHA 2 is directed by Toshiaki Komura, who made his debut with the television anime GENJI TSUUSHIN AGEDAMA (?????????, Murasaki Shikibu Genji Monogatari) in 1991. After joining Toei products, Komura`s major works include YES! PRETTY CURE 5 (Yes??????5, Yes! Purikyua 5, 2007), DIGIMON FUSION BATTLE (???????????, Dejimon Kurosu Woozu, 2010) and TORIKO (???, 2011). Kozo Morishita, director of the first film, returns as executive producer. Reiko Yoshida, known for DRAGON BALL Z (??????????, Doragon Booru Zetto) and K-ON! MOVIE (????????, Eiga Keion!, 2011), wrote the screenplays for both Buddha movies. Prior to the theatrical release, members of the cast and crew will attend the world premiere of OSAMU TEZUKA`S BUDDHA 2 at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France on January 27. Local media and international media will be invited to this event, as the filmmakers will offer their greetings from the stage to the world. Guests at the world premiere will include director Toshiaki Komura, producer Kozo Morishita, screenwriter Reiko Yoshida and composer Michiru Oshima (GODZILLA VS MEGAGUIRUS, GODZILLA AGAINST MECHAGODZILLA), who wrote the music for both films. They will be joined by voice actors Kenichi Matsuyama, one of the top young actors in Japan (
DEATH NOTE and
GANTZ film series) and a big fan of the original comic, and Kiyokazu Kanze, the 26th Grand Master of Kanze School of Noh.
Story Did you find what you dreamed of, young Buddha? India, 2500 years ago. Siddhartha, heir to the throne of the Shakya Kingdom, gives up his royal privilege to embark on a great quest... continuing on his endless journey accompanied by Assaji, a mysterious boy who can foretell the future, and Dhepa, a one-eyed trainee monk. He witnesses what has become of Migaila, the woman he once loved, and the horrid death of Assaji who even prophesied his own end. Siddhartha is tormented by the suffering and death that humankind cannot escape from. Meanwhile, there is upheaval over the secrecy concerning the birth of the Prince Virudhaka of Kosala Kingdom. The outraged Kosalan prince with his subservient giant, Yatala, makes a move on Shakya, once Siddhartha’s home and the root cause of his anguish. A man who gave up his country and a man determined to destroy it -- Siddhartha and Prince Virudhaka. The world starts turning rapidly when their paths cross...!!
OSAMU TEZUKA`S BUDDHA 2 (aka OSAMU TEZUKA`S BUDDHA -ENDLESS JOURNEY-)
World Premiere: January 27, 2014 (Louvre Museum, Paris, France) Japanese Theatrical Release: February 8, 2014 Running Time: 80 Minutes
Voice Cast Queen Maya: Sayuri Yoshinaga Tatta: Kenichi Matsuyama Prince Virudhaka: Yoko Maki King Suddhodana: Kiyokazu Kanze Siddhartha: Hidetaka Yoshioka King Binbisara: Shinya Owada Brahman: Tetsuo King Pasenadi: Hiromasa Taguchi Migaila: Nana Mizuki Assaji: Miyuki Sawajiro Depa: Keiji Fujiwara Yatala: Ryuzaburo Ohtomo Mother of Prince Virudhaka: Sumi Shimamoto Princess Yashodara: Yumi Kakazu Minister Bubu: Naomi Kusumi Princess Pajapati: Kanako Tojo
Crew Director: Toshiaki Komura Screenplay: Reiko Yoshida Original Comic: Osamu Tezuka Executive Producer: Kozo Morishita Producers: Riuko Tominaga, Bogdan Gyarmath Character Designs: Hideaki Mashiba, Akihiro Asanuma Animation Supervisor: Akihiro Asanuma Art Director: Shinzo Yuki Director of Photography: Masahiro Asanuma Music: Michiru Oshima Shakuhachi Performance: Dozan Fujiwara Produced by: Osamu Tezuka’s BUDDHA 2 Production Committee Production Company: Toei Animation Co., Ltd. Produced in Association with: Tezuka Productions Distributor: Toei Company, Ltd. Sales Company: Toei Company, Ltd. © Osamu Tezuka’s BUDDHA 2 Production Committee
About Toei Company, Ltd. Established in 1951, Toei Company is not only producing and distributing films, but it is also one of the major exhibitors in Japan. The company owns two film studios located in Tokyo and Kyoto. The films produced cover wide range of genres, exceeding 20,000 titles. ?