Left to right: Ryusuke Genda, Asako Shibasaki, Iku Kasahara, Atsushi Dojo, Mikihisa Komaki and Hikaru Tezuka. Image courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. © HA · K/ LWFP 2012Source: Kadokawa Pictures, Production I.G Official Website: kadokawa.co.jp/toshokan-sensou (Japan)
Japanese theatrical poster for LIBRARY WAR: THE WINGS OF REVOLUTION. Image courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. © HA · K/ LWFP 2012When the freedom of libraries is violated, we will unite and resolutely protect our freedom! Kadokawa Pictures will open the anime action and romantic comedy feature film LIBRARY WAR: THE WINGS OF REVOLUTION (????? ??????, Toshokan Senso Kakumei no Tsubasa) in theaters across Japan on June 16th. The movie is based on the novel Library Revolution (?????, Toshokan Kakumei), the fourth volume in the Library War series written by Hiro Arikawa. The story of Library War is set in a dystopian Japan in 2019 -- thirty years after the enactment of the infamous Media Betterment Act. When the law was passed in 1989 it had the official purpose of protecting human rights as well as young people from the negative influence of the media through the regulation of expressions that offend public order and morals. But the interpretation of the power and authority of the Committee for Media Betterment was extended arbitrarily, while the militarized Betterment Secret Agency assumed control over the entire media. The Committee soon reached the point that the use of force was permitted against those who resist their censorship efforts. And somebody did resist. The libraries that were under the jurisdiction of local governments rose against the national government by enacting the Freedom of the Libraries Law. On the legal basis of this law, libraries could counteract the censorship legitimized by the Media Betterment Act, and soon started to create their own armed self-defense militia. The central character Library War is Iku Kasahara, a young woman who has realized her dream of becoming a member of the Library Militia. When she was still at high school, a member of the Library Militia rescued her when a Media Betterment Squad officer tried to seize her book. Iku was swept away by the profound love for justice demonstrated by her savior, and she decided to join the Library Militia and protect books. Gradually, her passion and exceeding athletic capability leads her to become a member of the elite unit, the Library Task Force. By 2008, the five Library War volumes had sold a record breaking 700,000 copies. That same year, the books were adapted as a 12-episode anime TV series, debuting April 10th on Fuji Television`s noitaminA block.
Asako Shibasaki (Miyuki Sawashiro) and Hikaru Tezuka (Tatsuhisa Suzuki) are back. Image courtesy of Kadokawa Pictures, Inc. © HA · K/ LWFP 2012The LIBRARY WAR anime series was produced by Production I.G`s Studio 9, known for the GHOST IN THE SHELL: STAND ALONE COMPLEX (????? STAND ALONE COMPLEX, Kookaku Kidootai Sutando Aroon Konpurekkusu, 2002) series and GUARDIAN OF THE SPIRIT (??????, Seirei no Moribito, 2007). The series was directed by Takayuki Hamana, of THE PRINCE OF TENNIS (???????, Tenisu no Oojisama, 2001) and SISTERS OF WELLBER (????????? ?Sisters of Wellber?, Werubeeru no Monogatari ~Sisters of Wellber~, 2007) fame. Hamana, the main voice cast, and most of the LIBRARY WAR production staff have now reunited to continue the story on the big screen with LIBRARY WAR: THE WINGS OF REVOLUTION. In the film, Iku Kasahara`s (Marina Inoue, HIGH SCHOOL OF THE DEAD) date with Atsushi Dojo (Tomoaki Maeno, AMAGAMI SS) is interrupted by a new mission. The Library Task Force must protect an author whose new book -- which describes the methodology of terrorists -- has made them a target of Committee for Media Betterment. But as the legal battle begins, Dojo is put in charge of the bodyguard assignment... and a rift begins to develop between him and Iku. Cast Iku Kasahara: Marina Inoue Atsushi Dojo: Tomoaki Maeno Mikihisa Komaki: Akira Ishida Hikaru Tezuka: Tatsuhisa Suzuki Asako Shibasaki: Miyuki Sawashiro Ryusuke Genda: Kanji Suzumori Kazuichi Inamine: Haruo Sato Staff Director: Takayuki Hamana Original Story: Library War by Hiroshi Arikawa (published by Kadokawa Bunko) Screenplay: Takeshi Konuta, Hiro Arikawa Original Character Design: Sukumo Adabana Character Design: Satoru Nakamura Art Director: Shigemi Ikeda Animation Director: Takuya Saito Music: Yugo Kanno Theme: "Hatsukoi" (First Love) by Base Ball Bear (EMI Music Japan) Release Date: June 16, 2012 Animation Production: Production I.G Distributor: Kadokawa Pictures © Hiro Arikawa · Kadokawa/ Library War Film Production Committee 2012
About Production I.G
Started as the joint collaboration of visionary production manager Mitsuhisa Ishikawa and popular character designer Takayuki Goto, Production I.G was established on December 15, 1987. The company has produced a number of acclaimed feature films, OVA (original video animation), TV shows, and videogames. For their storytelling and quality of animation, GHOST IN THE SHELL (1995, directed by Mamoru Oshii, No. 1 in US Billboard Top Video Sales Chart 1996), JIN-ROH: THE WOLF BRIGADE (1999, directed by Hiroyuki Okiura, Jury`s Special Prize at Fantasporto 1999), and BLOOD: THE LAST VAMPIRE (2000, directed by Hiroyuki Kitakubo), have earned critical accolades in Japan and all around the world. INNOCENCE, directed by Mamoru Oshii in 2004, became the first Japanese animation feature ever to compete for the Palme d`Or at the Festival de Cannes. In 2008, Mamoru Oshii`s animated feature film, THE SKY CRAWLERS, was nominated for the Golden Lion at the 65th Venice Film Festival and won 3 awards at Sitges in the same year. The studio`s first 3DCG animation feature film, OBLIVION ISLAND: HARUKA AND THE MAGIC MIRROR (2009), directed by Shinsuke Sato was Animation of the Year at the 33rd Japan Academy Prizes.
About Kadokawa
Japanese entertainment giant Kadokawa Holdings, Inc. (KGH) includes Kadokawa Group Publishing and Kadokawa Pictures. Kadokawa Group Publishing is one of the oldest and largest publishing groups in Japan and the largest publishers of Japanese Manga. Kadokawa Pictures with its library of over 2,000 titles, develops, finances, produces and distributes live action and anime films theatrically and for TV throughout Japan and Asia and boasts a state-of-the art production facility in Tokyo. Films that have garnered worldwide attention from these libraries include: THE RING, DARK WATER, PULSE and SHALL WE DANCE? KGH also includes a major exhibitor in Japan, Kadokawa Cineplex.