The beloved Japanese children`s books are brought to the big screen in the new computer animated feature film, RUDOLPH AND IPPAIATTENA. Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2016

Information and High-Res Images (Plus a Godzilla Cameo!) Source: Toho Co., Ltd. Official Site: rudolf-ippaiattena.com (Japan)

A SCIFI JAPAN EXCLUSIVE

Theatrical poster. Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2016

Toho will release the 3D Computer generated anime film RUDOLPH AND IPPAIATTENA (?????????????, Rudorufu to Ippaiattena) in Japanese cinemas on August 6th. The movie is based on the award-winning books by author Hiroshi Saito (Go! Go! Morumo!, The Elephant`s Gold Medals, The Tiger Without Stripes, Penguin Explorers). Since their first story in 1986, the adventures of the cat friends Rudolph and Ippaiattena (whose name roughly translates as "Lotsathings") have sold more than 100 million copies and are now widely regarded as timeless classics of children`s literature. RUDOLPH AND IPPAIATTENA is co-directed by Kunihiko Yuyama and Motonori Sakakibara. Yuyama has been an anime director for 18 years, with credits that include the Pokémon films. Sakakibara has directed FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN, PAC-MAN AND THE GHOSTLY ADVENTURES and KONG: KING OF THE APES. The film`s screenplay was written by Yoichi Kato (YO-KAI WATCH, AIKATSU!). Providing the voice for the naive Rudolph is actress Mao Inoue (KITARO, BOYS OVER FLOWERS series, REBIRTH, THE SNOW WHITE MURDER CASE), while Ryohei Suzuki (GATCHAMAN, HK / FORBIDDEN SUPER HERO, TOKYO TRIBE, HENTAI KAMEN: THE ABNORMAL CRISIS) makes his voice acting debut as the streetwise tiger cat, Ippaiattena. Inoue and Suzuki first worked together in SURELY SOMEDAY (?????????, Shuariisamudei, 2010), portraying a sister and brother. The voice cast also features Norito Yashima (GAMERA 3: REVENGE OF IRIS, THE SUSPECT: MUROI SHINJI, KAIBUTSU-KUN: THE MOVIE), Arata Furuta (13 ASSASSINS, HARLOCK: SPACE PIRATE, GODZILLA RESURGENCE), Nana Mizuki (TIGER & BUNNY THE MOVIE: THE RISING, OSAMU TEZUKA’S BUDDHA 2) and Sandayu Dokumamushi (ULTRAMAN, ULTRA SEVEN). The animation studios for RUDOLPH AND IPPAIATTENA are OLM (POKÉMON, YO-KAI WATCH), OLM Digital and Los Angeles-based Sprite Animation Studios (MONSTER SAMURAI). The film will be screened in both 3D and 2D formats. STORY A tiny black cat named Rudolph gets separated from his beloved owner when he accidently ends up on a long-haul truck bound for Tokyo. Lost in the big city, the frightened feline encounters the striped Ippaiattena, boss of the alley cats. With Rudolph unable to get home, Ippaiattena takes him under his wing and shares an unexpected secret with the newcomer.

CREDITS Japanese Theatrical Release: Saturday, August 6, 2016 (3D/2D Nationwide Roadshow) Cast Rudolph: Mao Inoue Ippaiattena: Ryohei Suzuki Butch: Norito Yashima Devil: Arata Furuta Akio Otsuka Mischa: Nana Mizuki Yuka Terasaki Rio Sasaki Dump Truck Driver: Sandayu Dokumamushi Staff Directors: Kunihiko Yuyama, Motonori Sakakibara Screenplay: Yoichi Kato Original Story: Rudolph and Ippaiattena and Rudolph`s Friends Grow Independent, Written by Hiroshi Saito ? Illustrated by Hammo Sugiura (Kodansha) Production: Yoshio Nakayama, Minami Ichikawa, Shiniku Suzuki, Toshiaki Okuno, Yoshitaka Toge, Keiichi Sawa, Masaya Yabushita, Mika Nakamura Associate Producer: Seiji Okuda Executive Producer: Daisuke Kadoya Planning and Production: Naoki Iwasa Producers: Misako Saka, Takuya Ito, Megumi Hoshino Animation Producer: Masashi Kobayashi Production Manager: Kentaro Tominaga CG Supervisor: Jinchi Morizumi Art Director: Tatsuro Maruyama Character Designers: Tohru Patrick Awa Recording Director: Masafumi Mima Music: Naoki Sato Production: Sprite Animation Studios , OLM , OLM Digital Planning, Production Secretary: Nippon Television Network Production: "Rudolph and Ippaiattena" Production Committee (Nippon Television Network, Toho, Kodansha, OLM, Bandai, bop, Yomiuri Telecasting, Dentsu, PPM, Sapporo Television Broadcasting Co., Miyagi Television Broadcasting, Shizuoka Daiichi Television, Chuukyo Television Broadcasting, Hiroshima Telecasting, Fukuoka Broadcasting Corporation) Distributor: Toho © 2016 "Rudolph and Ippaiattena" Production Committee

The lost house cat, Rudolph (Mao Inoue). Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2016

The streetwise cat of many names, Ippaiattena (Ryohei Suzuki). Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2016

The facetious alley cat, Butch (Norito Yashima). Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2016

The tough bulldog, Devil (Arata Furuta). Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2016

Mischa (Nana Mizuki). Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2016

Rudolph with his owner, Rie. Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2016

Lost in Tokyo. Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2016

Ippaiattena teaches Rudolph a powerful secret. Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2016

Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2016

New friends enjoy a sunset view. Image courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2016

Logo courtesy of Toho Co., Ltd. © 2016

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.