Inu-Oh

From visionary director Masaaki Yuasa (The Night is Short, Walk on Girl), hailed by IndieWire as “one of the most creatively unbridled minds in all of modern animation,” comes a revisionist rock opera about a 14th-century superstar whose dance moves take Japan by storm. Born to an esteemed family, Inu-oh is afflicted with an ancient curse that has left him on the margins of society. When he meets the blind musician Tomona, a young biwa priest haunted by his past, Inu-oh discovers a captivating ability to dance. The pair quickly become business partners and inseparable friends as crowds flock to their electric, larger-than-life concerts. But when those in power threaten to break up the band, Inu-oh and Tomona must dance and sing to uncover the truth behind their creative gifts.  Featuring character creation by Taiyo Matsumoto and awe-inspiring vocals by Ayu-chan and Mirai Moriyama, Inu-Oh is a glam-rock ode to the power of music and a forceful statement on artistic freedom from one of animation’s singular talents. (Dir. by Masaaki Yuasa, 2021, Japan/China, in Japanese with English subtitles, 98 mins., Rated PG-13)