Lu over the wall Anime Film Streams Story, Interview Videos

The official website for director Masaaki Yuasa's upcoming Yoake Tsugeru Lu no Uta (Lu over the wall or "Song of Lu who Informs the Dawn") anime film began streaming two more "notice videos" for the film on Thursday. The first video features voice actor Sōma Saitō explaining some of the film's story, and the second video features an interview with Yuasa and Saitō.


The official website streamed the first notice video last month featuring an interview with Kanon Tani (the voice of Lu). Two other videos streamed last month feature interviews with Shōta Shimoda (voice of Kai) and Shinichi Shinohara (Lu's father).


The videos all begin by showing some of Yuasa's earlier anime, including his Yoru wa Mijikashi Arukeyo Otomefilm, which opened in Japan last month.

Lu over the wall will open in Japan on May 19. The film will then screen at this year's Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France in June.

Yoake Tsugeru Lu no Uta is Yuasa's first anime film with an original story. The protagonist Kai moves with his father from Tokyo to the declining fishing town of Hinashi to live with his grandfather following his parents' divorce. Kai is unable to give words to his complex feelings about his parents, so he passes his middle school life gloomily. His one joy is uploading his musical compositions to the internet.

One day his classmates Kunio and Yūho invite him to join their band, and when he reluctantly accompanies them to practice on Mermaid Island, the three of them meet a mermaid named Lu. Through her cheerful singing and dancing, Kai is slowly able to open up about his feelings. However, calamity strikes and Kai must shout from the bottom of his heart in order to save the town.

Kanon Tani (your name.) and Shōta Shimoda are starring in the film as Lu and Kai, respectively. Shinichi Shinohara plays Lu's father and the comic duo Chidori play fishermen. Other cast members include Akira Emoto as a grandfather, Sōma Saitō as Kunio, and Minako Kotobuki as Yūho.

Yuasa is directing the film at his Science SARU studio, and is collaborating with Reiko Yoshida (Non Non Biyori, Tamako Market) on the script. Yōko Nemu (Gozen 3-ji no Muhōchitai) is providing the original character designs, and Nobutake Ito (Kaiba, Ping Pong) is adapting the designs for for animation and serving as animation director. Hiroshi Ohno (Wolf Children, Strawberry Marshmallow) is serving as art director, Eriko Kimura (The Tatami Galaxy, Ponyo) is serving as sound director, and Batisto Perón is serving as director of photography. Abel Góngora (Garo the Animation) and Juan Manuel Laguna (Garo the Animation) are handling Flash animation. Takatsugu Muramatsu (When Marnie Was There) is composing the music. Eunyoung Choi (animator on Kick-Heart and Ping Pong) is serving as producer. Kazuyoshi Saitō is performing the theme song "Uta Utai no Ballad."​