Kenji Kamiyama, the director behind such anime as Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Eden of the East, and Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit, announced on Tuesday that his latest 3D film will be a 009 Re:Cyborgadaptation of Shotaro Ishinomori's classic science fiction manga Cyborg 009. The film is slated to open in Japanese theaters next fall.
In the original manga, the secret Black Ghost organization transforms nine unsuspecting humans into cyborgs. However, the nine cyborgs turn on their masters and protect the rest of humanity from Black Ghost's plans for world war.
Kamiyama made the announcement in person after a screening of his Ghost in the Shell S.A.C. Solid State Society 3D film at Tokyo's Shinjuku Wald 9 theater. The YouTube, Ustream, and Nico Nico Douga services have all been streaming the announcement for free since 8:30 p.m. in Japan (7:30 a.m. EDT).
There have already been three Cyborg 009 television anime series which premiered in 1968, 1979, and 2001. There have also been three theatrical anime films in 1966, 1967, and 1980. Another director with Ghost in the Shell and Production I.G ties, Mamoru Oshii,directed his own 3D short of Cyborg 009 last year with sponsor Panasonic.
Kamiyama's last new, full-length anime project was last year's Eden of the East the Movie II: Paradise Lost film. Since then, he created a "Xi AVANT" anime short with NTT Docomo, started an advertising animation firm called Steve N' Steven, and produced a 3DPepsi Nex ad with Cyborg 009.
Tokyopop published the original Cyborg 009 manga in North America, and Columbia Tristarand Cartoon Network brought the 2001-2002 television anime version to the United States also. Aeon Flux creator Peter Chung revealed in an 2008 Animation World Magazine interview that he wrote a story and redesigned the characters for an animated feature adaptation of Cyborg 009. There has been no confirmed connection between the new anime project and Peter Chung's pre-production work.
Update: More information and video added.
Image © Production I.G
© Ishimori Production Inc.
Update 2: Kamiyama is not only directing the film, but also scripting the story set in the year 2013. The staff is as follows:
Original Creator: Shotaro Ishinomori
Screenwriter/Director: Kenji Kamiyama
Music: Kenji Kawai (Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit, Eden of the East)
Character Designer: Gatou Asou (Moribito - Guardian of the Spirit)
Animation Director: Daisuke Suzuki
Art Director: Yusuke Takeda (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex)
Project Producer: Hiroaki Matsuura
Producer: Tomohiko Ishii
Co-Production: Production I.G/Sanzigen
Distribution: Production I.G/T-Joy
