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July 11 was the opening day of Mamoru Hosoda’s newest movie, The Boy and the Beast. In commemoration, there is also a The Boy and the Beast Exhibition that is scheduled to be held at Shibuya Hikarie from July 24 to Aug. 30. It is attracting plenty of attention as Hosoda’s first ever large scale exhibition, and organizers have been revealing a number of details that amplify anticipation towards the movie.
In addition to content based on The Boy and the Beast, the exhibition will also feature works from Hosoda’s other movies: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006), Summer Wars (2009), as well as Wolf Children (2012). Various pieces of artwork, character designs, background designs, and also other rare documents from all the movies will be on display. Visitors will have the chance to enter into the world of the movies and understand how the colorful world of each intriguing story was created.
What is really sparking interest is the reproduction of the massive Jutengai monument from The Boy and the Beast. In the movie, Jutengai is actually Shibuya in an alternate world, and this connection is about to become a reality with the implementation of the monument. The creator of the monument is Anri Jojo, recipient of the Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction Award of the Japan Academy Prize who is well known for his work in movies such as Always: Sunset on Third Street (2005) as well as The Eternal Zero (2014). Measuring at 5.5 meters by 4.7 meters, the monument looks just like the one from the movie, and allows visitors to share the same experience as Kyuta by wandering into Jutengai.
Furthermore, Kumatetsu’s odachi sword inspired by Japanese swords has been crafted and will be featured in the exhibition. The magnificent sword was produced by renowned swordsmith Kuniie Yoshihara as a collaboration product commemorating the 40th anniversary of the Japan Swordsmith Association. Yoshihara is also known for his involvement as the swordsmith of The Last Samurai (2003). The sword display is something that The Boy and the Beast fans and Japanese sword fans will not want to miss.
Limited edition merchandise will also be available at the exhibition, and visitors will receive pieces of movie film from Hosoda’s previous movies as a present. Supply of the movie film is, of course, limited.
It seems like both the movie and the exhibition will be generating an incredible amount of excitement from here on.
The Boy and The Beast
Playing now at all Toho and related cinemas Japan-wide.
Source: animeanime
Source article written by Shigeyoshi Okimoto
