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With Disney looking to push out more regional content in light of their increasing popularity, fans can expect a more robust line-up for the coming year. The House of Mouse unveiled its upcoming Japanese live-action title slate at the Disney Content Showcase APAC 2022, with Gannibal serving as the headliner.
Adapted from the hit manga by Masaaki Ninomioya, the psychothriller follows Daigo Agawa, a broken police officer recovering a traumatic experience who’s posted to a remote village in the countryside, where things start off promising. However, a series of shocking events pushes him to the realisation that something is deeply wrong in the village, and he soon finds himself having to bring those responsible to justice.
Teruhisa Yamamoto (Drive My Car) serves as producer on the project alongside Tatsuya Iwakura, with Shinzo Katayama (Siblings on the Cape) at the director’s helm. The show will stream exclusively on Disney+ on 28 December, and stars Yuya Yagira (HOKUSAI, Asakusa Kid), Show Kasamatsu (Tokyo Vice, Love You as the World Ends) and Riho Yoshioka (Haken Anime!, The Romance Manga Artist) in the main roles.
House of the Owl, meanwhile, tells the story of a revered fixer in Japan who can guide his clients through any scandal. It strays off the conventional storytelling structure to portray the underside of society, and will star Mackenyu Arata (The Master Plan, Rurouni Kenshin: The Final) as the protagonist.
Rounding up the list is Dragons of Wonderhatch, which presents an interesting mix of anime and live-action elements. The first original anime series from Japan for Disney+ follows a cast of characters as they jump from the real world into a fictional setting where dragon riders live, with Mackenyu also leading the cast list here. Similar to House of the Owl, a release date has yet to be set.
With the three live-action titles spanning different genres, Disney+ users can expect even more variety in the Japanese drama genre. For those who prefer anime works, the streamer has got you covered for 2023 and beyond as well.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
Natalie
Trinity Sun
