MANGA MOVIE “ANGEL SIGN” RELEASE DATE AND POSTER ART REVEALED!

Asian talent unite for the directorial debut of “City Hunter” creator! Five manga stories make it to the big screen in a live-action celebration of the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® (SMA).

Tokyo based manga production company North Star Pictures Inc., has announced the release date of the Tsukasa Hojo helmed live action movie “Angel Sign”. The creator of the iconic manga series “City Hunter” will premier his non-animated directorial debut on Friday, November 15th 2019 at the United Cinema Toyosu, followed by a limited nationwide release.

REVEALED: The official “Angel Sign” poster art

An anthology film of interconnected stories based on five SMA award winning works from as far afield as Asia, South America and Europe, “Angel Sign” is a celebration of one of the world’s biggest international manga competitions.

Each story, filmed on location around Asia will be helmed by a successful director from each country, bookended by an original “Prologue” and “Epilogue” written, storyboarded and directed by manga legend Tsukasa Hojo.

Perhaps the most unique quality of this cinematic extravaganza is the soundtrack. Effectively a “silent movie”, the emotional voice of the film is in its imagery and music, making “Angel Sign” a truly international project that crosses language and culture. A fitting tribute to the source material and a worthy legacy for the SILENT MANGA AUDITION®!

“Angel Sign” will consist of 5 award winning SILENT MANGA AUDITION® adaptations:

Title:

Beginning and Farewell

Based on:

” Beginning and Ending ” by Vincent Lange

Location:

Japan (Kumamoto Prefecture)

Director:

Ken Ochiai

Cast:

Naoto Ogata
Momoko Kikuchi

Synopsis

The lifelong marriage of childhood sweethearts is torn asunder by the passing of a beloved wife. In desperation, the grieving husband’s dog struggles to teach meaning to his master’s life again.

Original manga creator

“I was very humbled by the movie. It’s so nice to see this project come together, where a team of Japanese artists took the manga by international creators and turned it them into something special. I never dreamed my work would be made into a movie made by a manga artist I greatly respect!”

Vincent Lange, Germany

SMA1 Grand Prix RU Award Winner

Title:

SKY SKY

Based on:

” SKY SKY ” by Prema-Ja

Location:

Thailand

Director:

Nonzee Nimibutr

Cast:

Praewpun Parnyim

Synopsis

When a young girl struggles with the passing of her beloved dog, she is given renewed hope when her father tells her about his new home in the clouds. Determined to say her final farewell in the form of drawing, nothing short of a miracle occurs…

Original manga creator

“When the SILENT MANGA AUDITION® informed me that my silent manga ‘SKY SKY’ was chosen to be part of their movie, I was beyond excited. Having my work adapted for the screen by a professional movie studio has long been a dream of mine. Thank you so much!”

Prema-Ja, Tailand

SMA1 Grand Prix Award Winner

Title:

Thirty and A Half Minutes

Based on:

” Thirty and A Half Minutes ” by Snippy MJ

Location:

Vietnam

Director:

Ham Tran

Cast:

Ngo Quang Tuan
Xuân Văn

Synopsis

A woman giving birth is on the cusp of life and death. With the Grim Reaper in attendance at the appointed time, mysterious music begins to play followed by a miraculous butterfly. Will the expectant mother have enough time…?

Original manga creator

“It’s a dream for many authors to have their story on the big screen, so I am more than thrilled to learn that ‘Thirty and a Half Minutes’ is being adapted into a movie! I’m very excited (also a little embarrassed) to see it, and very nervous for the audience’s reaction! I genuinely hope they will enjoy watching as much as I enjoyed creating the story.”

Snippy MJ, Vietnam

SMA4 Grand Prix Award Winner

Title:

Father’s Gift

Based on:

” Father’s Gift ” by Ichirou

Location:

Thailand and Japan

Director:

Masatsugu Asahi

Cast:

Jiro Sato
Sayaka Sakai

Synopsis

A father gifts his only daughter with a mechanical wonder, a robot to ease the passing of her mother. But when the daughter finds herself alone, a mysterious blue butterfly intervenes giving way to a miracle.

Original manga creator

“I am extremely happy and honored to have my work chosen to be part of the film, along with all the other amazing stories. Even more that my work has been passed into the hands of professionals whom I both admire and respect.”

Ichirou, Brazil

SMA2 Grand Prix Award Winner

Title:

Back Home

Based on:

” Back Home ” by Vu Dinh Lan

Location:

Indonesia

Director:

Kamila Andini

Cast:

Teuku Rifnu Wikana
Mikako Yoshida

Synopsis

A father called to war makes a promise to his daughter to return to her. With the war at an end, he realizes it’s a promise he can’t keep… that is, until a miraculous blue butterfly appears.

Original manga creator

“The moment I heard that my manga was being adapted into a short movie, I was so happy. I have always been fascinated by stories about the war in Vietnam, and this is my first manga that depicted the subject. In war, there must be loss and gain and this manga is how I picture it. I’m so proud that this story can be seen worldwide.”

Vu Dihn Lan, Vietnam

SMA4 Grand Prix RU Award Winner

For more information about this pioneering film, please visit the official “Angel Sign” website.