It’s difficult to make the transformation from a video game into a movie. Rarely is it successful and even rarer is it actually good. Arguments can be made that the Resident Evil franchise is successful, but are they actually good? Personally I think the first Resident Evil was a good zombie movie, but was Resident Evil in name only. All that being said let’s turn our attention to game that is getting its own anime film, Ni no Kuni.
This Japanese Role Playing Game series got its start on the Nintendo DS back in 2010 with the title Ni no Kuni: Dominion of the Dark Djinn which was enhanced and sold on the PS3 as Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch. A true sequel, Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom, was released in March of 2013. The main story from the first game revolves around a young hero, Oliver, who desires to find a way to save his mother after her death. He discovers that there is another world with “soulmates” of people from the real world and that his mother’s soulmate is being held prisoner by the evil wizard Jabou.
So what will the movie be like? The official site (here) is in Japanese and Google translate isn’t perfect, but the gist is that the lead character will be name Yu and he will be joined by his friend Haru as they try to help a childhood friend named Kotona. The adventure will require that they travel between the real world and the world called… you guessed it Ni no Kuni. We’re also told that Kotona’s life will be put in danger and the three young heroes must “make the ultimate choice.”
The film is getting some familiar names on the production side. Artist Yoshiyuki Momose, from Ni no Kuni II, will be directing while famous Studio Ghibli composer Joe Hisaishi will be scoring it. The game’s original writer, Akihiro Hino, will be producing and is the scriptwriter. The lead will be played by the same actor that played L in the Japanese live action Death Note, Kento Yamazaki. The website states the movie will debut this summer.
What do you think of this announcement? Are you a fan of the games? Are you okay with the liberties they seem to be taking with the story? Let us know in the comments below!
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