Actor Bando Ryuta appeared at the ceremonial first pitch at the Saitama Seibu Lions vs. Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters game held on September 23rd at Belluna Dome (Tokorozawa, Saitama). The first pitch was to commemorate the release of the animated film "Function," in which Bando plays a voice actor, on October 4th, and involved a speed gun challenge set at 104 km/h in honor of the release date. If he exceeded 104 km/h, he would be successful and be able to announce "Function," and Bando succeeded brilliantly. After the game, Bando said, "I'm so surprised that I can't speak, my mind is blank (laughs)."
"Function" is an original animated film directed by Nagai Tatsuyuki, who is known for popular anime such as "Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day" and "Kokoro ga Sakebitagatterunda." As with "Anohana," "Kokosake," and "Her Blue Sky," the screenplay will be written by Mari Okada, and character design will be handled by Masayoshi Tanaka, reuniting the creative team "Super Peace Busters." The series will be produced by CloverWorks.
Childhood friends Onoda Aki, Sobue Ryo, and Inohara Yuta, who grew up on the same island, move to Tokyo at age 20 and start living together in Takadanobaba, Tokyo. Aki works part-time at a bar, Ryo is a new graduate at a real estate company, and Yuta is a vocational school student aspiring to become a fashion designer. Although their lives are all different, their hearts are always connected by the special power of touch, and each person's words flow to them without them having to speak. The friendship between the three people, connected by touch, changes due to a hidden "another power." Bando will play Ryo, Nagase Ren will play Aki, and Maeda Kentaro will play Yuta.
