Edited version of TV anime "Odd Taxi" to be screened in theaters

It has been announced that an edited version of the much talked about TV anime "Odd Taxi," which aired in 2021, will be screened in theaters in September. The 13 episodes of the TV anime will be split into two parts, with the first part screening on September 10th and 11th, and the second part on September 17th and 18th. The screening will commemorate the release of the original animated film "The Last Blossom," which is a collaboration between director Mugi Kinoshita, who worked on "The Last Blossom," and manga artist and screenwriter Kazuya Konomoto, on October 10th. The screening will also feature an advance preview of some footage from the film. As a gift to attendees, a venue-exclusive postcard drawn by director Kinoshita will be distributed.

"Odd Taxi" tells the story of a taxi driver, Odogawa, whose interactions with his eccentric passengers lead to the disappearance of a young girl. While the characters are cute animals, the story is actually a full-fledged mystery. When the TV anime aired from April to June 2021, it became a hot topic for its unpredictable plot, complex web of plot twists, and eccentric characters. In addition to Natsuki Hanae playing Odogawa, other cast members include Iida Riho, Kimura Ryohei, and Kappei Yamaguchi. The series has gained popularity, with an anime film version being released and a stage play adaptation also being made.

The story of "The Last Blossom" is about an elderly man serving a life sentence who is about to die alone in his cell when a mysterious speech-capable The Last Blossom approaches him, telling him, "You've had a hell of a life," and through this "conversation," he begins to reflect on his past. The film depicts the dramatic reversal that a dying yakuza brings about. Actors Kobayashi Kaoru and Junki Tozuka co-star, playing the past and present of protagonist Akutsu Minoru, respectively. Hikari Mitsushima and Miyazaki Yoshiko play Akutsu's partner, Nagata Nana, while Pierre Taki plays the speech-capable The Last Blossom, whom Akutsu meets.