Directed by Eric Khoo, Singapore's Leading Filmmaker

Yoshihiro Tatsumi is a creator who has received high acclaim not only in Japan but also overseas, in countries like France and the United States, since the 1980s. He is known as the originator of "gekiga," a term he coined to elevate "manga," which was originally for children, into a form of adult literature by eliminating deformation and humor, and leveraging the characteristics of lengthy comic books.

Tatsumi, who also played a pivotal role in elevating manga to an "art form" worthy of adult appreciation, has had his autobiographical life and five of his short works adapted into the animated feature "TATSUMI: The Man Who Revolutionized Manga" by Singaporean director Eric Khoo. The film is based on his award-winning work "Gekiga Hyoryu" (The Drifting Gekiga), which received the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize Grand Prize in 2009, and is now being "re-imported" to Japan.

Director Eric Khoo, a regular at the Cannes Film Festival, has primarily directed live-action films. Deeply impressed by Tatsumi's work, he brought it to life using the latest technology, achieving a visual style akin to "moving manga." In the Japanese version, Tatsumi himself lends his voice, and actor Tetsuya Bessho takes on six roles.

Tatsumi: Chronicling the Lives of the Marginalized Amidst a World of Merriment

As a middle schooler, Tatsumi began drawing manga with his brother, inspired by Osamu Tezuka. Later, encouraged by Tezuka's words, "Draw a full-length manga," Tatsumi turned professional shortly after graduating high school.

Tatsumi then named his adult-oriented works "gekiga," a term that evoked a strong narrative and dramatic feel. He formed "Gekiga Kobo" (Gekiga Studio) with peers, igniting the gekiga boom. Ironically, as gekiga gained widespread acceptance and numerous popular artists emerged, Tatsumi's commissions decreased. Forced to draw for a living, he began depicting the lives of those in the shadows, channeling his anger towards a society caught up in rapid economic growth.

The film "TATSUMI: The Man Who Revolutionized Manga" also includes five short stories, such as "Jigoku" (Hell), about a man who photographed the immediate aftermath of the atomic bombing as a war correspondent, and "Itoshi no Monkey" (My Dearest Monkey), the tale of a lonely man living with a monkey. While acclaimed worldwide, Tatsumi Yoshihiro's genius remains largely unknown in Japan. It is time to rediscover his talent.



"TATSUMI: The Man Who Revolutionized Manga"
Opening November 15 (Saturday) at Kadokawa Cinema Shinjuku and other theaters nationwide
Director | Eric Khoo
Voice Cast | Tetsuya Bessho, Yoshihiro Tatsumi
Distributor | Bitters End
2011 | Singapore | 96 min
http://tatsumi-movie.jp/