Japanese Animated Feature ‘Keeper of the Camphor Tree’ From Director Tomohiko Ito Boarded by Charades (EXCLUSIVE)

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The popular French advertising sign, Charades, has signed on for “The Keeper of the Camphor Tree,” a forthcoming animated film from the Japanese entertainment company Aniplex and renowned director Tomohiko Ito.

The movie is based on Keigo Higashino’s novel “The Devotion of Suspect X,” which has sold over a million copies. Previously, some of Higashino’s other works have been adapted for both film and television multiple times; however, this is the first instance where one of his stories is being turned into an animated version.

Based in Tokyo, “The Guardian of the Camphor Tree” narrates the story of Reito, a young man who finds himself incarcerated after his mother’s passing and a string of unfortunate events. With no prospects for the future, he feels utterly hopeless. However, this all takes an unexpected turn when a lawyer from a powerful family dynasty presents him with an escape route – under one condition: Reito must accept an enigmatic role as the Caretaker of the Camphor Tree.

The animation will be produced by A-1 Pictures, Aniplex’s subsidiary company.

Ito stated, “In this project, the camphor tree symbolizes the whole of the human heart. Through this movie, I wish to convey my appreciation to those who have shaped me into who I am now.

For the first time, Aniplex, based in Tokyo, is collaborating with an international sales agent independent of Asia on a project led by an up-and-coming animation director. This individual has been involved in numerous top-tier animated films and series, such as Mamoru Hosoda’s “The Girl Who Leapt Through Time” and “Summer Wars,” as well as the hit TV show “Sword Art Online” and the movie “Sword Art Online: Ordinal Scale.” His most recent creation, “Hello World,” was released in Japan by Toho.

Producer Go Wakabayashi expressed, “Ever since observing his storytelling directly, I’ve had the desire to create a movie that mirrors his tale. Given his exceptional skill in character development and emotional depth, I firmly believe he is perfect for directing a feature-length film.

Established in 1997, Aniplex emerged as a joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony Music Entertainment within Japan. In 2003, it transitioned into a fully owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and rebranded to Aniplex Inc. Over the years, this company has produced an array of animation films and TV series based on renowned manga and webtoons like “Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaba” and “Solo Leveling,” as well as original hits such as the TV show “Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

Producer Yuichiro Saito, from Studio Chizu and associated with Mamoru Hosoda, noted that the work of “The Keeper of the Camphor Tree” beautifully captures the sweeping course of human life. He discussed themes such as life and death, family dynamics, personal development, and the transfer of life’s torch across generations. It would not be an exaggeration to refer to Mr. Ito as the potential successor or ‘the next Hosoda.’

Yohann Comte, one of the founders of Charades, commented: “We are deeply grateful and proud that Aniplex chose to work with us on such a director-led, ambitious project. Director Ito was surrounded by exceptional artists and an incredibly talented and dedicated production team. I would also like to express my gratitude to Studio Chizu’s CEO and producer Saito-san for introducing us to the talents of Ito-san.

Charades has garnered recognition in the realm of animation, with its recent involvement in the production of the Latvian feature film “Flow.” This movie turned heads at the 2025 Academy Awards, earning the accolade for Best Animated Feature – a notable achievement.

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2025-04-25 16:21