The last of the recent anime acquisition announcements made by Sentai during their digital event was for Twittering Birds Never Fly, a feature-length animated trilogy based on the original manga by Kou Yoneda. The trilogy is still in development, with the first film – titled Clouds Gather – released earlier this year in Japan. The film’s release schedule for the first film will include traditional bookings at select cinemas as well as virtual screenings for audiences at home.
Clouds Gather, the trilogy’s first installment, introduces two steely members of the Yakuza, each with secrets in their past, who occupy trusted and feared positions in the Japanese underworld. Recent parolee, Doumeki, is assigned to guard Yashiro, a mid-level enforcer who deals out daily doses of coercion, retribution and other criminal acts with brutal efficiency. But behind closed doors, their relationship quickly becomes psychologically and physically complicated. Theirs is a story entanglement, tension, power and control, with the intention of being a gritty take on classic noir mixed with stark eroticism.
Twittering Birds Never Fly is being produced and animated by studio GRIZZLY, with Kaori Makita (Banana Fish, episode director) serving as director and Hiroshi Seko (Ajin: Demi-Human) providing the script. Seiyuus Wataru Hatano (Hitorijime My Hero) and Tarusuke Shingaki (My Hero Academia 4) performed respectively the roles of Chikara Domeki and Yashiro in the audio drama adaption of the manga series; and have reprised their roles for the Twittering Birds Never Fly films.
Expect to hear more about Twittering Birds Never Fly over the coming weeks, months and years.
