In a rare occurrence, the new CGI anime film from Polygon Pictures (Ajin trilogy), HUMAN LOST (人間失格) will be seeing a release overseas before Japan. Having already premiered in France on June 14th, 2019, as well a special screening at Anime Expo 2019, the film’s release date has been sketchy until now. Currently, there is still no confirmed release date for Japan. However, given that both a subtitled and dubbed version will see release in North America, the Japanese release is expected by the end of the year.
The subtitled version will premiere on October 22nd, with the English dub arriving in theaters the very next day.
So what exactly is Human Lost?
If you’re a fan of Japanese cyberpunk stories such Ghost in the Shell or Psycho-Pass, then you’ll definitely be pleased. Based on Osamu Dazai’s novel, No Longer Human (1948), Human Lost takes place in the not-so-distant future of 2036. Breakthroughs in medical science have been so impressive that death is completely avoidable. How? Nanomachines. Through an online network dubbed the S.H.E.L.L. (Sound Health and Everlasting Long Life) System, thousands of little robots are able to prevent disease and repair wounds and organ tissue, all with a promised life span of beyond 120 years to the most privileged who can afford it.
Mass levels of air pollution, high demands on the scientifically made immortals, and glitches in the S.H.E.L.L. System cause human deformities dubbed the HUMAN LOST phenomenon, placing Japan’s civilization on a thin wire between restoration and total annihilation.
The story’s main character, Yozo Oba, is not one of the lucky few who is escaping death. Desperate for answer to a series of bizarre dreams, and to obtain everlasting life, he impulsively joins a biker gang for a raid on “The Inside” where the privileged live. During a near-death encounter with a HUMAN LOST victim, (or a “Lost” as they’re called), he meets a peculiar girl named Yoshiko Hiiragi. The result leads to a discovery and a domino effect that will cause Oba’s entire life to take a dramatic turn, forcing him and the whole country to learn exactly what makes one a human being, and how death is important to understanding humanity.
Staff & Cast
Best known for his role of Light Yagami in Death Note, and Riku from the Kingdom Hearts series, Mamoru Miyano plays Yozo Oba. Kana Hanazawa, who starred in the Danganronpa series as Chiyaki Nanami and Durarara!! as Anri Sonohara will portray Yoshiko Kiiragi. Other supporting and key actors include Takahiro Sakurai, who will voice Cloud Strife in the upcoming Final Fantasy VII remake, who is set to play Masao Horiki. Jun Fukuyama, who starred in Code Geass as Leoluch, will be playing Takeichi.
Polygon Pictures has pulled together a legendary production team, most of whom have already worked together on previous titles from the same company such as Ajin and Psycho-Pass.
- Director: Fuminori Kizaki (Afro Samurai)
- Supervisor: Katsuyuki Motohiro (FLCL, Ajin, Psycho-Pass)
- Screenplay By: Tow Ubukata (Ghost in the Shell: The New Movie, Psycho-Pass 2)
- Character Designer: Yusuke Kozaki (No More Heroes, Fire Emblem: Awakening)
- Concept Artist: Kenichiro Tomiyasu (Final Fantasy X, Resident Evil: Code Veronica)
- Graphic Design: Tatsuya Kuwahara (Blame!, Sidonia no Kishi)
- CG Supervisor: Takuma Ishibashi (Ajin, Blame!)
- Color Designs: Hironori Noji (The Garden of Words)
- Sound Director: Yoshikazu Iwanami (Ajin, Blood+, Psycho-Pass series)
- Music: Yugo Kanno (JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, Psycho-Pass series)
Further Reading
If you’re already excited and can’t wait for the film’s release, get a head start with Osamu Dazai’s No Longer Human, which served as a basis for the film. Other adaptations of the original novel include a 2009 film adaptation under the novel’s original Japanese title, Ningen Shikkaku. Another live-action adaptation is set for release in Japan this September with the same title as the previous live-action film. Given that the original novel took place in the 1940s, there is only a little redundancy for two film adaptations being released in the same year as Human Lost is a futuristic re-imagination.
Three manga adaptations have also been made.
For theater information, be sure to check out the official website for those in Japan, and the FUNimation page for North America.
