Animation production company P.A.WORKS has produced numerous masterpieces including “Skip and Loafer”, which is currently airing, “Ya Boy Kongming!”, which has been in the news for its live-action version, “Uma Musume Pretty Derby”, “SHIROBAKO”, “Hanasaku Iroha ~Blossoms for Tomorrow~”, and “MAQUIA: WHEN THE PROMISED FLOWER BLOOMS”. The talented group of animators has announced that their new work will be an animation based on a “whisky distillery”!
Image source: From the official website
1. Synopsis
P.A.WORKS has been depicting characters who struggle daily with the theme of “work.” The latest in the “Work Series” by P.A.WORKS is set in a Japanese whisky distillery that is attracting attention around the world!
After the death of her father, a young female president, Komada Rui, takes over her family’s distillery, “Komada Distillery,” and aims to restore the distillery, which is in financial difficulties, as well as her family, which has been torn apart, and to revive a fantastic whisky, which can be called “family ties,” that cannot be produced due to a disaster.Reference: ” Welcome to Komada Distillery” official site GAGA
2. Cast
(Yol Forger in “SPY×FAMILY”, Shinobu Kocho in “Demon Slayer”, etc.)
(Norman in “The Promised Neverland”, Rikka Takanashi in “Love, Chunibyo & Other Delusions!” etc.)
(Kuranosuke Shiraishi in “The Prince of Tennis”, Olga Itsuka “Mobile Suit Gundam Iron-Blooded Orphans”, etc.)
3. Staff
4. Annecy International Animated Film Festival [Contre Champs] Official Selection
The film will be officially entered in the Annecy International Animated Film Festival [Contre Champs] to be held in Annecy, France from Sunday, June 11 to Saturday, June 17.
This festival was established in 1960 when the animation section became independent from the Cannes International Film Festival.
The festival is held in Annecy, a city in southeastern France, and this year, 202 films selected from 3380 films from 112 countries will be screened officially.
The festival has been in existence for over 60 years and is the largest animation film festival in the world.
The festival selected the film because of its careful, almost documentary-like approach to depicting the little-known whisky production process and its careful portrayal of the characters, and because “after watching the film, all I wanted to do was to drink good Japanese whisky!” The film was highly praised by the audience!
It can be said that the world-recognized Japanimation and Japanese whisky are an excellent match.
5. Certain similarities?
Many of you who have already seen the teaser movie may be wondering, “Oh, what’s this?” I’m sure many of you have already seen the teaser movie and are wondering, “Oh?
I’d like to list some of the elements that will be included in the movie.
The first thing to note is this main visual, a poster of the main character, Rui Komada, staring at a tattered distillery.
Don’t you recognize her jacket…?
Image source: Saburomaru Distillery
Mr. Inagaki, the master blender at Saburomaru Distillery, often wears this uniform.
It’s hard to confirm because he rarely turns his back in photos and videos, but…
For a brief moment, we can see the label design of the Tarot Card series of Single Malt Saburomaru from Saburomaru Distillery printed on the back of the jacket.
I think it is safe to say that it is similar to the color of the jacket worn by the main character and the logo on the back.
Next, here’s a look inside the Komada distillery 
This arrangement, the green fermenter, and the pot still further back, if I may ask…?
Unlike the size of the Forsyth and hybrid stills, the pot still “ZEMON” has a distinctive form.
This is one of the similarities.
One more push.
This building at the back of the entrance of the Sabromaru Distillery.
Image source: Official Twitter
Here is an image that we think is definitive!
It is not too much to say that this is a similarity or even a trace…!
And P.A.WORKS, the production company that created this animation, has its headquarters in Nanto City, next door to Saburomaru Distillery’s Nanto City in Toyama Prefecture.
With such similarities and close proximity to the land, it may not be surprising to see some kind of supervision or provision of information.
However, the teaser movie has just been released.
It will be a long time before the film is released in November, but we are waiting for further information.
