"Ni no Kuni" will launch the animated theatrical version of the same name this summer

Warner Bros. Japan and Level-5 Studios will jointly launch a theatrical animation based on Ni no Kuni. The story of the film will be independent of the two Ni no Kuni games and is scheduled to premiere in Japan this summer.

At present, the film has released a few details. The plot will continue to follow the setting of the game, allowing the high school student protagonist Yuuh and his good friends Kotona and Haru to travel to a fantasy world and change the course of world history through their own choices.

If you are familiar with the Ni no Kuni games, you will see many echoes of the games in the movie. Kotona is in danger in both worlds, and the three friends must work together to resolve the crisis.

The protagonist Yuu will be voiced by Kento Yamazaki, who has previously starred in the live-action versions of Death Note, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, and Yo-kai Watch. Level-5 studio founder Akihiro Hino will oversee the script. The film's animation will be produced by OLM, which has produced animations such as Pokémon and Yo-kai Watch. Studio Ghibli's music master Joe Hisaishi will be responsible for the film's soundtrack, and the film will also include music from the two Ni no Kuni games.

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is considered by many to be the pinnacle of JRPGs in the last console generation. Ni no Kuni 2: Revenant of the Dead also received rave reviews for its innovative gameplay. It is not yet clear whether the Ni no Kuni animated film will be released outside of Japan.