Exciting Premiere and New Anime from Studio Dotou: KILLTUBE

July Event to Showcase a Scene from KILLTUBE

This July, anime fans have a special treat! The Anime Expo will host the world premiere of a scene from KILLTUBE, featuring the talented guest director Kazuaki Kuribayashi. The screening is scheduled for July 5 at 12:00 p.m. PDT.

Studio Dotou, known for its innovative projects, announced the upcoming release of their first anime film, KILLTUBE, with a new trailer streaming on Monday. The studio shared their excitement on Twitter:

🔥KILLTUBE at AX 2025!🔥 We're so excited to finally share our project with you all!(@KILLTUBEgl) [June 21]

About the Film

CHOCOLATE Inc., a Japanese company renowned for its work on Demon Slayer and other projects, revealed plans to produce KILLTUBE in April 2024. The film is set for a spring 2026 release worldwide, aiming for a 90-minute runtime.

Plot Overview

Set in 2026 Japan under the Edo Shogunate, the story follows three individuals, considered outcasts, who meet in a prison cell. They join the dueling video platform "KILLTUBE" to seek fortune and freedom in a segregated society.

In an era called the "Age of Great Duels," where defeating the strong can bring wealth, they face discrimination from samurais and merchants vying for power. As they break societal limits and win battles, they become celebrated figures. But just as they reach fame, they uncover the dark secrets behind "KILLTUBE"...

Innovative Visuals and Production

The film will feature 3D CG that mimics the look of shin-hanga (Showa period woodblock prints), with vivid colors and textured details. The project boasts a budget of 1 billion yen (about US$6.6 million), collaborating with VFX studio KASSEN and concept artist group WACHAJACK.

Creative Team

• Director & Planning: Kazuaki Kuribayashi (Studio Dotou)
• Planning & Production: CHOCOLATE Inc.
• Script: Saeri Natsuo, Ryō Takemura, Takenori Tokuyama
• World Setting: Yūsuke Ujita
• Visual & Technical Direction: Takumi Shiga, Masato Gotō, Bivi, Frog96, Marusō
• Character Design: Nike Shimaguchi
• VFX & Technical Supervision: Takahiro Ōta (KASSEN)
• Music: Matsuza Katakumi, Takao Ogi
• Concept Art: Fujihiko Sawai (WACHAJACK), Shūsei Sasaya
• Character & Art Design: ARuFa, Masataka Yoshida, Takuya Sekikawa
• CG & Animation: Daisuke Kaneko (StudioNoco), Yūki Mizoguchi, Satoshi Takeno (MontBlanc Pictures), Jun Kazuse (Barehand), Tai Komatsu, Hiroyuki Okada
• Production Lead: Nanao Nakatsuka

This project is part of "108 Experiments", an initiative by CHOCOLATE Inc. to explore new ways of creating, presenting, and monetizing original stories.

Studio Dotou was established through a collaboration between CHOCOLATE Inc., Kassen Inc., and WACHAJACK. Their goal is to innovate beyond traditional industry boundaries, bringing together diverse talents to craft new storytelling methods.

Stay tuned for more updates on this exciting project!

Source: Email correspondence