Studio TRIGGER's first feature-length film PROMARE is right around the corner in Japan. In advance of its May 24 release, TOHO Animation started streaming an extra long trailer with a lot of juicy cuts. We hope the upcoming movie by Hiroyuki Imaishi and the other TRIGGER notables hits the rest of the world soon. Bigger news than just the new trailer though; theatergoers in Japan will be handed character cards with an exclusive link to a ten-minute prequel film called Galo-hen. Taking its name from the main character of the movie, Galo-hen will be set one day before Promare itself.
PROMARE will spiritually the follow the tone and ethos set by Gurren Lagann and KILL la KILL; the previous two works created by the director Hiroyuki Imaishi and writer Kazuki Nakashima duo. The film will center around a new rescue unit recruit named Galo who has to take on a number of challenged and enemies in his “Matoi Unit” mech. The word Matoi serves both a call back to KILL la KILL's lead character Ryuko Matoi and a nod to Matoi banners firefighters in Edo times would carry. With a film budget used to create a 90 minute or so animation, this may end up being the definitive or at least most distilled Studio TRIGGER experience.
The rest of Spring and Summer are bringing us a number of anime films to look forward to. PROMARE, as well as its prequel Galo-hen, joins the likes of several heavy hitters; Studio 4°C's Children Of The Sea, Masaaki Yuasa's Kimi to, Nami ni Noretara, and Makoto Shinkai's Weathering With You. There's stiff competition but with PROMARE out earlier than the rest it has a big chance of catching on. That said, more potentially great anime films is never a bad thing when you're a fan.
PROMARE will hit Japanese theaters May 24, with Galo-hen in tow.
