Sora Amamiya, Rie Takahashi, Miku Ito, Akari Kito, and Ikumi Hasegawa star in the long-awaited theater anime adaptation of “Ganbatte Ikimassyoi”! Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture: Pilgrimage to a holy place for the anime is also expected!
A moving work from Ehime that reflects the brilliance of youth
It has been announced that Ryoko Shikimura’s popular novel “Ganbatte Ikimasshoi” has been made into a long-awaited animated feature film, which will be released nationwide on October 25, 2024. Set in a high school in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, this moving work depicts the growth and friendship of high school girls who devote their adolescence to rowing.
A story of youth devoted to rowing competitions
This is a coming-of-age drama featuring Etsuko Murakami, a second-year high school student.
Etsuko, who had been leading a cold life, starts working hard to revive the rowing club, which was on the verge of being discontinued, when she meets a passionate transfer student, Takahashi Riina.
The story carefully depicts the process by which Etsuko and her friends strengthen their bonds with their peers and face themselves in the face of various difficulties. Against the beautiful backdrop of the Seto Inland Sea, the girls’ growth and struggles are vividly depicted, deeply touching the viewer’s heart.
A star-studded cast plays the roles of five high school girls!
Popular voice actors have gathered to play the roles of the five main high school girls!
Sora Ten as Etsuko Murakami: Sora Amamiya (”Sword Art Online” Alice, etc.)
Rie Takahashi as Riina Takahashi (Ai Hoshino in “OSHI NO KO”, etc.)
Miku Ito as Princess Saeki (Miku Nakano in “The Quintessential Quintuplets”, etc.)
Akari Kito as Taeko Hyodo (“Demon Slayer” as Priestess Nezuko Kamado, etc.)
Ikumi Hasegawa as Mayumi Imoto (“Bocchi Za Rokku! Kita Ikuyo, etc.)
In addition, a splendid cast of voice actors such as Ayana Taketatsu, Suzuko Mimori, Aya Uchida, and Takuya Eguchi also provide supporting roles, adding depth to the work.
For details of each voice actor, please check the voice actor database.
Amamiya Sora / Rie Takahashi / Miku Ito / Akari Kito / Ikumi Hasegawa
The production team is also gorgeous! A collection of talented creators!
The production of this work is the work of many talented people in the animation industry:
Director: Yuhei Sakuragi (“Even if the world ends tomorrow”)
Screenplay: Keiichiro Ochi (“The Bride of the Fifth Class”)
Character Design: Asako Nishida (“Love Live!”)
Music: Yuki Kajiura (“Sword Art Online the Movie – Progressive”)
Animation Production: P.A.WORKS
A milestone in youth fiction born in Ehime
The original work, “Gotta Go, I’ll Keep Going” is a coming-of-age novel published in 1995 by Shikimura Ryoko, a writer from Ehime Prefecture. Since its release, it has gained tremendous popularity among young people and has sold more than 3 million copies in total.
The title “Ganbatte Ikimassyoi” means “Let’s do our best” in Ehime dialect, and is used as an important keyword in the novel. The use of language with a rich regional flavor and the depiction of the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea are also part of the charm of this work.
Twicelive-action adaptation; expectations for new interpretation in anime
This very popular work has been adapted to live-action twice: once as a movie starring Rena Tanaka in 1998, and once as a TV drama starring Anne Suzuki and Ryo Nishikido in 2005.
Both were highly acclaimed, but this animated version is expected to more faithfully reproduce the world of the original work while bringing out new charms with expressions unique to animation.
Sora Amamiya, who plays the lead role, makes a pilgrimage to a holy place in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture!
To coincide with the theatrical anime adaptation of “Ganbatte Ikimasshoi,” which is set in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, where the film is set, Ten Amamiya, the voice actress who portrays the main character “Etsuko,” has published an original visual pamphlet “Ten Amamiya’s Amamiya Sora’s Matsuyama Picturesque Journey” is now available for download free of charge!
Click here for the download page: “Amamiya Sora’s Matsuyama 寫満旅” visual pamphlet
There are many places where you can make a “pilgrimage to sacred places” such as Dogo Onsen, Matsuyama Castle, and Umezuji Beach! The Matsuyama City Tourism Association also has high expectations for local revitalization through anime tourism.
The author recommends tangerine juice and tai-meshi (sea bream rice). I hope you will try them while on your pilgrimage to the holy places!
Public Information
The film is scheduled to be released in movie theaters nationwide from October 25, 2024. It will be screened at major cinema chains as well as at local cinemas in Ehime Prefecture.
In Ehime Prefecture, in particular, special tickets with original goods will be available for two weeks from the opening day, and other special offers unique to the local community will also be available.
The film “Ganbatte Ikimasshoi” is expected to attract audiences of all ages with its beautiful images, heartwarming story, and the charms of Ehime. This film, which allows viewers to rediscover the brilliance of youth and the charms of the region, is expected to be a blockbuster hit that will sweep the movie industry in the fall of 2024.
