While I’m still hoping that the Sony Pictures Classics pickup of The Red Turtle will mean a decent sized theatrical release here, it’s getting ready for its Japanese premiere on September 17th, 2016. Ahead of that, Toho has now brought out the first full trailer that clocks in at 90-seconds and showcases a good bit of the style and feel of the film. The work comes from director Michael Dudok de Wit as his first feature. After winning the Best Animated Short Film Academy Award back in 2000 with Father and Daughter, this project is an intriguing one that is the first international co-production for Studio Ghibli who worked with Wild Bunch and Why Not Productions for it.
“The Red Turtle takes you on an ultimate journey through life. It sweeps you up in fantasy, poetry, and awesome visual beauty. Artistically and commercially it is a major movie for all ages,” says Sony Pictures Classics.
Plot concept: The dialogue-free picture centers on a man shipwrecked on a tropical island inhabited by turtles, crabs and birds. When he builds a wooden raft, he is confronted by the titular turtle. The story then follows the milestones in his life on the island which include meeting a woman and starting a family.
