Neon Alley is getting another expansion to its ranks this January as starting on January 17th at 9:30pm PST, Kids on the Slope will debut on the service. The series, released by Sentai Filmworks on DVD and Blu-ray after an original simulcast run, is a twelve episode drama about a group of young Japanese jazz musicians originally aired in Japan as a part of the prestigious ‘noitaminA’ block on Fuji TV. Neon Alley will be bringing out more installments weekly at the same time until it’s completed.
“KIDS ON THE SLOPE is a rich character-driven drama that demonstrates the power that music has to dramatically alter lives, and we’re very excited to bring it to North American fans on Neon Alley,” says Charlene Ingram, Senior Animation Marketing Manager. “Directed by Shinichiro Watanabe of Cowboy Bebop and Space Dandy fame, the series wonderfully captures the look and sound of 60s era Japan. Watanabe reunites with acclaimed Cowboy Bebop composer Yoko Kanno, who creates a rich and textured jazz soundtrack for this dynamic new musical drama. We invite fans to catch the mesmerizing premiere!”
Plot concept: Get ready to be blown away as the acclaimed team behind COWBOY BEBOP reunites for a tale of life, love, and all that jazz in KIDS ON THE SLOPE! Set during the summer of 1966 and based on a popular manga series created by Yuki Kodama, KIDS ON THE SLOPE! is the story of High school freshman Kaoru Nishimi struggling to adjust to the latest of many moves in his young life – this time to his uncle’s home in the seaside town of Kyushu. It’s never easy adjusting. But this time will be different. This time he’ll meet friends who’ll change his life forever. And he’ll discover a new passion, one that grabs his heart and rocks him to his very soul. It’s called JAZZ, and together with bad boy Sentaro and music store girl Ritsuko, they’re going to follow their muse to wherever the music takes them!
