We learned last fall that a new feature film is slated for a summer 2020 debut with Happy-Go-Lucky Days which is known as Dōnika Naru Hibi in Japan. Scheduled for a May 8th, 2020 debut, the film was delayed indefinitely in early April 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but eventually ended up with an October 23rd, 2020 debut for it.
Now, Sentai Filmworks has announced their acquisition of the film for release with streaming and home video. The distributor has set a December 10th, 2020 debut on HIDIVE For it with a home video release and additional digital distribution to come.
They’ve picked up the rights to it in North America, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Netherlands, Greenland, Faroe and Aland Islands, Scandinavia, Spain, Portugal, Central America and South America, including Latin America.
It has Takuya Sato directing based on the screenplay they co-wrote with Yoriko Tomita. Haruka Sagawa handled the character designs while LIDEN Films Kyoto Studio is handling the animation production.
The Japanese cast includes Kana Hanazawa as Ecchan, Mikako Komatsu as Aya-san, Takahiro Sakurai as Sawa-sensei, Seiichirō Yamashita as Yagasaki-kun, Ibuki Kido as Shin-chan, Kaori Ishihara as Mika-chan, Saori Hayami as Yuri, Nobunaga Shimazaki as Tanabe-kun, Mutsumi Tamura as Yoriko-san, Kōhei Amasaki as Shin-chan’s father, and Ryoko Shiraishi as Shin-chan’s mother.
The original anthology novel came from Takako Shimura who is known for Wandering Son and Sweet Blue Flowers.
Check out the official site and Twitter.
Plot Concept: Happy-Go-Lucky Days tells three unique stories of young people in Japan from very different backgrounds but who all must grapple with changes, in mind, body and soul, on their bittersweet journey from adolescence. From a forbidden crush, to the wedding of a former lover, to the burgeoning feelings for a childhood friend, each scenario may differ, but they have one thing in common: These are universally frank stories of humanity that will touch the hearts of audiences everywhere.
