SYNOPSIS
When you’re a bored teenager looking for thrills, sometimes the only thing you can turn to is rock ‘n roll. Having no skill, money, or even a full set of drums, a feared trio of high school delinquents nevertheless decide they are destined for musical glory in a quest to impress their only friend Aya, avoid a rival gang, and – most importantly – jam out.
Animated almost entirely by director Kenji Iwaisawa, and featuring a lead performance by Japanese alt-rock legend Shintaro Sakamoto, ON-GAKU: OUR SOUND brings its own sound and vision to the Hiroyuki Ohashi manga from which it was adapted. With pitch-perfect deadpan humor, the film presents a highly original take on the beloved slacker comedy: a lo-fi buddy film with a blaring musical finale that will leave you wanting an immediate encore.
2020 Annecy Film Festival - Official Selection
2019 Ottawa International Animation Festival Winner - Nelvana Grand Prize
Annie Award Nominee - Best Indie Feature
REVIEWS
“Upends all that is typical of Japanese animation.”
- VARIETY
"Joins the works of Don Hertzfeldt and the early shorts of Makoto Shinkai in the world of hyper-personal DIY animation."
- CBR
"An absolute knockout."
- CRITERION CAST