Remember ‘Odd Taxi’ and ‘Beastars’? The way they present anthropomorphic animals interacting with each other makes them incredibly human. For example, how they rant, plot against someone, or express their emotions is nowhere close to animals.
‘The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store’ puts actual humans with these animals, further blurring the lines of what is truly human. It also puts a newcomer into funny situations as she learns the ropes of her new job at a shopping mall.
On Friday, the official website for the film ‘The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store’ released a teaser video. It also revealed the cast and more staff members. The film will premiere in the fall of this year.
In the 30-second video, the main character Akino is working at the Hokkyoku Mall, and she notices that all the customers are animals. Some of those are even extinct, like a mammoth. She jumps back in startlement on seeing the mammoth and steps on a penguin colleague.
As per the official website, the main cast of the film is listed below:
| Character | Voice Artist | Other Works |
| Akino | Natsumi Kawaida | Natsumi Hodaka (Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater) |
| Eruru, the penguin | Takeo Ōtsuka | Aquamarine Hoshino (Oshi no Ko) |
| Tōdō, the floor manager | Nobuo Tobita | Ken Wakashimazu (Captain Tsubasa) |
| Mori, a senior concierge | Megumi Han | Gon Freecss (Hunter × Hunter) |
| Iwase, a senior concierge | Natsumi Fujiwara | Theoto Rikka (86) |
| Maruki, a veteran concierge | Eiji Yoshitomi | Minoro Otake (Detective Conan) |
| Maître d’ of the store’s restaurant | Jun Fukuyama | Finral Roulacase (Black Clover) |
| Tokiwa, a salesman | Yūichi Nakamura | Satoru Gojō (Jujutsu Kaisen) |
More members of the main staff were revealed. The staff members involved in the making are as follows:
| Position | Staff | Other Works |
| Director | Yoshimi Itazu | Welcome to the Ballroom |
| Scriptwriter | Satomi Ooshima | Hataraki Man, Raven of the Inner Palace |
| Character Design | Chiyo Morita (also Chief Animation Director) | Run with the Wind (Animation Director) |
| Music | tofubeats | ClassicaLoid |
| Animation Production | Production I.G. | Heavenly Delusion, Psycho-Pass |
While it looks a little unusual, it is amusing to see a human helping animals with their shopping. The background designs are notably attractive, with textures and well-chosen colors. It does make me wonder how the mall exists in the first place. I guess the movie will explain more about it when it arrives.
About The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store
The Concierge at Hokkyoku Department Store (Hokkyoku Hyakkaten no Concierge-san) is a manga series by Tsuchika Nishimura. It was serialized in Shogakukan’s Big Comic Zōkan from February 2017 to November 2018. It is collected into two volumes.
The series received the Excellence Award in 2022 at the 25th Jaoam Media Arts Festival.
Akino begins her new job as a concierge in a shopping mall. She guides her customers and helps with their unique needs. What’s strange about it? All the customers are animals, including some rare and even extinct species.
Source: Official Website , Comic Natalie
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