Odd Taxi: In the Woods

Odd Taxi: In the Woods (オッドタクシー イン・ザ・ウッズ) is a 2022 Japanese animated mystery film directed by Baku Kinoshita and written by Kazuya Kinomoto. It is based on 2021 anime television series Odd Taxi produced by OLM and P.I.C.S. It was released in April 2022 by Asmik Ace in Japan, with Crunchyroll acquiring North American distribution rights.

Plot

The plot of the film was described as a "reconstruction" on the events of the 2021 series, according to a press release by Famitsu,[2] with a depiction of the events which take place after the series finale.[3] The plot of the original series focuses on Odokawa, a middle-aged walrus taxi driver, whose interactions with his customers entangle him into a recent disappearance of a girl.[2]

The end of the film includes an expanded scene depicting Odokawa's confrontation with Sakura Wadagaki, who was revealed in the series to have killed and replaced Yuki Mitsuya, the missing girl who was a backup singer in Mystery Kiss. In the credits, it is shown that Odokawa survived his encounter with Sakura and that Sakura was arrested for her crimes.

Voice cast

A preliminary list was listed by Famitsu for the cast for the film.[2] The main cast reprise their roles from the main series.

Production

The film's production was announced on December 25, 2021, through the official series' Twitter. The date corresponds to the date of the series finale within the series itself.[4] On the initial release, promotional material depicted the series' protagonist Odokawa in an interrogation room,[4] prompting speculation regarding the film's plot.[2] The film's trailer featured a blend of previous footage from the series and brand-new footage. The film was released on April 1, 2022, in Japan,[5] with an unknown international release date.[6] It was additionally revealed that the cast from the 2021 series would be reprising their roles for the film.[3] Director Baku Kinoshita and writer Kazuya Konomoto additionally would head the production of the film.[2]

Crunchyroll subsequently announced that it received distribution rights in North America,[7] while Asmik Ace received Japanese distribution rights.[8] On July 15, 2022, Mighty Media announced that they would distribute the film in Taiwan.[9]

Reception

Odd Taxi: In the Woods earned $437,828 at the Japanese box office.[1]

References

  1. Eiga Odd Taxi: In the Woods box office Box Office Mojo, May 30, 2022, retrieved May 30, 2022^
  2. 映画『オッドタクシー イン・ザ・ウッズ』2022年4月1日公開決定. 衝撃の最終回のその後も描かれる! 特報映像公開、花江夏樹らのコメントが到着 Famitsu, retrieved December 29, 2021^
  3. Melvyn Tan. Odd Taxi Movie Announced For April 1 anitrendz.net, December 25, 2021, retrieved December 29, 2021^
  4. Hiroaki Mabuchi. 『映画 オッドタクシー イン・ザ・ウッズ』が2022年4月1に上映決定! 特報映像とティザービジュアルが公開 IGN Japan, December 25, 2021, retrieved December 29, 2021^
  5. Margarida Bastos. 'Odd Taxi' Anime Sets Premiere Date for 'In The Woods' Film Collider, December 24, 2021, retrieved December 29, 2021^
  6. Evan Valentine. Odd Taxi Announces New Movie ComicBook.com Anime, December 25, 2021, retrieved December 29, 2021^
  7. Joseph Luster. ODDTAXI Movie Officially Announced, Will Stream on Crunchyroll Crunchyroll, December 25, 2021, retrieved December 25, 2021^
  8. Crystalyn Hodgkins. Odd Taxi Anime Gets Film on April 1 Anime News Network, December 25, 2021, retrieved December 29, 2021^
  9. Rafael Antonio Pineda. Odd Taxi Anime Film Opens in Taiwan on August 19 Anime News Network, July 15, 2021, retrieved July 15, 2021^