Goro Taniguchi’s Paris Etoile Anime Film Gets a Manga
The December issue of Kodansha’s Afternoon magazine revealed on Tuesday that the original anime film Étoile Blossoming in Paris, known in French as L’étoile de Paris en fleur, is getting a manga adaptation. The artist Zerihan is drawing it, and the series begins in the magazine’s next issue on November 25.
The film comes from director Gorō Taniguchi, known for Code Geass and One Piece Film Red, working with Arvo Animation. Its story follows two Japanese girls reaching for their dreams, their étoile, during the hard early years of the 20th century.
Fujiko hopes to become a painter, while Chizuru is pulled toward the world of ballet. The two meet by chance in Yokohama and then, as if guided by fate, cross paths again in Paris, where they support each other in chasing what they love. The film’s gentle tagline reads, I want to blossom, in this city.
The project has gathered a notable team. Katsuya Kondō, a frequent character designer on Ghibli films like Kiki’s Delivery Service and Ponyo, is working with Taniguchi for the first time on the original designs, with Ami Tōma voicing Fujiko and Reiko Yoshida of Violet Evergarden writing the script. Takayuki Hattori is composing the music.
The film is set to open on March 13, ahead of and alongside the new manga.
My take: A heartfelt story about art and ballet with Ghibli inspired designs sounds absolutely lovely. I am already charmed by the idea of two dreamers finding each other in old Paris.
