Feb 11, 2019

Masaaki Yuasa to Direct New “Crayon Shin-chan” Spin-off Series

Masaaki Yuasa has announced a new episodic project to be produced by Science Sal, the studio he co-founded with Choi Eun-young.

Yuasa is returning to his roots in animation to produce a spin-off based on the popular TV series “Crayon Shin-chan.” Titled “Super Shiro,” the show features Shin-chan's dog, who turns out to be more than just a pet, but a heroic act to protect the world from evil.

In addition to Yuasa, who will serve as general director, Tomohisa Shimoyama (chief director) and Kimiko Ueno (screenwriter) will participate in this new project. TV Asahi, Shin-Ei Animation, ADK EM, and Futabasha will produce the film.

In the early 1990s, director Yuasa worked as a set designer on “Crayon Shin-chan Action Mask vs. Leotard Devil. Since then, he has worked on a number of animated feature films, most recently as a storyboard and animator for Crayon Shin-chan: A Touching Story! The 23rd film in the series, “The Great Cactus Attack!

Last year, Yuasa's latest animated feature films, “Lou Goes Over the Wall” and “The Night is Short and Walking Maidens,” were released theatrically in the United States by GKIDS. The independent distributor also acquired the rights to the limited theatrical release and home video release of the director's cult classic “Mind Game,” the first official U.S. release of this influential 2004 film.

Cartoon Brew sat down with Yuasa at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival to discuss his multiple new ventures and his intention to return to family-friendly films. When I started my career, I was mostly working on family-oriented shows like Shin-chan and Chibimaruko-chan, but when I became a director, I was offered only projects that were not for children,” the director said in that conversation. Super Shiro will take him into that space.

News of the upcoming show was first translated by Anime News Network.