In a year certain to be crowded with great-looking anime—includingDemon Slayer:Infinity Castleand theChainsaw Man: Rezemovie, to name just a few—the new action-packed trailer forVirgin Punkstill manages to make an impression. One look at the footage of young bounty hunters waging war with special weapons in stunning settings suggests that something extraordinary is on the way whenVirgin Punkdebuts in Japan this June. And yet, unlike the other anime mentioned earlier,Virgin Punkisn’t based on a manga or an existing IP—it’s an original work by one of anime’s master creators: Yasuomi Umetsu.
Previously the director of cult anime classics likeKite,Mezzo Forte, andWizard Barristers,Yasuomi Umetsu has now teamed up withstudio SHAFTto bringVirgin Punkto life. Known as a top anime studio with acclaimed titles likePuella Magi Madoka MagicaandMonogatari, SHAFT has clearly brought its A-game toVirgin Punk, excelling not only in the dynamic action scenes but also in the lifelike character animation seen throughout the trailer. But,the secret sauce toVirgin Punk’svisual spectacle is Yasuomi Umetsu himself.
Breaking the Mold: Umetsu’s Unique Anime Style
From Animator to Cult Director
While he isn’t as well-known as world-famous anime directors like Hayao Miyazaki or Makoto Shinkai, Yasuomi Umetsu’s name on a project immediately makes it a must-watch for fans of action-oriented anime.He hasbeen working as a director, writer, and animator for over four decades,with many of his works leaving a deep impression on the medium. Never one to chase trends, Umetsu’s art style leans toward a bold use of color and real-world detail. At a time when cartoonish anime likeDragon Ballwere popular, Umetsu’s early work, such asMegazone 23Part 2(1986), with its authentic punk rock look and attitude, totally broke the mold.
Umetsu worked as an animator and character designer on numerous high-profile projects, includingAkiraandGrave of the Fireflies, before his artistic breakthrough came in 1998 withKite. A controversial tale of a schoolgirl assassin filled with intense action and shootouts,Kite—which Umetsu also scripted—became a global hit and was later adapted into a live-action movie starring Samuel L. Jackson in 2014.
Seemingly encouraged byKite’ssuccess, Umetsu leaned further into the “girls with guns” genre with the 2000 mercenary action animeMezzo Forteand the 2007 sequelKite Liberator. He then shifted to futuristic science fiction with the 2013 anime seriesGalilei Donna, which follows three sisters falsely accused of terrorism. In 2014, he introducedWizard Barristers, blendingHarry Potter-style magic with his signature action-oriented sensibilities. While neitherGalilei DonnanorWizard Barristersreached the same level of success asKite, both remain unique and ripe for rediscovery.
The Long-Awaited Return of Yasuomi Umetsu
A Return to His Roots
The newVirgin Punkanime marks the first time Yasuomi Umetsu has sat in the director’s chair in over a decade.The narrative centers on the protagonist, Ubu, who becomes a bounty hunter. The story follows Ubu as she navigates a world of chaos and ambition, surrounded by intense personalities. It’s not yet known ifVirgin Punkwill be a full-fledged TV series or how it will be distributed outside of Japan. But for now, episode one ofVirgin Punk, titledClockwork Girl, is debuting in movie theaters in Tokyo and Osaka.
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In a recent interview,directorYasuomi Umetsu explained thatVirgin Punkserves as a return to his roots,aiming to satisfy long-time fans of his earlier works likeKiteandMezzo Forte. He also hopes to captivate a new generation unfamiliar with these classics. As the premiere ofClockwork Girlapproaches in June, anticipation builds to see how Umetsu’s distinctive style has evolved with the help of studio SHAFT.
