Tiger Mask animated film announced by Fabula Pictures, Brandon Box, and Kodansha

Fabula Pictures, Brandon Box, and Kodansha Ltd have announced a partnership to develop and produce an animated film based on the iconic manga and anime character Tiger Mask (Uomo Tigre). The project, described as having a strong international scope, will be set between Italy and Japan. Tiger Mask, originally created by writer Ikki Kajiwara and illustrator Naoki Tsuji, was first published in Japan from 1968 to 1971 in Kodansha's Bokura Magazine and Weekly Shonen Magazine. The character gained immense popularity through three anime TV series produced by Toei Animation in 1969, 1981, and 2016. The story follows Naoto Date, a ruthless professional wrestler who secretly donates his earnings to the orphanage where he was raised, while battling the Tiger's Den organization that trained him. Yohei Takami, head of rights and media business at Kodansha, expressed enthusiasm for presenting a new Tiger Mask to a global audience in collaboration with Italian filmmakers. Marco and Nicola De Angelis, CEOs of Fabula Pictures, stated the project confirms their passion for universal stories and represents a strategic step in their audiovisual production positioning. Andrea Sgaravatti, CEO of Brandon Box, noted the deep roots of his company's passion for manga and anime, citing Tiger Mask as a story that helped them grow and fight during adolescence. Further details on release date and cast are pending.