(C)2025 “Toritsukare Otoko” Film Production Committee
It has been officially announced that the short story Toritsukare Otoko by Shinji Ishii (published by Shinchosha) will be adapted into a theatrical anime film, set for release this fall. Alongside the announcement, a teaser visual and a special trailer have been unveiled.
Originally published in 2001 and later released in paperback in 2006, Toritsukare Otoko is a whimsical love story about Giuseppe, a young man who becomes so obsessed with things that he’s dubbed the “Toritsukare Otoko” (a man possessed). He falls for a balloon seller named Pecca, and together with his mouse companion Cielo, he tries to help her resolve her inner struggles by using the eclectic skills he’s gained from his obsessions. The story has also been adapted into stage plays multiple times between 2007 and 2021.
The upcoming film will be a musical animation featuring numerous songs throughout the narrative. It will be directed by Wataru Takahashi, best known for Crayon Shin-chan: Gachinko! Robot and Ichi-chan’s Counterattack. The screenplay is by Naoyuki Miura (Fujoshi, Ukkari Gay ni Kokuhaku Sareru), with character designs by Shinji Arakawa (Fuujin Monogatari), and animation by Shin-Ei Animation, the studio behind Doraemon and Crayon Shin-chan.
In the teaser trailer, Giuseppe is shown singing in a vibrant cityscape, then diving headfirst into various obsessions—from digging for clams to collecting sunglasses—before ultimately becoming consumed by his love for Pecca. The voice actor for Giuseppe has yet to be revealed.
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Trailer for the movie “Turala Man” | Release date: Fall 2025
The teaser visual for Toritsukare Otoko depicts a whimsical moment: Giuseppe, running with a butterfly net, encounters Pechka, who is pushing her bicycle and selling balloons on a street corner. A musical-style catchphrase—“Turala, I’m crazy about you”—floats in the air, expressing Giuseppe’s heartfelt emotions.
The full comments from original author Shinji Ishii and director Wataru Takahashi are as follows:
[Shinji Ishii (Original Author)]
“A handful of words, written quietly in a small room in Asakusa and unknown to anyone, have now been given color, shape, sound, and motion—and are being brought into the world. I had the chance to observe the storyboarding, dubbing, and other production processes, and I was truly moved by the passion of the staff. They were all wholeheartedly breathing life into something that was never meant to move. Borrowing the title of Osamu Tezuka’s manga, Film is Alive, I strongly felt that ‘Stories are Alive.’”
[Wataru Takahashi (Director)]
“It has already been four years since the producer handed me the novel and said, ‘Let’s make entertainment!’ In that time, the world has endured many hardships and sorrows, which are still ongoing. This film is a love story between an eccentric man, Giuseppe, and a balloon seller named Pechka. It boldly proclaims how beautiful it is when one person truly cares for another. Thanks to our remarkable staff and cast, we were able to bring this heartfelt story to life. I’m truly happy to be able to share it with everyone.”
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“Toritsukare Otoko” Anime Film Set for Fall — A Musical Tale of Obsession and Love
Teaser Visual and Director’s Vision Highlight a Passionate, Whimsical World
The upcoming anime adaptation of Toritsukare Otoko promises more than just a visually rich and whimsical experience—it’s poised to be an emotionally resonant musical that celebrates the idea of obsession not as madness, but as a form of pure, unfiltered love.
Giuseppe, the titular “man possessed,” is not portrayed as a tragic figure, but rather as someone whose intense focus becomes a source of empathy and transformation. This story aligns beautifully with director Wataru Takahashi’s past work on Crayon Shin-chan: Robot and Ichi-chan’s Counterattack, which also balanced comedy, heart, and social commentary.
The decision to present the story in a musical format further emphasizes emotion over logic, making the characters’ internal worlds literally sing. In a time when the world continues to process collective grief and disconnection, Toritsukare Otoko seems to offer a refreshing message: that loving something—or someone—fully is not foolishness, but courage.
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