Kurayukaba and Kuramerukagari are original films by director Shigeyoshi Tsukahara that will premiere in Japan and on Crunchyroll soon. Given their simultaneous release, some fans are wondering about the watch order for Kurayukaba and Kuramerukagari. Which movie should fans see first?
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Kurayukaba: An Award-Winning Steampunk Mystery Anime Film
Kurayukaba is an anime movie project that has been in the making for a long time.
This is because director Shigeyoshi Tsukahara started three crowdfunding campaigns in 2018, 2020, and 2021 to raise enough money to create the film.
While it took some time to finish, it seems it has been well worth the wait, as the film brought home the Gold Prize in the Audience Award for Best Animated Feature Film at the 2023 Fantasia International Film Festival.
After nearly six years since its inception, the film is finally premiering in Japanese theaters and online via Crunchyroll on April 12, 2024.
Its story follows a detective named Soutarou and his sidekick, Saki, as they take on various cases. One day, Soutarou is hired to solve the mysterious disappearances rampant in the city.
Soutarou initially tasks Saki to investigate the case, but when the young detective also goes missing, Soutarou is forced to go into the Dark, the city’s notorious underground, to solve the mysteries once and for all.
The film’s premise has sparked a lot of interest from fans, especially as it will be released alongside its spinoff titled Kuramerukagari.
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Kuramerukagari: Kurayukaba’s Spinoff by Renowned Writer Ryogo Narita
Kuramerukagari is a spinoff novel of Kurayukaba based on the scenario by popular writer Ryogo Narita, the creator of the hit anime titles Baccano! and Durarara!!
Similar to Kurayukaba, Kuramerukagari is also an original work, which means it has no manga or light novel source material.
Kuramerukagari revolves around two characters namely, Kagari, a girl who runs a mapmaking business, and Yuya, a boy who wants to break free from the “Hakoniwa”.
They soon find themselves in the middle of a conspiracy affecting their town, and their fate depends on Kagari’s drawings on the map.
Kurayukaba and Kuramerukagari Watch Order: Which Movie Should You Watch First?
Given that both films are original titles, it’s too early to tell whether their stories will be related.
However, because Kuramerukagari is a spinoff of Kurayukaba, we suggest watching Kurayukaba first before Kuramerukagari. In a sense, it would be like watching the main anime series first before its sequel.
We predict that some story elements or characters might indicate a connection between the two, and consequently, whether the events of one film precede the other.
Do take this speculation with a grain of salt, as we will only know for sure what the films’ stories will be and their chronological order once they come out soon.
Kurayukaba and Kuramerukagari Release Date Confirmed
Both films will premiere in Japan on April 12, but Crunchyroll has also confirmed that it will simulcast the movies on its platform.
This means both movies will be available to stream online on the same day as their Japanese theatrical release on the 12th.
Are you excited to see Kurayukaba and Kuramerukagari soon? Let us know what you think of the films in the comments below.