Takashi Murakami

Jellyfish Eyes

Jellyfish Eyes

The world-famous artist Takashi Murakami made his directorial debut with Jellyfish Eyes, taking his boundless imagination to the screen in a tale of friendship and loyalty that also addresses humanity’s propensity for destruction. After moving to a country town with his mother following his father’s death, a young boy befriends a charming, flying, jellyfish-like sprite—only to discover that his schoolmates have similar friends, and that neither they nor the town itself are what they seem to be. Pointedly set in a post-Fukushima world, Murakami’s modest-budgeted special effects extravaganza boasts unforgettable creature designs and carries a message of cooperation and hope for all ages.

Film Info

  • Japan
  • 2013
  • 101 minutes
  • Color
  • 1.78:1
  • Japanese
  • Spine #787

Director-Approved Special Edition Features

  • New high-definition digital master, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
  • New interview with director Takashi Murakami
  • Making F.R.I.E.N.D.s, a new piece on the creation of the film’s creatures
  • Takashi Murakami: The Art of Film, a new behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the film
  • Trailer for Jellyfish Eyes 2
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Glen Helfand

    New cover by Goto Design

Purchase Options

Director-Approved Special Edition Features

  • New high-definition digital master, with 5.1 surround DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack on the Blu-ray
  • New interview with director Takashi Murakami
  • Making F.R.I.E.N.D.s, a new piece on the creation of the film’s creatures
  • Takashi Murakami: The Art of Film, a new behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of the film
  • Trailer for Jellyfish Eyes 2
  • PLUS: An essay by critic Glen Helfand

    New cover by Goto Design
Jellyfish Eyes
Cast
Takuto Sueoka
Masashi Kusakabe
Himeka Asami
Saki Amamiya
Masataka Kubota
The Black-Cloaked Four—Blue Dragon
Shota Sometani
The Black-Cloaked Four—White Tiger
Hidemasa Shiozawa
The Black-Cloaked Four—Black Tortoise
Ami Ikenaga
The Black-Cloaked Four—Vermilion Bird
Asuka Kurosawa
Shizuko Amamiya
Kanji Tsuda
Tatsuo Kusakabe
Mayu Tsuruta
Yasuko Kusakabe
Takumi Saito
Naoto Kozuka
Credits
Director
Takashi Murakami
Executive producer
Takashi Murakami
Story
Takashi Murakami
Producers
Chiaki Kasahara
Producers
Yoshihiro Nishimura
Screenplay
Jun Tsugita
Screenplay
Yoshihiro Nishimura
Supervising assistant director
Yoshihiro Nishimura
Director of photography
Yasutaka Nagano
Gaffer
Jun Kodama
Sound mixer
Shinichi Yoshii
Wardrobe supervisor
Kazuki Yunoki
Hair and makeup
Chieko Shimizu
Art director
Nori Fukuda
Key creature and special effects makeup artist
Taiga Ishino
Music
kz (livetune)
Music
Yoshihiro Ike
Sound designer
Keiichi Momose
Visual effects producers
Yusaku Toyoshima
Visual effects producers
Tsuyoshi Kazuno
First assistant director
Jun Shiozaki
Production manager
Yuji Saito

Current

Gods and Monsters: Murakami Goes to the Movies
Gods and Monsters: Murakami Goes to the Movies

With Jellyfish Eyes, Takashi Murakami’s creature feature made in the aftermath of Japan’s 2011 earthquake and nuclear crisis, the international art superstar brings his transcultural vision to the lineage of artist-filmmaker crossovers.

By Glen Helfand