K2 Pictures unveiled a theatrical anime adaptation of Hiroya Oku's Gigant manga and a Tezuka 100th anniversary musical film at the Cannes Film Festival, marking the company's first animated feature.
K2 Pictures announced its first animated feature at the Cannes International Film Festival on May 17 a theatrical adaptation of Hiroya Oku's Gigant manga. Alongside it, the company revealed a musical film based on Osamu Tezuka's The Book of Human Insects as a 100th anniversary project.
Founded in 2023, K2 Pictures is a Japanese film production company led by CEO Muneyuki Kii, a former Toei producer. The Gigant adaptation represents a significant milestone: the company's debut in animated feature filmmaking. Staff, cast, and animation studio details have not yet been disclosed, though MAPPA is listed among K2 Pictures' partners, and the studio is reportedly collaborating with Kii on planning two feature-length animations.
The projects are financed through the K2P Film Fund I, which closed fundraising in February 2026 with approximately 5 billion yen (roughly $31.4 million) raised. The fund is designed to support both Japanese animation and live-action productions targeting international audiences.
Gigant is the work of Hiroya Oku, the creator behind Gantz and Inuyashiki both of which received TV anime and live-action film adaptations, with Gantz also spawning a CG animated film. The manga was serialized in Shogakukan's Big Comic Superior from December 2017 through September 2021 and spans ten collected volumes. Seven Seas Entertainment holds the English license.
The story centers on Rei Yokoyamada, a high schooler with aspirations of filmmaking, who crosses paths with an adult film actress named Papico. A supernatural incident grants Papico the ability to grow to enormous proportions, setting off a chain of bizarre and dramatic events. Oku's signature blend of science fiction spectacle and grounded human relationships is on full display in the series.
The second project unveiled at Cannes is a musical film adaptation of Osamu Tezuka's experimental manga The Book of Human Insects, positioned as an official Osamu Tezuka 100th Anniversary Project. Ken Ninomiya has been confirmed as director. A live-action television adaptation aired in 2011, but this marks the property's first treatment as a musical film. The project was previously pitched at Berlin's European Film Market in February before its formal Cannes unveiling.
With no animation studio or release window confirmed for Gigant, production details remain the next piece of the puzzle. K2 Pictures' partnership with MAPPA and its freshly closed fund suggest the company is positioning itself as a serious player in the international anime film market. Fans of Hiroya Oku's previous work will be watching closely for casting and staff announcements in the months ahead.
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