FUSE - Memoirs of the Hunter Girl

Fuse: Memoirs of the Hunter Girl, released in 2012, was produced by TMS Entertainment and serves as an animated adaptation of the novel by Kazuki Sakuraba. The film follows Hamaji, a young girl from the mountains who travels to Edo to join her brother in hunting the 'Fuse'—human-dog hybrids framed for a series of murders. Set against a backdrop of Edo-period historical fiction, the narrative explores themes of identity and the morality of the hunt, blending folk-tale aesthetics with modern animation sensibilities.

The film was directed by Masayuki Miyaji, a veteran who previously worked as an assistant director on Studio Ghibli’s Spirited Away. Miyaji sought to create a visually distinct look that honored the traditional atmosphere of the setting while utilizing dynamic sequences characteristic of his previous directorial work. Upon its release, the film was noted for its unique artistic direction and contemplative tone, though it remains a niche entry in the landscape of early 2010s Japanese animation.