Josee, the Tiger and the Fish

Released in 2020, this animated feature film was produced by the acclaimed studio Bones. It serves as a modern adaptation of a 1984 short story by Seiko Tanabe, which had previously been adapted into a live-action film in 2003. The production aimed to shift the tone of the original narrative while maintaining its core focus on the intimate, evolving relationship between a young woman with physical disabilities and a university student who becomes her caretaker.

The film's visual identity was led by director Kotaro Tamura and character designer Nao Emoto, who sought to capture a vibrant, painterly aesthetic that mirrors Josee's love for art. By blending emotional character drama with the high-quality animation fluidity for which Studio Bones is known, the film received critical praise for its sensitive portrayal of personal growth and its visually evocative depictions of Osaka, ultimately becoming a notable entry in the contemporary Japanese drama film canon.