Veteran Japanese animator and director Takashi Nakamura has released the first pilot film for his upcoming original animated feature, OROCHI -Seventh Echoes-. Known for his work on anime classics such as AKIRA, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind and Genma Taisen, Nakamura is leading the project as its original concept creator, director, character designer and art-setting designer.
Entertainment company BLUE RIGHTS released the pilot film on November 13, 2026, alongside a new teaser visual and details about the film’s main staff and story. The project introduces an original fantasy world built around sound, mythology and a boy who accidentally awakens an ancient calamity.
The pilot film also features the theme song “Zankyo“, performed by singer neNna, giving viewers an early look at the atmosphere Nakamura wants to create for the feature.
OROCHI -Seventh Echoes- Tells the Story of a Boy Who Awakens an Ancient Calamity
The story takes place in Kukulkan, a mysterious country supported by the vibrations of sound.
At the centre of the story is Agni, a boy born with an unusual power known as “Hizumi”. The royal family abandons him, leaving him to grow up alongside his adoptive parents and companions.
However, Agni’s inner power eventually awakens Orochi, a calamity that supposedly died a thousand years ago.
Things become even more mysterious when the awakened Orochi calls Agni “my son”, leaving the boy with questions about his identity and the true nature of his abilities.
As the ancient threat begins to emerge, Agni must confront the very power he awakened to protect the people he cares about.
The official synopsis describes the project as a grand adventure in which sound and mythology come together. The story also raises questions about Agni’s origins, his connection to Orochi and why he possesses the mysterious power of Hizumi.
Takashi Nakamura Wants OROCHI to Develop Its Own Visual Identity
One of the most interesting aspects of the announcement is Nakamura’s approach to the film’s visual direction.
The veteran animator has spent decades working across different forms of Japanese animation, and he believes that maintaining a distinct creative identity is essential for OROCHI -Seventh Echoes-.
In his director’s message, Nakamura discussed the challenges facing the project as it moves towards full production.
“There are many things we need to think about and accomplish as we move towards the main production. One of the biggest questions is how we can maintain our enthusiasm until the film reaches completion.
Animation technology continues to evolve every day, and audiences now have countless animated works surrounding them. In such an environment, how can this work differentiate itself from others and establish its own identity? As the director, this is something I must discover and see through to the end.”
He also explained how the team approached the pilot film and tried to introduce the world of OROCHI through a relatively short piece of animation.
“While creating the OROCHI pilot, I experimented with ways to let the world of the story seep through a short video, and to make the music itself convey a sense of storytelling.
However, this is only an experiment for the main work. I want to aim for visuals that evolve even further.”
Nakamura’s comments make it clear that viewers shouldn’t necessarily treat the pilot as a final representation of the completed movie. BLUE RIGHTS has also clarified that the pilot’s content, visual expression and designs may differ from those of the finished film.
Veteran Anime Creators Join Takashi Nakamura’s Original Film
Nakamura has assembled an experienced creative team for OROCHI -Seventh Echoes-.
While he handles the original concept, direction, character concepts and art settings, Tokuyuki Matsutake takes charge of character design, with Kazuyuki Hashimoto serving as art director.
The film’s creative team also includes:
- Takashi Nakamura: Original concept, director, original character design and art settings
- Tokuyuki Matsutake: Character designer
- Mitsunori Murata: Animation checker
- Kazuyuki Hashimoto: Art director
- Koji Hashiguchi: Assistant art setting
- Terumi Nakauchi: Color design and color specification checker
- Keisuke Sasagawa (TRICKBLOCK): CGI director
- Mitsuhiro Sato (AnimoCaramel): Director of photography
- Makoto Kimura: Planning producer
- Sho Shigemitsu (Ichimi Ikko): Production producer
Nakamura himself has a particularly extensive history in Japanese animation.
He worked as an animator on Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, Genma Taisen and Katsuhiro Otomo’s AKIRA. He later directed projects including Catnapped! (Totsuzen! Neko no Kuni Banipal Witt), A Tree of Palme and the television anime Fantastic Children.
He also directed the short film Shashinkan and co-directed the theatrical anime Harmony.
His experience across character animation, direction and visual storytelling makes OROCHI -Seventh Echoes- an interesting project to watch, particularly for audiences who appreciate distinctive hand-crafted animation.
neNna Performs OROCHI’s Theme Song Zankyo
The newly released pilot film also introduces its theme song, “Zankyo”, performed by singer neNna.
Yosuke Kakegawa wrote the lyrics, while Alfredo Sirica and Kakegawa jointly composed and arranged the track.
Makoto Kimura handles music production, with Hiromitsu Iijima, Yuichi Sugiyama and Yasumichi Tomita providing additional music production support.
Nakamura explained that he wanted the music to communicate a sense of storytelling even within the relatively short pilot film. Rather than simply using the song as background music, he experimented with ways to connect its atmosphere with the world of the anime.
The theme song therefore forms an important part of the pilot’s introduction to the film’s fantasy setting.
BLUE RIGHTS Is Looking for Partners to Develop OROCHI -Seventh Echoes-
Another interesting detail from the announcement is that BLUE RIGHTS is actively looking for creative and co-production partners to help develop OROCHI -Seventh Echoes-.
The company wants to expand the project beyond its animated feature through potential manga serialization, novels, children’s books, short films, digital content, character merchandise and international distribution.
It is also seeking partners interested in financing and co-producing the main film, along with collaborations involving music, publishing, merchandise and overseas distribution.
BLUE RIGHTS also plans to recruit additional animation, drawing and art staff who want to contribute to the project.
This shows that the company sees OROCHI -Seventh Echoes- as a potential long-term intellectual property rather than simply a standalone animated film. Bookmark Otaku Mantra for more updates!
For now, BLUE RIGHTS has released the pilot film to introduce the world, story and creative direction behind the project. The company has not yet announced a theatrical release date for the completed movie.
With Takashi Nakamura leading the production and an original fantasy setting built around sound and mythology, OROCHI -Seventh Echoes- is certainly one project worth keeping an eye on as more details emerge.
