GROTESQQQUE director has been a Nogizaka46 fan for over 10 years

Director Atsushi Nishigori has been following Nogizaka46 for more than a decade. He said so himself during the presentation of GROTESQQQUE -Grotesque- at the Tokyo International Film Festival, where he took the stage alongside four members of the group: Kazu Inoue, Aruno Nakanishi, Miku Ichinose, and Nao Tomisato.

The film, which opens on November 6 in Japan, brings together three stories set in different worlds: Eliians, Yoroshiku★Shoujo, and Nocturne -Kono Grotesque na Yoru ni-. The four Nogizaka46 members appear in the latter, playing a pure-blood vampire and three girls who survive after being infected by her.

Nishigori explained that he approached the group for these roles because the story of Nocturne unfolds in a very closed setting, with only four characters. "It's a personal matter, but I've been following Nogizaka46 for over 10 years, I go to their concerts a lot, and I've supported the fifth generation since they joined. Since the story has a found-family feel, I felt that the fifth-generation girls share that atmosphere and suggested they would fit the roles," he said.

Details for Nogizaka46 fans

Aruno Nakanishi was the one who dropped the detail that will excite those who follow the group the most. According to her, the film includes small nods aimed at Nogizaka46 fans, though she didn't want to specify what they are. "The director really loves Nogizaka46. There are details in the work that will make our fans happy… or maybe they aren't there, so I also want people to pay attention to that," she said.

Nakanishi's ambiguity is part of the fun: it leaves the door open for the audience to hunt for references during the screening. And with a director this invested in the group, it would be strange if he hadn't hidden something.

Kazu Inoue, for her part, spoke about the relationship between the four characters as the heart of Nocturne. "They aren't friends or a real family, but they depend on each other. That whole relationship feels very beautiful to me, and so does their transformation," she explained. Voice actress Kana Ichinose and actress Sara Minami also attended the event.

An ambitious CloverWorks project

GROTESQQQUE -Grotesque- is an original production by studio CloverWorks directed by Atsushi Nishigori, known for his work as an animator and director. A total of 35 artists are involved in the music, an unusual number even for an anthology of this kind.

The film hits Japanese theaters on November 6. Outside Japan, there is still no confirmed release date or distribution.