New New Hal and Bons

Ishii Katsuhito made a splash in the movie scene with Shark Skin Man and Peach Hip Girl, a rocking gangster flick starring Asano Tadanobu. Since then, Ishii has hopscotched around genres and film styles, doing live-action, traditional animation, and now 3D-CGI. New Hal and Bons is a series of shorts that feature two beer-drinking, shit-talking dogs and a neurotic mochi interviewer. It's surreal and funny.



Thanks to the folks at Hawaii International Film Festival, I got to interview Ichii (who also provides the voice Hal) as well as his buddy Shinichiro Miki (business parter, fellow director, and voice of Mochi). These guys are seriously smart, totally funny, and genuinely nice. While we were talking, I noticed the familiar configuration, as well as the presence of biscuits and beer... When we finished, I jumped on the bench and got to live the dream and be Bons...