Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (film) explained

is a 2021 Japanese anime film based on the novel of the same name by Kanako Nishi. It was produced by Studio 4°C and directed by Ayumu Watanabe. It was originally released in Japan in June 2021.

Cast

!Character!Japanese

Nikuko	Shinobu Otake
Kikuko	Cocomi[2]
Ninomiya	Natsuki Hanae
Lizard	Hiro Shimono[3]
Gecko	Hiro Shimono
Sassan	Ikuji Nakamura[4]
Miu	Riho Yoshioka
Darcia	Matsuko Deluxe
Maria	Izumi Ishii

Production

The film was first announced in January 2021. It was produced by Studio 4°C and directed by Ayumu Watanabe, with Satomi Ooshima writing the scripts and Kenichi Konishi designing the characters.^[5] The film's main theme is "Image no Uta", performed by Kurumi Inagaki, and the end theme is "Taketen", performed by Greeeen.^[6]

Release

The film was theatrically released in Japan on June 11, 2021.^[7] Internationally, it was licensed by GKIDS in North America, who screened the film in theaters in the region on June 3, 2022.^{[8] [9]} It was released on DVD and Blu-Ray on July 19, 2022.^[10]

Reception

Kim Morrissy from Anime News Network praised the film's animation and "true-to-life" story but criticized the characterization of the titular character.^[11]

Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko grossed $1,706,970 at the box office.

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result
2021	Fantasia International Film Festival	Axis: The Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation	Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko	[12]
	Scotland Loves Animation	Jury Award		[13]
	Hochi Film Award	Best Animated Picture		[14]
2022	Japan Academy Film Prize	Animation of the Year		[15]
	Annie Awards	Best Animated Feature – Independent		[16]
	25th Japan Media Arts Festival	Excellence Award		[17]

Notes and References

1. Web site: August 20, 2022. Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko (2021) box office. Box Office Mojo. August 20, 2022 .
2. Web site: Studio 4°C's Gyokō no Nikuko-san Film Casts Flutist Cocomi as Kikuko. Anime News Network. Pineda. Antonio. March 18, 2021. December 16, 2021.
3. Web site: Studio 4°C's Gyokō no Nikuko-san Film Casts Hiro Shimono as Lizard, Gecko. Anime News Network. Pineda. Rafael. March 29, 2021. December 16, 2021.
4. Web site: Studio 4°C's Gyokō no Nikuko-san Film Reveals 6 More Cast Members. Anime News Network. Hodgkins. Crystalyn. April 9, 2021. December 16, 2021.
5. Web site: Studio 4°C Reveals Gyokō no Nikuko-chan Anime Film. Anime News Network. Hodgkins. Crystalyn. January 1, 2021. December 16, 2021.
6. Web site: Studio 4°C's Gyokō no Nikuko-san Film's Full Trailer Previews Songs. Anime News Network. Pineda. Rafael. April 14, 2021. December 16, 2021.
7. Web site: Studio 4°C's Gyokō no Nikuko-san Anime Film Opens on June 11, Casts Shinobu Ōtake. Anime News Network. Mateo. Alex. March 1, 2021. December 16, 2021.
8. Web site: GKids Licenses Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko Anime Film. Anime News Network. Hodgkins. Crystalyn. November 23, 2021. December 16, 2021.
9. Web site: Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko Anime Film Opens in N. America on June 3. Anime News Network. Mateo. Alex. March 30, 2022. March 30, 2022.
10. Web site: News Bytes: The Music of 'Arcane,' 'Lady Nikuko' on Disc, WIA ACE Candidates & More . June 7, 2022 .
11. Web site: Review: Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko. Anime News Network. Morrissy. Kim. June 30, 2021. December 16, 2021.
12. Web site: Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko, The Deer King, Satoshi Kon, The Illusionist Films Win Awards at Fantasia Int'l Film Festival. Anime News Network. Mateo. Alex. August 26, 2021. December 16, 2021.
13. Web site: Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko, Sing a Bit of Harmony Anime Films Win Scotland Loves Anime Festival Awards. Anime News Network. Hazra. Adriana. October 31, 2021. December 16, 2021.
14. Web site: Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko Wins Hochi Film Award for Animation. Anime News Network. Hodgkins. Crystalyn. December 1, 2021. December 16, 2021.
15. Web site: Belle, Evangelion 3.0+1.0, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Nikuko, Sing a Bit of Harmony, More Nominated for 45th Japan Academy Film Prizes. Anime News Network. Loo. Egan. January 18, 2022. March 11, 2022.
16. Web site: Belle, Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko Anime Films Nominated for Annie Awards. Anime News Network. Pineda. Rafael. December 22, 2021. December 22, 2021.
17. Web site: Hodgkins . Crystalyn . March 13, 2022 . Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko, Sonny Boy, Oddtaxi, More Win Media Arts Awards . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220313175749/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2022-03-13/fortune-favors-lady-nikuko-sonny-boy-oddtaxi-more-win-media-arts-awards/.183531 . March 13, 2022 . March 14, 2022 . . en.