Shaft’s newest original anime, Virgin Punk, marks the return of Yasuomi Umetsu—the visionary behind A Kite and Mezzo Forte—to the director’s chair. Virgin Punk‘s first installment, Clockwork Girl, opened in Japan on June 27 and will now make its way to U.S. theaters for a limited screening on November 11 (subtitled) and November 13 (English dubbed). The event will also feature behind-the-scenes footage and exclusive interviews with the creative team, offering fans a rare glimpse into the making of this high-octane original work.
Set in the year 2099, Clockwork Girl unfolds in a future where humanity has achieved near-immortality through “Somadea,” a breakthrough medical android technology that can heal any injury or illness. But as with every technological leap, corruption follows. Illegally modified Somadea units have turned the streets into battlegrounds, giving rise to a bounty hunter system where civilians are sanctioned to hunt and eliminate rogue users. Among them is Ubu Kamigori: a sharp, unyielding bounty hunter whose life takes a dangerous turn when she crosses paths with a figure from her past, the enigmatic Mr. Elegance.
Described as “a tale woven by mechanical girls and the smell of gunpowder smoke,” Clockwork Girl channels the hard-boiled grit and sensual tension that defined Umetsu’s earlier works, while embracing the polished production values and technical precision of Shaft. Though the studio is known for its avant-garde visual direction and bold compositions, Virgin Punk leans more toward Umetsu’s mature sensibilities: kinetic, grounded, and fiercely stylish.
Helming the project alongside Shaft, Umetsu serves as the original creator, director, and character designer, with Lupin III: Part IV‘s Yuuya Takahashi handling series composition and script. Music comes from Yoshiaki Dewa (Yofukashi no Uta, Jigokuraku), whose atmospheric score amplifies the story’s tension and melancholy. Distributed by Aniplex, the project signals a striking collaboration between a studio known for visual experimentation and a creator renowned for visceral, high-impact storytelling.
For fans of futuristic noir, bounty hunter sagas, or anime that dares to blend beauty with brutality, Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl promises a world of chrome, chaos, and conscience. Its U.S. theatrical run offers more than just a screening—it’s an invitation into the mind of a creator whose name remains synonymous with bold, uncompromising anime.
Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl will screen in U.S. theaters on November 11 (subtitled) and November 13 (English dubbed). Tickets are now available through Fathom Entertainment’s official website.
Trailer
Official English site: https://aniplexusa.com/virginpunk/
Virgin Punk: Clockwork Girl on Fathom Entertainment: https://www.fathomentertainment.com/releases/virgin-punk-clockwork-girl/
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