The Japanese director and animator Keiichi Sato presents a rather dark new anime, Asura. Watch the trailer.

Asura is the adaptation of a manga by George Akiyama. The story take place in the 15th century Japan.

The unrelentingly dark Asura follows the struggles of a child during a famine. His mother was so impoverished and starved that she tried to eat Asura at the beginning of the story (synopsis via Anime News Network)

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The trailer justifies the synopsis. This is more a journey to hell than an action-packed anime.

Asura competed at the official programme of the 2012 Annecy film festival.

It will be released in Japan in 29 September 2012.