Ni no Kuni

is a 2019 Japanese animated action fantasy film based on the video game series of the same name developed by Akihiro Hino at Level-5. The film is directed by Yoshiyuki Momose, with Akihiro Hino serving as executive producer, story and screenwriter for the film, produced by OLM, Inc. and distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. The story of the film takes place centuries after the events of Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom. The film was released in Japan on August 23, 2019. Netflix acquired the streaming rights for the film, and it premiered worldwide on January 16, 2020. Plot On their way home from basketball practice, Kotona invites Haru and Yū to a crêpe café, but Yū, who uses a wheelchair, returns home after they encounter steps on the way. Later in a back alley, Kotona notices that she is being tailed by a black hooded figure. Kotona contacts Yū, who arrives too late as the figure stabs her. Haru arrives and tries to get Kotona to the hospital, but both him and Yū are suddenly transported to an unknown world, which later is revealed to be the kingdom of Evermore. In Evermore Castle, the boys meet Princess Astrid, who is remarkably similar to Kotona and who is also wounded with a curse. Yū, who notices the shadow knife placed on Astrid's stomach, pulls it out and breaks the curse. That night, Haru drinks away, as he believes this to be a dream, while Yū visits Astrid again, who takes him to the Lake of Purity to dance away the remains of the curse. The next morning, Yū and Haru are summoned by the mage Gnauss and King Astrum, who make them engage in swordplay against multiple men in order to find out if they were sent by a group known as Black Banner. Yū and Haru jump towards the flame behind the king, and are transported back to their world, where they reunite with Kotona.