The popular US anime distributor Sentai Filmworks continues their trend of acquiring projects crafted with passion and their newest acquisition comes from the popular manga series Twittering Birds Never Fly by Kou Yoneda.

Twittering Birds Never Fly is being produced as a film trilogy kicking off later this year, and Clouds Gather is the introductory chapter featuring “two steely members of the Yakuza” with their own individually complex pasts. One being Yashiro – a reputable Yakuza boss who’s undoubtedly drawn to pain. Enter Chikara Dōmeki, a hopeful police officer who takes on the role of Yashiro’s brutish bodyguard in an effort to make ends meet. The partnership between the two is the catalyst for the overall plot, and their unlikely unison becomes formidable.

Though both can be viewed as very intimidating forces, the two endure an increasingly complicated relationship where power, trust, and intensity guide the story. What is toted as a gritty noir stylized narrative brings an interesting concept where the idea of stereotypical perceived masculinity and sexuality attempt to challenge the norms of anime and manga storytelling. With the success of the manga and anticipation for the upcoming film, the announcement that three films are being released seems to be a nod to the power of a passionate fanbase, which doesn’t always recieve as many films prior to the release of one project.

There’s no official confirmation for the release of Twittering Birds Never Fly – Clouds Gather as of yet, but we can expect more news on the theatrical announcement soon enough from Sentai Filmworks in the coming weeks.

Keep up with PopWrapped for more anime content, news and more!