Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi: The Reunion Movie

Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi: The Reunion Movie is a 2016 animated musical comedy film based on the series of the same name by Sam Register, in turn based on the Japanese pop rock band Puffy AmiYumi. The film was directed by Tim Hill and produced by Register. Starring Janice Kawaye, Grey Griffin, and Keone Young reprising their roles, as well as newcomers Justin Timberlake, Ariana Grande, and Dane Cook, the film is set ten years after the finale of Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi. Musicians Ami Onuki and Yumi Yoshimura reunite as Puffy to partake in the upcoming Happy Daze Festival in Tokyo, where they discover something unexpected by the host.
Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi: The Reunion Movie premiered in Tokyo, Japan on March 31, 2016, and was released theatrically in the United States on April 8, 2016 by Warner Bros. Pictures, being the second theatrical film to be based on a Cartoon Network series, after The Powerpuff Girls Movie. It received mixed reviews from critics, who criticized its script, but praised its voice acting and music. Some called it one of the darkest Cartoon Network films of all time due to its story and antagonist. It grossed $45.9 million worldwide on a $14 million budget, making it a box-office success. Despite discussions and rumors, a sequel is not in development.
==Synopsis==
"It's been twelve years since the iconic Japanese duo Puffy AmiYumi became a worldwide sensation. Now, musicians Ami Onuki and Yumi Yoshimura are back to attend the first-ever Happy Daze Festival in Tokyo, hosted by Larry Cross. However, something lurking under the shadows will make the duo wonder if this festival is what it seems."
-Warner Bros. Pictures
== Plot==
In 1995, fellow classmates Ami Onuki (Janice Kawaye) and Yumi Yoshimura (Grey Griffin) meet after the former plays in their music class. Having the same dreams, the two form a small indie band titled Puffy AmiYumi, working their way up to the top, and eventually, becoming world-renowned musicians.
Twenty-one years later, in 2016, Ami and Yumi are now living their own lives after disbanding ten years prior due to conflicting shifts. Yumi is now an indie rockstar, open to collaborations, while Ami hosts her own talk show called "Amiventure". After the two receive letters from an unknown person, telling them to meet in New York City, they embrace and talk about what they've been doing ever since their split. They later find out that the letters sent to the two was from their former manager, Kaz Harada (Keone Young), who wanted to reunite them so that they could play at the Happy Daze Festival, an upcoming music festival hosted by millionaire Larry Cross (Dane Cook) in Tokyo. They accept the invitation.
News spread out about the Happy Daze Festival, along with the reunion of Puffy AmiYumi, sparking wild reactions from fans. Ami reveals to Yumi that after accepting the invitation, she was writing a new song to play exclusively at the festival, to Yumi's interest. They later receive a phone call from Cross, who tells them the festival will begin next week. Ami, Yumi, and Kaz arrive in Tokyo three days later, happy to be back home again. They run into Cross in-person, along with the other musicians: David Reynolds (Justin Timberlake), an R&B musician, and Carrie Almer (Ariana Grande), a pop musician. Ami suspects something off about Cross, who had acted very suspicious during their conversation. They begin rehearsals as soon as Cross exits the stage.
Ami, Yumi, and Kaz have dinner with David and Carrie at a seafood restaurant by the harbor, where they notice a TV broadcast stating that the police are looking for a feared man known as "The Man of Terror", whose whereabouts are currently unknown, but have similar identities with Cross. Yumi notices that the man looks like Cross, but dismisses it, saying it's just a coincidence. Meanwhile, an obstructed man views over a bomb rigged under the festival grounds. He then says that time is ticking for the musicians and everyone who will visit the festival soon.
Two days before the festival, Ami wanders off alone to find out what Cross is up to, but is stopped shortly when she is stopped by two of Cross' bodyguards. Yumi gets worried, so when she finds Ami, she tells her not to wander off. Ami explains to her that she feels something isn't right with Cross, recalling that in the broadcast, he and The Man of Terror looked similar in comparison, though Yumi disagrees, saying they probably got the pictures wrong. But this doesn't change Ami's mind. At least not yet. Ami convinces Yumi to come with her so that they can find out the truth behind Cross, but Yumi isn't sure, considering she never saw anything wrong with Cross, though she will just for Ami's sake. They plan to set out tomorrow night.
The day before the festival, Ami and Yumi sneak into Cross' office, where they notice that there is a bomb inside. They try to figure out what it is meant to do, only to get caught and knocked out by Cross, who reveals himself as Omar Korns, AKA: the "Man of Terror". He reveals to them that the Happy Daze Festival is actually a set-up to gather a large number of individuals, including David and Carrie, for a planned bombing at the place. He also reveals to him that he was the leader of the late group of individuals called "Warriors of Earth", leaving him as the sole survivor, and having changed his identity to "Larry Cross" to prevent himself from getting caught by the police. Korns leaves Ami and Yumi in his office, who are locked up in a cell.
On the day of the festival, after David and Carrie's performances, Kaz worries about Ami and Yumi's whereabouts, and asks Cross (while unaware of his real identity) where they are, to which he replies that they are completely fine. Kaz knows something is not right either. Meanwhile, Ami and Yumi have a quarrel over having to come here, but the two make peace soon after. Then, Yumi realizes that although Korns took away their phones, they are still at close distance. Yumi uses voice recognition to call Kaz, who picks up, and tells him that they are underground, trapped in Korns' office. Kaz finds Ami and Yumi in the cell and unlocks them. The three head up quickly before it is too late.
Cross says to the audience that Puffy AmiYumi are unable to perform, though is interrupted shortly when Ami and Yumi confront him on stage in front of the crowd. They try to prove that Cross is actually the Man of Terror, to which everyone is confused. This escalates even further when Cross/Korns nearly kills both Ami and Yumi with his gun. The stage then becomes an all-out battlefield from here. Ami and Yumi finally expose the bomb in front of everyone, and Korns is finally arrested by the police. Ami and Yumi are congratulated and perform at the festival as scheduled.
A few days later, Puffy AmiYumi reveal that they are recording their first studio album in ten years, and while doing so, they've hung out more often and sometimes visit Korns at the prison. The two smile and say "There's more where that came from" to the viewer.
==Voice cast==
*Janice Kawaye as Ami Onuki, a peppy, optimistic, and cute girl with pink-colored hair and eyes.
*Grey Griffin as Yumi Yoshimura, a cynical, sarcastic, and tomboy with blue hair and eyes.
* Justin Timberlake as David Reynolds, a famed R&B musician.
*Ariana Grande as Carrie Almer, a popular pop musician.
*Dane Cook as Larry Cross/Omar Korns, a criminal who hosts the Happy Daze Festival as a cover for a planned bombing.
*Keone Young as Kaz Harada, Puffy's well-intentioned yet money-grubbing manager.
*Sandy Fox as Harmony, Puffy's "number one" fan.
*Lara Jill Miller as Julie, Yumi's "friend."
*Rob Paulsen as Atchan, an old childhood friend of Ami and Yumi.
* Brent Musburger
*Additional voices:
**Roger Craig Smith
**Samuel Vincent
**John DiMaggio
**Kate Micucci
**Charlyne Yi
**Tara Strong
**Hynden Walch
**Brad Garrett
**Fred Tatasciore
The real Ami Onuki and Yumi Yoshimura appear in voice cameos as an employee in a booth stand and a stagehand respectively.
==Production==
===Development===
In June 2012, when asked if Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi would return, series creator Sam Register stated that it was not up to him to revive the show, and that Cartoon Network owned the series, leaving it up to them to decide. In April 2013, Cartoon Network revealed that they were planning to revive old shows from the 2000s era, with Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi being one of them. Whether this meant that a film or new season would be produced was not yet known, though they promised something new.
In November 2014, Warner Bros. Pictures announced a feature film based on the 2004 series Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi as a sequel to the show, titled Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi: The Reunion Movie, which would take place ten years after the end of the series. Register served as producer and executive producer for the film.
===Casting===
At the announcement of the film, Janice Kawaye and Grey Griffin were confirmed to reprise their roles as Ami and Yumi respectively, along with Keone Young as Kaz. In January 2015, comedian Dane Cook was announced to voice the film's main antagonist, Larry Cross. Then, in March that year, singers Justin Timberlake and Ariana Grande were to voice David Reynolds and Carrie Almer respectively.
===Animation===
Animation was provided by Cartoon Network Studios and Renegade Animation.
===Music===
On November 2, 2015, it was announced that the real Ami Onuki and Yumi Yoshimura would compose the film's soundtrack. The soundtrack was released through WaterTower Music on April 15, 2016.
==Release ==
Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi: The Reunion Movie premiered in Tokyo, Japan on March 31, 2016, where the real Puffy AmiYumi held a thirty-minute concert before the actual film's premiere. It was released theatrically in the United States on April 8, 2016.
===Home media===
Warner Home Video released the film on digital download, Blu-ray and DVD on June 30, 2016. Extras for the DVD and Blu-ray include audio commentary, deleted scenes, and an all-new short film titled Puffy Stunts. It revolves around Ami and Yumi filling in for an absent stunt duo, only for it to turn into a complete disaster.
==Reception==
===Box office===
Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi: The Reunion Movie grossed $30.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $35.4 million in other countries, for a total gross of $65.9 million.
=== Critical response===
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 48% based on 155 reviews, with an average rating of 5.35/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi: The Reunion Movie has excellent songs and voices, but it does not make up for the offkey dialogue and animation." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 46 out of 100 based on 32 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.
==Possible sequel==
Kawaye has stated that no script has been commissioned by Warner Bros. for a sequel, though later revealed that many stories for one have been pitched to the company, including a plot where it takes place in outer space.
== Credits ==
Main article: Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi: The Reunion Movie/Credits
== Transcript ==
Main article: Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi: The Reunion Movie/Transcript
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