Hell's Wheel Descends! Beppu City Public Enterprise Bureau and Pictoria Launch New IP Project!

Pictoria Inc. (Minato-ku, Tokyo, CEO Hayato Aindow), a company that creates IP using the latest technology, announces the launch of a new IP project, "Jigoku Kourin" (Hell's Wheel Descends), in collaboration with the Beppu City Public Enterprise Bureau.

Beppu City, Oita Prefecture, a city rich in unique hot spring culture and history. We are launching "Jigoku Kourin" as a brand-new entertainment IP project, merging the long-loved "Beppu Keirin" with the one-of-a-kind tourist resource, "Jigoku Meguri" (Hell Tours).

Hiroko Utsumi, director of hit works such as "Free!" and "SK8 the Infinity," who continues to excite fans domestically and internationally, will participate as the original character designer. The project will depict unique characters through the lens of personifying bicycle racing and hell tours.

The core of this project is the fusion of "bicycle racing x entertainment" and the introduction of new technologies to accelerate it. Rather than a temporary external collaboration, we aim to establish a "co-creation" based fan economy that builds an IP rooted in the region and grows with its fans.

Starting from the real entertainment space of the velodrome, we aim for a next-generation regional revitalization project that will eventually involve the entire tourism and industry of Beppu City in a large-scale virtual and real circulation. Please look forward to it!

"Jigoku Kourin" Officially Begins! Teaser PV & Super Beautiful Key Visual Finally Unveiled!

Ahead of the start of this new story, we released the teaser PV for "Jigoku Kourin" on Thursday, June 4th. The video offers a glimpse into the world the work will depict. Please witness it!

Teaser PV here: https://youtu.be/1Px7M_duWBk

Furthermore, on Thursday, June 11th, we released the key visual drawn by INEMOUSE, who is in charge of the character design for this work. The elegant world of "Jigoku Kourin" is vividly expressed alongside the figures of the attractive characters.

【A Miraculous Tag Team Realized! Key Visual & Character Design Unveiled】

Handling the character design for this work is INEMOUSE, a popular illustrator who has garnered much support for their overwhelmingly beautiful and delicate illustrations (https://x.com/inemouse?s=20).

This collaboration was realized through a strong desire and passionate offer from Hiroko Utsumi, the original character designer, who stated, "Only INEMOUSE can fully express their charm." How will the characters, imbued with the passion of the original concept and drawn so attractively, perform?

Please look forward to the new project "Jigoku Kourin," which is sure to raise expectations!

Introduction

From hell, descends "Rin" (Wheel)--.

Once feared as "hell," the land was shunned by people as a bringer of disaster.

Seeing its uncontrollable, raging state, a certain shadow appeared and calmed the entire area.

Time flows, and now the hells are tourist attractions, entertaining people.

And now.

Whether by whim, or by a great will.

"Try living together with people."

At the moment those words echoed, they appeared at the Beppu Velodrome--.

A youth hell tale begins now.

Characters & Voice Actors

Chinoike (Blood Pond): Chiharu Sawashiro

Umi (Sea): Ryoya Takahashi

Tatsumaki (Tornado): Shotaro Morikubo

Shiraike (White Pond): Takeaki Masuyama

Oniishibozu (Ogre Stone Monk): Masaaki Mizunaka

Oniyama (Ogre Mountain): Sho Nogami

Kamado (Stove): Katsuyuki Konishi

YouTube Content Such as Voice Dramas and Streaming, as well as Local Experiences, are Planned in Various Forms

In this project, to allow fans to fully enjoy the charm of the characters, we will expand interaction with everyone in various forms, including voice dramas, video content, and interactive streaming on YouTube.

In addition to video content featuring characters brought to life by voice actors, we plan to implement an "Oshaberi Experience" (Chat Experience) at the Beppu Velodrome where you can interact with the characters in real life. We aim to deliver the感動 (emotion) of "connecting with characters here and now" that can only be experienced locally.

Regarding the Initiative

To realize the real-life experiences and real-time communication in streaming mentioned above, we are considering the use of digital technologies such as synthesized speech.

In operating these technologies, we prioritize respect for the rights and expressions of the voice actors, proceeding with thorough prior explanation and consent. AI and synthesized speech are merely auxiliary tools; we will use them responsibly and sincerely to realize a system that allows real-time conversation between you and the characters, not for "generating infinite words automatically."

Future Prospects

Moving forward, along with content development on YouTube, we will also consider local initiatives within Beppu City, creating opportunities to experience the world of "Jigoku Kourin" both online and offline.

We aim to nurture this initiative not as a temporary endeavor but as a project loved for many years to come. We also wish to energize the future of Beppu Keirin hand-in-hand with the local community. By becoming a catalyst for developing the city's overall appeal in new ways, we will contribute to sustainable regional revitalization.

"Jigoku Kourin"

Concept & Overall Planning: Beppu City Public Enterprise Bureau

Planning, Production, Development: Pictoria Inc.

Original Character Concept: Hiroko Utsumi

Character Design & Illustration: INEMOUSE

Official Website: https://jigoku-kourin.com/

Official X: https://x.com/JIGOKU_KOURIN

Official YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JIGOKU_KOURIN

Official TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@jigoku_kourin

About Pictoria Inc.

Pictoria Inc. aims to "Create a Future Worth Rooting For" by creating IP through AI-centric technology.

We will globally disseminate our VTuber-related business, AI character business utilizing the latest AI technology, and our self-developed and co-developed IP businesses since our founding.

Company Overview

Company Name: Pictoria Inc.

Location: Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo

Representative: Hayato Aindow, Representative Director & CEO

Year Founded: December 2017

Official Website: https://pictoria.co.jp/

Official X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/Pictoria_Inc