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Susumu Hirasawa Confirms He's Working on Theme Song for Satoshi Kon's Opus

Composer Susumu Hirasawa (Berserk) revealed last Friday that he had been asked to compose the theme song for Satoshi Kon's OPUS manga, and has begun working on it. It is unclear from his post whether or not he is referring to the anime adaptation that producer Masao Maruyama previously expressed a desire to work on. Harasawa added in his post that, "If [anyone] is going to stop [this], now is the time."

No company or studio has made an official announcement for an anime adaptation of OPUS. When Maruyama stated in July that he wanted to produce an anime, a source from Maruyama's new Studio M2 clarified that he did not issue an official statement and that a project had not been green-lit.

Hirasawa was a frequent collaborator with Kon, composing the music for three of the late director's projects: Millennium Actress, Paranoia Agent, and Paprika. He was also slated to be the composer for Kon's unfinished Yume-Miru Kikai (The Dreaming Machine) film.

OPUS serialized from 1995 to 1996 before Kon made his directorial debut with Perfect Blue in 1997. Tokuma Shoten reprinted the series in 2010 with the "illusive ending" to the story that was not printed during the original magazine run. Dark Horse Comics published the two-volume series in one omnibus volume in 2014.

Kon (Perfect Blue, Millennium Actress, Tokyo Godfathers, Paranoia Agent, Paprika) passed away in 2010. Madhouse announced later that year that it had resumed production on Kon's final film Yume-Miru Kikai (The Dreaming Machine) but the project remains unfinished. Maruyama left Madhouse in 2011 order to finish The Dreaming Machine, but had no updates as of January, as he has found "no way" to complete the project without Kon.

Thanks to YBT and V ic for the news tip.