Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko

Synopsis

In the quiet northern town where she lives, Kikuko Misuji—affectionately called "Nikuko-chan"—is known as the cheerful, full-figured woman who works at the grill. After years of moving between men and towns, Nikuko-chan seems to have settled down in a houseboat moored in the bay, where she lives with her daughter, who shares her name. The mother and daughter work together to forge their own path in life. Nikuko-chan's lively personality lets her face challenges head-on, while her more reserved daughter often sees each day as routine and feels self-conscious about her mother's flashy behavior. As she goes through middle school and uncovers the mystery behind her odd classmate, Ninomiya, young Kikuko's teenage years are marked by surprising developments.

Background

Gyokou no Nikuko-chan premiered internationally at the 45th Annecy International Animation Film Festival. The film was also screened at the Fantasia International Film Festival on August 22, 2021, where it won the Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation. In October 2021, the film won the Korean Society of Cartoon and Animation Studies President's Prize at the Bucheon International Animation Film Festival. In the same month, it won the Jury Award at the Scotland Loves Animation Film Festival. The film was awarded the Animation Film Award at the 46th Hochi Film Awards in December 2021. In March 2022, the movie was nominated for the Best Animated Feature Film Award at the 45th Japan Academy Film Prize as well as the Annie Award for Best Indie Feature at the 49th Annual Annie Awards. Later that month, the film won the Excellence Award at the 25h Japan Media Arts Festival. Gyoukou no Nikuko-chan was licensed by GKIDS and received an American theatrical release as Fortune Favors Lady Nikuko on June 2, 2022. It was shown along with a screening of the television show Deji Meets Girl. The company published the film on Blu-ray and DVD on July 19, 2022.