A tale of magic and resistance, forged in the darkness of WWII.
Project type: Fiction Short
Project status: Production
Creator/Writer/Executive Producer: Mary Tamura
Director: Christine W. Chen
Producer: Temitope Oguntolu
Producer: Taylor Hampton
Director of Photography: Gabriel Araujo
Actor: Mari Takahashi
Actor: Jonathan Tanigaki
Actor: Chris Tashima
Actor: Jake Thomas
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THE FILMMAKERS
Mary Tamura — Creator/Writer/Executive Producer
Introducing Mary Tamura from Majikku Media, the writer and producer behind Yokai! A proud Japanese American and native Angeleno, Mary is a passionate storyteller with a love for Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror. With her production company, Majikku Media, she’s on a mission to bring more diversity to Hollywood and empower AAPI voices. Mary’s writing has been recognized in top screenplay competitions, and her journey has been highlighted in ShoutoutLA, VoyageLA, and Bold Journey. Through Yokai, Mary hopes to inspire the AAPI community to keep sharing their stories.
Christine W. Chen — Director
Christine W. Chen is our director. She is an Academy qualified film producer, director and writer. Since 2010, Christine has made over 15 short films, 2 feature films, and helped to produce, direct, and edit many others. Christine’s films have played at New Orleans Film Festival, Hollyshorts, and Bermuda International Film Festival. Her most recent project, a feminist thriller swamp mermaid film, Erzulie, is now available on video on demand. In addition to directing, she is a full-time DGA QL 1st Assistant Director in the industry since 2016. Her newly self-published book for aspiring filmmakers, Get Reelisms, was released in 2019.
Temitope Oguntolu — Producer
Temitope Oguntolu, a CSUN business grad, steps into her first producer role with Yokai. Temi has been there to read all of Mary’s writing and has experience as a talent manager and production assistant. Temi and Mary have been friends since high school and are excited to bring this project to life.
Taylor Hampton — Producer
Taylor Hampton, a CSUN Cinema and Television Arts grad, is jumping back into the world of freelance producing. Mary and Taylor first met as Warner Bros. tour guides and have collaborated on projects such as Look-a-Likes for AGBO’s No Sleep Til. Taylor has helped Mary develop Yokai over the years and is happy to see it come alive.
Gabriel Arajulo — Director of Photography
Gabriel Arajulo is our Director of Photography. Growing up in Massachusetts as a first-generation child of Brazilian immigrants, films became Gabriel’s companions, paving the path to his love for visual storytelling. He’s on a mission to merge diverse influences into his cinematic narratives and believes in authentic storytelling that resonates deeply, capturing candid human moments while preserving the beauty of each frame.
THE CAST
Mari Takahashi - Kimmie
Meet Mari Takahashi, who will be playing our main protagonist, Kimmie. Mari is a Japanese-American actor, award-winning host, and gaming pioneer. A classically trained ballet dancer turned digital trailblazer, Mari seamlessly blends traditional entertainment with online media. From her YouTube OG roots to hosting for Netflix, and even modeling for Minecraft, she’s redefining the future of entertainment with her bold, innovative approach. Whether on screen or online, Mari lights up every project with her unique blend of artistry and creativity, inviting everyone to live a life less ordinary.
Jonathan Tanigaki - Barry
Jonathan Tanigaki is a Japanese-American award-winning actor. You may recognize him for his portrayal of Shikamaru Nara in Re:Anime’s Naruto: Climbing Silver or for his involvement in over a dozen projects pertaining to WWII and the Japanese internment camps. Jonathan, at a young age, was recruited for musical theatre as a Papermill Playhouse Rising Star. He then enrolled in the American Musical & Dramatic Academy to develop his skills in acting, singing, and dancing. Since moving to LA, Jonathan has been the lead in 3 Oscar-qualifying shorts: Nisei, Infinity!, and The Lights Above. He also won best supporting actor for Enemy No More at the Vegas Movie Awards, Indie Film Fest, & Indiex Fest. You can see Jonathan on shows like NCIS: Hawaii, S.W.A.T., and the upcoming Hulu series, Paradise, as a recurring costar.
Chris Tashima - Kurai Kage
Chris Tashima is an actor/director with a 30+ year career in Asian American indie features and shorts. His biggest role was the romantic lead opposite Joan Chen in Eric Byler’s Americanese . He won Best Supporting Actor at Love International Film Festival for Tim Savage’s Under the Blood Red Sun. For Paul Daisuke Goodman’s No No Girl he was nominated as Best Actor at Austin Revolution Film Festival. Chris won an Academy Award® for his short film, Visas and Virtue, which he directed and starred in as Holocaust rescuer Chiune Sugihara. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where he serves as Governor of the Short Films Branch.
Jake Thomas - Charlie
From his unforgettable role as Matt on Lizzie McGuire to his work in Spielberg’s A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Jake Thomas brings a wealth of experience to Yokai as Charlie. With over 100 TV episodes and diverse film credits, Jake’s talents extend beyond acting to include directing, writing, and proficiency in Japanese. His combination of creativity, skill, and passion for storytelling make him an exciting choice for this unique role.
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