{"rewrite":{"id":"r_54e618db0caa48139d97627f","clusterId":"c_717fdadd45d0411b88c91515","slug":"shimotsu-yuta-explains-the-human-pyramid-in-new-group","model":"deepseek-v4-flash","headline":"Shimotsu Yuta Explains the Human Pyramid in New Group","summary":"Director Shimotsu Yuta discussed his sci-fi psycho-entertainment film New Group at a May 28 preview in Tokyo. He explained how reading about group behavior in society led to the idea of a human pyramid as an extreme form of conformity. Cast members Yamada Anna, Aoki Yu, and Pierre Taki were also discussed.","whyItMatters":"The film turns a schoolyard human pyramid into a metaphor for peer pressure and social conformity, a premise Shimotsu developed over two years after reading sociology.","webCardHtml":"\u003cp\u003eShimotsu said the idea came from a book that described society as made up of groups: countries, regions, companies, schools, families. He found that interesting and it stuck with him. He then thought about how disciplined groups can be as scary as zombie-like ones, and took group behavior to its extreme: a human pyramid. Film writer SYO, who attended the screening, said the pyramid symbolized the social structure of peer pressure.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eShimotsu cast Yamada Anna as the withdrawn girl Ai, drawn to her ability to show a suffering appearance. He said having her at the center probably made the weird film work. Aoki Yu plays the transfer student Yu, and Shimotsu praised his acting skills and chemistry with Yamada. Pierre Taki plays the principal, described as having a villainous presence.\u003c/p\u003e","blueskyPost":"Shimotsu Yuta says his film New Group turns a human pyramid into a metaphor for peer pressure. He spent two years developing the idea after reading sociology. Yamada Anna, Aoki Yu, and Pierre Taki star.","twitterPost":"Shimotsu Yuta says New Group uses a human pyramid as a metaphor for peer pressure. He spent two years on the idea after reading sociology. Yamada Anna, Aoki Yu, Pierre Taki star.","threadsPost":null,"newsletterBlurb":"Director Shimotsu Yuta explained the origins of his film New Group at a May 28 preview. He said reading about group behavior in society led to the human pyramid as an extreme form of conformity. Cast members Yamada Anna, Aoki Yu, and Pierre Taki were discussed.","attributionJson":"[{\"source\":\"Eiga Natalie\",\"url\":\"https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/673830\",\"title\":\"\\\"NEW GROUP\\\" Director Shimotsu Yuta on the Meaning Behind the Human Pyramid, Yamada Anna \u0026 Aoki Yu Have Good Chemistry\"}]","lintFlagsJson":"[]","lintHits":0,"costUsd":0,"inputTokens":4189,"outputTokens":560,"status":"published","repairAttempts":0,"nextRepairAt":null,"factsAttemptedAt":1780025474,"createdAt":"2026-05-29T03:31:06.000Z","publishedAt":"2026-05-29T03:45:27.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-29T03:45:27.000Z"},"cluster":{"id":"c_717fdadd45d0411b88c91515","canonicalTitle":"「NEW GROUP」下津優太が人間ピラミッドに込めた思いとは、山田杏奈＆青木柚は相性良し","representativeArticleId":"a_a3a15ae23b860680eacb9ab4","sourceCount":1,"writtenSourceCount":1,"writeAttempts":0,"isSolo":true,"entitiesJson":"{\"anime_titles\":[],\"manga_titles\":[],\"work_titles\":[\"NEW GROUP\"],\"studios\":[],\"people\":[\"下津優太\",\"山田杏奈\",\"青木柚\",\"ピエール瀧\",\"SYO\"],\"type\":\"event\",\"domain\":\"other\",\"is_roundup\":false}","contentType":"news","status":"published","firstSeenAt":"2026-05-29T01:25:00.000Z","lastSeenAt":"2026-05-29T01:25:00.000Z","updatedAt":"2026-05-29T03:45:27.000Z"},"attribution":[{"source":"Eiga Natalie","url":"https://natalie.mu/eiga/news/673830","title":"「NEW GROUP」下津優太が人間ピラミッドに込めた思いとは、山田杏奈＆青木柚は相性良し"}],"entities":{"anime_titles":[],"manga_titles":[],"work_titles":["NEW GROUP"],"studios":[],"people":["下津優太","山田杏奈","青木柚","ピエール瀧","SYO"],"type":"event","domain":"other","is_roundup":false},"keyFacts":["Director Shimotsu Yuta said the idea for New Group came from a book that described society as made up of groups: countries, regions, companies, schools, and families.","Shimotsu cast Yamada Anna as the withdrawn girl Ai, drawn to her ability to show a suffering appearance, and said having her at the center probably made the weird film work.","Aoki Yu plays the transfer student Yu, and Shimotsu praised his acting skills and chemistry with Yamada.","Pierre Taki plays the principal, described as having a villainous presence.","Film writer SYO, who attended a May 28 preview in Tokyo, said the human pyramid in the film symbolized the social structure of peer pressure."]}