The pitching session highlighted the outstanding possibilities of two projects leveraging Japanese charm and inspiration as well as outstanding technical talent.
Mint (working title) maintains all the charm of traditional Japanese anime with its 1960s style. However, traditional techniques and stop motion are merged with the latest 3D technologies, combining the expressive possibilities of these technical skills.
Directed by Yoshihiro Komori, the feature film follows the journey of Aoi, a fifth grader whose life feels like a lonely voyage. With parents who work long hours and peers who tease him for not fitting the typical boy model, Aoi often retreats into his own world, with the stuffed toy Mint as the only, silent guardian of his secrets and dreams. Everything changes when a meteor crashes into his town, bringing with it mysterious aliens that scatter across Japan. One of them transforms Mint into a lively companion for Aoi, who is suddenly caught up in an extraordinary adventure – made of true friendship, unexpected connections, and discovering the value of being oneself.
This story is a journey of self-confidence. We wanted Aoi’s personality and identity to shine through.
Produced by Hiromasa Inoue and Nobuo Kameyama of Shirogumi Inc., the project is currently in the early development stages.
Directed by Baku Kinoshita and included in the Annecy Official Competition, The Last Blossom (Housenka) is a poignant feature film that captures the emotional essence of a dying yakuza’s life through the eyes of an unlikely observer – a talking Housenka flower. The narrative unfolds in two-time frames, beginning with the lonely existence of Akutsu, an elderly inmate reflecting on his past while serving a life sentence. Flashing back to the Summer of 1986, we see Akutsu struggling to support his companion, Nana, and her son Kensuke in their apartment adorned with Housenka flowers. This haunting tale of identity, loss, and ephemeral moments of joy is brought to life through multiple techniques by a team led by producer Ryoichiro Matsuo from Clap Animation Studio and artistic director Ayumi Sato. The Last Blossom delivers a visually stunning and emotionally impactful journey through the intertwined lives of its characters.
Dwarf Studio’s upcoming plans
Committed to developing emotionally engaging stories, Dwarf Studio is the biggest stop motion studio in Japan and one of the top ten in the world. Additionally, Dwarf specializes in character design, working with both original content and collaborations with established IPs like Pokémon or Rilakkoma. At Annecy 2025, Producers Noriko Matsumoto and Yuriko Okada shared some insights into their brand-new upcoming projects, Hidari and Sunny. 
Hidari is based on a real historical figure: Jingoro Hidari, a legendary carpenter and sculptor known for his famous stripping tags and numerous artworks attributed to him across Japan, which oddly span over 300 years. Did he actually exist, then?
Directed by Masashi Kawamura, the new project draws inspiration from this legendary character to deliver a tale of love and revenge. The stop- motion film employs a sculpted puppet and incorporates an artistic, stylized visual identity.
Based on Taiyō Matsumoto’s autobiographical manga, Sunny is poised to bring his emotional artistry to life in a captivating visual experience. Under the direction of Michael Arias, the stop-motion feature film will honor the essence of the original manga, exploring the emotional depth of Matsumoto’s work. Produced by GKIDS and Dwarf Studio, the new adaptation is expected to launch in 2029.
