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Poupelle of Chimney Town Film Creator Akihiro Nishino Teases Sequel Film Details
posted on by Anita Tai
ANN's coverage of Anime NYC 2023 sponsored by Yen Press and Ize Press!
Akihiro Nishino teased story details of the upcoming sequel to Studio 4°C's anime film adaptation of his Poupelle of Chimney Town (Entotsu-chō no Poupelle) picture book during a panel for the film at Anime NYC on Saturday.
The writer said the sequel would be very different from the first movie, with the plot revolving around a town with a clock tower stopped at 11:59. There is a conflict in the town between the people protecting the tower and the people hoping to fix it. In contrast to the first film's theme, which Nishino said was "Let's go, get this," he said the second film's theme would be the opposite, "wait patently."
Nishino also revealed the story was completed, with the same creative team as the first movie returning for the sequel. The team is currently working on character design and the visual process.
The Broadway adaptation of the first movie's stage play is also in development, with the expected release date to be in 2024.
ANN spoke with Nishino and director Yusuke Hirota shortly after the announcement of the sequel at the Animation is Film Festival in late October 2021. The duo confirmed the idea of other films in the future of the Poupelle franchise at the time.
Eleven Arts began screening Poupelle of Chimney Town across North America in January 2022, and it describes the film:
Poupelle of Chimney Town is the story of young Lubicchi living among the thick smoke from the chimneys of his isolated town, yearning to see the “stars” —to know the truth —his father always told him about. One Halloween night he meets Poupelle, a man made of garbage, and together they look to the sky as their adventure begins. Spectacularly beautiful, filled with inspiring performances and splendid music and sound effects, and produced at Tokyo's famed Studio 4ºC, Poupelle of Chimney Town brings laughter, tears and joy.
The film opened in Japan in December 2020 and ranked at #4 and earned 322,998,700 (about US$3.13 million) in its opening weekend.
Hirota (CGI director for Berserk films, Harmony) directed the film, with Nishino serving as production supervisor, original creator, and writer. Atsuko Fukushima (Genius Party, Robot Carnival) designed the characters.
Source: Poupelle of Chimney Town panel at Anime NYC (Larry Furry)