The highly anticipated stop-motion anime film, Junk World, the sequel to Takehide Hori’s cult classic Junk Head, is slated for release in Japanese theaters on June 13, 2025. This exciting news arrives alongside a new poster and additional details about the film, promising a thrilling cinematic experience for fans of the unique animation style.
Junk World: A Prequel in the Junk Head Trilogy
Junk World is positioned as the second film within the Junk trilogy, taking place 1042 years before the events of Junk Head. While chronologically a prequel, it expands upon the world and lore established in the original film.
Robin’s Journey: From Junk Head to Junk World
The film features the return of a central robot character, known as Robin in this earlier timeline. In Junk World, Robin takes on the crucial role of escorting a human female captain named Tris, suggesting a narrative focused on exploration and protection within a dangerous environment.
Storyline: A Dystopian World Above and Below
The film presents a dystopian future where humanity’s living spaces on the surface have diminished, forcing them to develop underground habitats.
The Rise of the Mulligans: Artificial Lifeforms and Rebellion
As a labor force, humans created Mulligans, artificial life forms that resemble humans. However, the Mulligans rebelled against mankind by cloning themselves and spreading their influence.
A World Divided: Humans Above, Mulligans Below
The story unfolds 230 years after the third cease-fire agreement between humans and Mulligans. The Mulligans now rule the underground world, which has expanded globally, while humans remain on the surface.
Takehide Hori: The One-Man Mastermind
Takehide Hori, the creative force behind Junk Head, returns as the director, screenwriter, cinematographer, gaffer, and editor for Junk World. His dedication and multifaceted involvement underscore the personal and artistic nature of this project.
A Shorter Production Time
In contrast to Junk Head, which took seven years to complete, Junk World had a significantly shorter production timeline, much to the relief of eager fans.
Junk Head: A Cult Classic
Junk Head is a stop-motion sci-fi-horror-comedy film set in the far future, where humanity has achieved immortality through cybernetics but lost the ability to reproduce.
A Lone Cyborg’s Mission
The story follows a cyborg explorer sent to an underground world to investigate the secrets of how the artificial species procreates, only to discover the monstrous ways they have evolved.
Minimal Dialogue, Maximum Visuals
Junk Head employs minimal dialogue, focusing instead on Hori’s unique art style and animation.
Crowdfunding and Production
Hori launched a crowdfunding campaign to fund more equipment and staff for efficiency and quality. The first campaign raised 13,663,200 yen (about US$94,000). The second campaign has raised 2,808,000 yen (about US$19,206) as of press time. There is no deadline on the new campaign. The project will proceed using the funds collected regardless of how much it earns.
Stop-Motion Animation: A Labor of Love
The behind-the-scenes video highlights the creation of models, sets, robots, and sound effects for the film. It takes two hours in the process of recording six seconds of animation.
Themes and Influences
Junk Head proudly wears its influences on its sleeve. The animation elements are reminiscent of the stop-motion work of Jan Švankmajer and the Quay Brothers, who use clay, dolls, and found objects to creepy effect. Aesthetically, the film feels like a weird mix of the sci-fi nightmares of H.R. Geiger, the cyberpunk body horror of Tetsuo: The Iron Man (1989), and the labyrinthine tunnels and hellish monsters of Hellbound: Hellraiser II (1988).
Reception of Junk Head
The film became a hit on the arthouse circuit, earning 140 million yen. The film is available on several streaming platforms in the US.
Awards and Recognition
The film won the Cigogne d’or prize for animated film at the 2021 Strasbourg European Fantastic Film Festival.
Expert Perspective
Takehide Hori is the visionary behind the Junk Head and Junk World films. As a self-taught animator, director, writer, and composer, his expertise spans all aspects of filmmaking. Hori’s dedication to stop-motion animation and his unique artistic style have garnered critical acclaim and a dedicated fanbase. His ability to create immersive and visually stunning worlds with limited resources is a testament to his skill and passion.
Anticipation for Junk World
With its intriguing plot, unique animation style, and the creative vision of Takehide Hori, Junk World is poised to be a significant addition to the world of stop-motion animation. Fans eagerly await its release in June 2025.
