“Exciting and disturbing”: Why should you see this film with its caustic humor?

On July 3rd, celebrate cinema the way it should be with an animated feature that will blow your mind: Pompo the Cinephile! Based on the manga created by Shogo Sugitani, the film is directed by Takayuki Hirao, who was notably an assistant to the huge Satoshi Kon on Millennium Actor.

Hollywood world

The story takes us to the fictional and colorful world of Nyaliwood, the mecca of cinema, a kind of alternative Hollywood. There we meet Pompo, the queen of successful commercial films. The day he decides to create a more personal art film, he entrusts the production to his assistant Jean. Will he be the one who secretly dreamed about it?

In this way, the story takes us to the heart of creating a feature film with humor and kindness, raising the desire to create. Through the character of Genie, who is clumsy and confident, the audience will feel this creative fire that animates so many young people who need to be given a chance.

It is with this in mind that director Takayuki Hirao wanted to make Pompo the cinephile. After working on the God Eater anime, the director felt disappointed that he did not achieve everything he wanted. In addition, he had a sense of stagnation in the animation industry.

It was there that Yusuke Tomizawa, a producer he had already worked with, suggested a cinephile adaptation of the manga Pompo. “I didn’t have a specific idea for my new project, but I wanted to focus on the creative process itself”The director explains.

Together with their producer, they launch a car to create together “Something around the process of making a movie and the accomplishments. Pompo The Cinephile, a movie about making a movie, was the perfect project.”Emphasizes Takayuki Hirao.

Realize his dreams

Thus, the story unfolds in the heart of a fictional Hollywood called Nyalywood. According to the director, in Japan, “Hollywood is seen as this unique place where people come together and work together with passion to make their dreams come true.”

For Yusuke Tomizawa and Takayuki Hirao, the importance lay in these values: imparting the desire to create and the will to sacrifice necessary to realize dreams. “You might think it’s sentimental or naive, but I wanted to highlight the extraordinary power of collaboration through this film.“, believes the filmmaker, who was inspired by the atmosphere in the world of animation to build his film.

Furthermore, in addition to elevating these fine values, Pompo cinephile does not exclude the moments of doubt or fatigue associated with making a feature film that shows both good and bad sides.

Thus, for children and adults, this feature film can be very inspiring and create appeals. Additionally, by highlighting the various stages of making a film, from shooting to editing to finishing to financing, it is highly educational.

“Turning a dream, a vision into reality is not an easy task, and not only in the field of cinema. To achieve this, you need to demonstrate almost insane stubbornness and energy. Sometimes you have to accept the loss of something important to you. On the way, which is very difficult.”Takayuki Hirao points out.

Pompo the Cinephile hits theaters July 3.