Sneak Peek: Exciting Upcoming Theatrical Anime Film from Takayuki Hirao

Takayuki Hirao has made a name for himself as a highly skilled anime director, known for blending popular franchise anime with a unique shojo anime flair. His impressive repertoire includes directing the TV anime series and OVA of Namco-Bandai’s God Eater RPG adaptation, the Junji Ito horror manga adaptation Gyo, and the shojo-fantasy anime Yoyo and Nene. Hirao's unique usage of color and composition is evident throughout his diverse projects. In his latest film, 2021’s Pompo the Cinephile, he masterfully blends shojo-style animation with broad appeal, showcasing his talent for creating visually stunning theatrical animation. And now, he has been announced as the director for an all-new, original IP anime film.

According to a report from Anime News Network, Hirao is set to write and direct an original theatrical anime film that is currently being referred to as “Wasted Chef.” Although details are scarce at this time, it is believed that the film may have a cooking theme, given the title. Hirao’s previous film, Pompo the Cinephile, showcased his unique style and explored the challenges and rewards of live-action filmmaking. It is possible that his next project will delve into the creative world of culinary arts.

What makes “Wasted Chef” even more intriguing is the fact that it will be Hirao’s first completely original project, rather than an adaptation of an existing IP. This means that we will be able to witness his full creative vision in action. While there is no official release date yet, it is expected that the film will be released in Japan in 2024 or early 2025, with international distribution to follow.

Several of Hirao's closest collaborators will be joining him on the production of "Wasted Chef." Among them is Kenta Matsukuma, the musical composer responsible for the soundtrack of Pompo. Matsukuma has since gone on to compose music for the upcoming 2022 live-action tokusatsu series, Kamen Rider Black Sun, and fans of his work can look forward to hearing his contributions to "Wasted Chef."

The characters for the series will be designed by Shingo Adachi, a renowned character designer who has previously worked on the Sword Art Online franchise. The animation will be handled by Studio CLAP (not to be confused with CLAMP), who have made a name for themselves with their recent works like Pompo in 2021 and Natsu e no Tunnel, a theatrical light novel adaptation released in 2022. Additionally, Hirao is expected to reveal further details on the project soon, and will be visiting the United States to host a two-year-anniversary screening of Pompo at Anime Expo 2023 in Los Angeles.