Stop-motion anime Junk World’s trailer unleashes a zany apocalyptic future

I’m a huge fan of Junk Head, the stop-motion sci-fi anime directed by self-taught animator Takahide Hori. I’ve been eagerly anticipating the film’s follow-up, Junk World, ever since it was first announced back in 2023. On Monday, the official website for the film posted a new trailer announcing Junk World’s upcoming Japanese theatrical release on June 13.

The original film followed a cyborg explorer in a dystopian future who undertakes a mission to study a rare species of artificial humans, with the goal of restoring humanity’s ability to reproduce. After losing his memory in an abrupt shuttle crash, he embarks on a journey of discovery through a grim and fantastical world.

The sequel, Junk World, takes place approximately 1,042 years before the previous film. The film centers on Robin, the protagonist of Junk Head, who is assigned to act as the bodyguard of Triss, a female commander who is dispatched to study a strange cult of artificial humans. Not long after encountering the cult, both Robin and Triss discover a multidimensional rift that threatens the fabric of reality.

“I originally just loved watching movies, and I made Junk Head as a movie that I wanted to see, and it was well received by many people,” Hori wrote in a statement released with the trailer. “And my second film, Junk World, is also a work filled with things that I wanted to see. The images, which were created using stop-motion animation, an analog technique that is now rare, are a fresh experience today, and the story can be enjoyed as a science fiction movie, so please check it out.”

The film was produced through the help of two crowdfunding campaigns, with the first amassing more than $92,000 and the second raising nearly $60,000. Unlike Junk Head, Junk World is distributed by Aniplex. Here’s hoping we’ll hear more news regarding a U.S. theatrical or streaming release in the near future.