During the
fourth anniversary celebration of Pompo: The Cinéphile in Tokyo, director
Takayuki Hirao surprised the audience with a first look at his upcoming
animated project, tentatively titled Wasted Chef.
A concept
illustration set in modern-day Tokyo was shown, offering an initial glimpse
into the world in which this new story will unfold. Additionally, an image
centered on a hamburger was previously revealed, suggesting that gastronomy
will be a central theme in the narrative.
A Trusted
Team for a New Original Work
For this
project, Hirao will reunite the talented team that worked with him on Pompo:
The Cinéphile. The animation will be produced by CLAP studio, with Hirao
returning as director. Shingo Adachi—director of Lycoris Recoil and character
designer for Sword Art Online—will be in charge of the character designs. In
the musical department, Kenta Matsukuma, who also starred in Pompo and Kamen
Rider BLACK SUN, will compose the score.
Production
on Wasted Chef has already begun, and while no further details regarding the
plot or release date have yet been revealed, the first images point to an
original project with a strong visual and emotional impact.
Pompo's
Legacy and International Impact
The film
Pompo: The Cinéphile had a bumpy but successful run. Initially scheduled for
release in 2020, it was postponed to March 2021 for various reasons, and later
to June 2021 due to the impact of COVID-19. Its international premiere took
place at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal in August 2021.
GKIDS subsequently brought the film to theaters in the United States in April
2022, followed by its home and digital release that same summer.
With Wasted
Chef, Takayuki Hirao once again focuses on an original and visually captivating
story, promising to offer a unique experience for lovers of anime and good
storytelling.
