KADOKAWA has officially unveiled WASTED CHEF, the first original animation project from acclaimed director Takayuki Hirao and the creative team behind the critically praised animated film Pompo the Cinephile.
Alongside the announcement, KADOKAWA released the project’s first teaser trailer and confirmed key creative staff for the upcoming feature-length animated film, which blends science fiction, culinary storytelling, and coming-of-age themes into what the studio describes as a completely original entertainment experience.
The project has already begun attracting international attention after being selected for the prestigious Annecy Animation Showcase during the 79th Cannes Film Festival, a program designed to spotlight notable upcoming animated works from around the world.
A World Where Taste Has Disappeared
The teaser arrives with the intriguing tagline:
“That day, you and taste vanished from the world.”
While story details remain limited, WASTED CHEF centers on a young chef’s journey through a mysterious world where the concept of “taste” has disappeared.
Combining culinary themes with science fiction adventure, the film explores larger questions surrounding value, purpose, and human experience through the lens of food and creativity.
According to KADOKAWA, the story follows a young chef’s growth while navigating a strange world that has lost one of humanity’s most fundamental senses. The film aims to explore the contemporary question:
“What is value?”
That premise alone immediately separates WASTED CHEF from many traditional anime projects, positioning it as both a character-driven coming-of-age story and a philosophical sci-fi adventure.
Takayuki Hirao Returns With His First Original Feature
For anime fans, one of the biggest draws is undoubtedly the involvement of director Takayuki Hirao.
Hirao earned widespread praise for Pompo the Cinephile (2021), a film celebrated for its energetic storytelling, inventive visual language, and heartfelt exploration of artistic passion and filmmaking. His ability to merge classic cinematic techniques with experimental animation approaches has made him one of the industry’s most distinctive creative voices.
WASTED CHEF marks Hirao’s first fully original feature-length animation project, with the filmmaker serving as director, original creator, and screenwriter.
All-Star Creative Team Assembles
The project reunites several notable creators from across the anime industry.
The confirmed staff includes:
- Director / Original Work / Script: Takayuki Hirao
- Main Character Design: Shingo Adachi (Sword Art Online, Lycoris Recoil)
- Music: Kenta Matsukuma (Kamen Rider Black Sun, 11 Rebels)
- Animation Production: CLAP
Animation studio CLAP has steadily built a reputation for visually ambitious projects, including The Tunnel to Summer, the Exit of Goodbyes and The Last Blossom. The studio also previously collaborated with Hirao on Pompo the Cinephile, making this reunion especially noteworthy for fans of the 2021 film.
A Growing International Spotlight
The Annecy Animation Showcase selection signals significant confidence in the project’s potential long before its release.
Often regarded as one of the most important events in global animation, Annecy has become a launching pad for many acclaimed animated features and emerging creative voices. Being selected for Cannes’ animation showcase places WASTED CHEF among some of the industry’s most anticipated upcoming projects.
The combination of Hirao’s direction, Adachi’s character designs, CLAP’s animation pedigree, and the film’s unusual fusion of cuisine and science fiction has already positioned WASTED CHEF as one of the more intriguing original anime films currently in development.
While KADOKAWA has yet to announce a release date, the first teaser suggests audiences can expect a visually ambitious and emotionally resonant experience that seeks to deliver what the studio calls a completely “new flavor” of animation.
Editor-in-Chief | Owner
I’m a dedicated aficionado of all things movies, pop culture, and entertainment. With a passion for storytelling and a love for the silver screen, I’m constantly immersed in the world of cinema, exploring new releases, classics, and hidden gems alike. As a fervent advocate for the power of film to inspire, entertain, and provoke thought, I enjoy sharing my insights, reviews, and recommendations with fellow enthusiasts.
