The film was first supposed to be released concurrently with Miyazaki’s The Wind Rises, but has since been delayed to a November 23 release in Japan, with no North American date set. The art style, which is something of a departure for Ghibli, is a gorgeous-looking take on a classical Japanese scroll, Chōjū-jinbutsu-giga. I mean, it is stunning. It runs a perfect line between looking beautiful and looking unfinished, and is a style not seen very often.
The trailer is long, at three minutes (and the only version online is cluttered with Japanese television on-screen pop-ups), but doesn’t give the story away. Featuring the lovely song “Memory of Life” (“Inochi no Kioku”) by Kazumi Nikaido, which is the film’s theme, it’s a breathtaking look at what will surely be a powerful and graceful experience.
Check it out for yourself below: