The highly praised animated feature ‘Flow’—winner of the Best Animated Feature at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards and nominated for both Best Animated Feature and Best International Feature at the 97th Academy Awards—is set for a Japanese theatrical release on March 14, 2025.

The Japanese trailer, featuring comments from Mamoru Hosoda (director of ‘Belle’), Kiyotaka Oshiyama (director of ‘Look Back’), and Tatsuki Fujimoto (mangaka of ‘Chainsaw Man’), has now been released.

About ‘Flow’ – A Stunning Animated Journey

Directed by Gints Zilbalodis, a Latvian filmmaker, ‘Flow’ is his second feature film, created entirely using Blender (open-source 3D software) with a budget of approximately $6 million.

🏆 Key Awards & Recognitions:
Premiered at Cannes Film Festival 2023 (Un Certain Regard section)
Won 4 awards at Annecy International Animation Festival, including the Jury Prize & Audience Award
Secured Best Indie Feature & Best Screenplay at the 52nd Annie Awards
Grossed over $20 million worldwide, making it the most commercially successful independent animated Oscar nominee, second only to Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘The Boy and the Heron’

Japanese Trailer Highlights

The trailer showcases the protagonist cat’s journey, featuring an extraordinary cast of animal companions, including:
🐾 A capybara with a commanding presence
🐶 A lovable dog full of charm
🦅 A curious secretary bird tilting its head
🦊 A playful and expressive lemur

Each creature’s unique movements bring the epic adventure to life in stunning wordless storytelling.

Comments from Leading Japanese Creators

🎥 Mamoru Hosoda (Director of ‘Belle’ & ‘The Girl Who Leapt Through Time’)
"The silent struggles of animals facing peril reveal the brilliance and dignity of life. Listen closely to the unspoken words in their eyes."

🎨 Kiyotaka Oshiyama (Director of ‘Look Back’)
"Films are small boats that carry the audience. ‘Flow’ lets us observe human society through the eyes of a cat, making us realize our fragility, resilience, and the vivid beauty of existence within the great flow of life."

📖 Tatsuki Fujimoto (Mangaka of ‘Chainsaw Man’ & ‘Look Back’)
"I think every creator dreams of making a film like this. ‘Flow’ is a perfect example of a story that speaks volumes with minimal dialogue, yet remains deeply emotional. I was completely immersed—both admiring its craftsmanship and desperately hoping the cats would find food soon!"

Source : ORICON NEWS