Children's stories that come from Japan have always had a unique air to them; it's almost like the ones that become classics just give off that energy the moment they are in publication. While only released in 2016, the picture book Poupelle of Chimeny Town is one of those stories with that energy.
Illustrated by Akihiro Nishino, the picture book follows a young boy and a friend he seems to have created while they live in a world that is surrounded by high walls and chimneys that blot out the sky. Not many have seen above the smoke, but the illustrations make sure that the reader appreciates the beauty in the world around us.
A been new film is coming out that is based on the book and adds some more story elements and characters to the now-classic story. A new trailer has been released for the film that puts it all in full display ahead of its Christmas release.
Masataka Kubota and Shingo Fujimori will be lending their voices to the new film (as Pupelle and Scoop) that is sure to have a lot of heart. Make sure to check out the new trailer, and don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments!
The story is set in a town surrounded by a wall that stands 4,000 meters (about 2.5 miles) tall. Because the town is full of chimneys, the air is always full of smoke. No one in the town knows what the sky looks like. On the night of the town's Halloween festival, a deliveryman accidentally drops the heart he is supposed to deliver. He cannot find the heart in the smoke and gives up. The heart continues to beat where it fell in the town of chimneys.
Poupelle of Chimney Town will premiere in Japan on December 25th!