We Are Aliens animation film gains international attention

The animated feature film ‘We Are Aliens’ (Wareware wa Uchujin), directed by Kohei Kadowaki, has garnered international attention following its world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival’s Director's Fortnight and its selection for the Annecy International Animation Film Festival 2026.

Set in a rural town during the Heisei era, the film depicts a 30-year friendship between two boys, Tsubasa and Akitaro, as they navigate the complexities of being ‘normal’ versus ‘special.’ Voice actors Ryota Bando and Amane Okayama, who portray the protagonists at different stages of life, noted that the film explores how painful past experiences can eventually be integrated into one's identity.

Produced by the company NOTHING NEW, the film was notable for its unconventional production model. Producer Kentaro Hayashi and Director Kadowaki opted for independent domestic funding rather than a traditional production committee. The project was developed over four years, and the animation team was assembled largely through social media, resulting in a production where none of the key original animators had prior commercial animation experience.