Studio CLAP and director Takayuki Hirao revealed the teaser visual for original anime film Wasted Chef at the Cannes Annecy Animation Showcase, targeting a 2027 completion.
Director Takayuki Hirao and animation studio CLAP unveiled the first teaser visual for their original anime film Wasted Chef at the Annecy Animation Showcase during the 79th Cannes International Film Festival, held May 15–17, 2026. The film is targeting completion in 2027.
Wasted Chef reunites key creative talent from the acclaimed 2021 anime film Pompo: The Cinephile. Hirao returns to the director's chair alongside character designer Shingo Adachi and composer Kenta Matsukuma, with the project marking the first original animation venture for studio CLAP. The film was first announced in June 2023, and new concept art surfaced in June 2025 before this latest teaser visual reveal on the international stage at Cannes.
Producer Ryoichiro Matsuo of CLAP joined Hirao on stage at the Annecy Animation Showcase to present the project to film industry professionals from around the world. The showcase, a dedicated animation sidebar within the prestigious Cannes International Film Festival, provided the team with a high-profile platform to introduce Wasted Chef to international distributors and audiences.
The teaser visual carries the evocative tagline: "That day, 'you' and 'taste' disappeared from the world." The line hints at the film's central premise, which follows a young chef who chases a lost flavor and finds himself stranded in a ruined city where the very concept of taste has vanished. After being rescued by a character named Kasumi, his cooking begins to awaken forgotten memories among the city's inhabitants. However, a dark force threatens to erase all desire entirely, turning his culinary quest into a last-ditch effort to save both worlds.
The premise blends fantasy and food culture in an ambitious original narrative, steering away from manga or light novel adaptations. At 119 minutes, the film is positioned as a full theatrical feature rather than a shorter standalone project, signaling CLAP's intent to establish itself in the theatrical anime space.
Fans in Japan will get their first look at Wasted Chef footage soon. A trailer for the film is set to screen ahead of Pompo: The Cinephile revival screenings beginning May 29 in Japanese theaters. Additional details about the project are expected at a special anniversary event scheduled for May 31 at Shinjuku Piccadilly in Tokyo.
With a 2027 completion target and a Cannes debut already under its belt, Wasted Chef is shaping up to be one of the more intriguing original anime films on the horizon. The combination of the Pompo team's proven track record and an imaginative premise centered on food and memory gives the project a distinct identity in an increasingly crowded theatrical anime landscape.
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