Poupelle of Chimney Town

In a distant future version of Japan, the industrial Chimney Town lies in constant darkness, dominated by factory chimneys and enveloped by a thick layer of smog. For centuries, no one has seen the sky or visited the outside world. The people of Chimney Town say that stars are just a rumour, something that no human has ever seen with their own eyes.

One evening, as the children of the town are celebrating Halloween, a glowing object falls from the sky and lands at Chimney Town’s vast landfill. A visitor has arrived who will change the place forever.

Young chimney sweep Lubicchi meets the new arrival as he miraculously saves him from the garbage incinerators. The two outsiders quickly connect and a friendship forms between them. Together, they want to show the townspeople that there is something more, something beautiful, above the dark and dreary fog that has dominated their view for centuries.

Poupelle of Chimney Town is a visually stunning piece of animation. From the city streets lit by neon lights of all colours imaginable, to the gloomy and dark shadows from the thousands of industrial chimneys of the town. It might be easy to associate this with the neo-noir genre, but this film carries much more profound messages underneath the surface than many of its peers, elevating it to the next level.

Ronny Rype

Director

Hirota Yusuke is a Japanese animation director who has been particularly inspired by Studio Ghibli's films and the Toy Story franchise. He has worked with visual effects on a number of films, before making his directorial debut with Poupelle of Chimney Town, which was the closing film at the International Film Festival Rotterdam.

This film is part of