Yoshitoshi Shinomiya's directorial debut, the Japanese animated feature A New Dawn, impressed audiences at the Berlin Film Festival with its stunning visuals, though its narrative drew mixed reactions. As the competition's only animated entry, the film explores family ties and tradition amid urban change. The story centers on two brothers and their efforts to preserve a fireworks factory.
Yoshitoshi Shinomiya, known for his background as a painter, makes his feature directorial debut with A New Dawn, Japan's entry in the Berlin Film Festival's main competition. Reviewed on February 17, 2026, the 76-minute film unfolds over two days set four years apart, blending present-day eviction scenes with flashbacks to the protagonists' youth.
The narrative follows brothers Senataro, nicknamed Chichi and voiced by Miyu Irino, and Keitaro, voiced by Riku Hagiwara. Keitaro, stubborn and hot-headed, fights to save their late father's rural fireworks factory from gentrification and eviction. Chichi, now a civil servant in Tokyo, returns with childhood friend Kaoru, voiced by Kotone Furukawa, to persuade his brother to leave. As city officials approach with bulldozers, Keitaro and Kaoru race to launch a grand fireworks display called Shuhari—a term meaning protect, break, and separate, symbolizing an unfulfilled family dream.
Chichi grapples with guilt over abandoning his roots. The film's animation stands out for its painstakingly painted frames, featuring vivid yet muted colors, detailed natural elements from insects to mountains, and innovative sequences like a toy-like depiction of Chichi's drunken confusion. However, the story relies heavily on dialogue and exposition, with characters defined in broad strokes and the climax arriving late without much distinction from earlier visuals.
Produced by Asmik Ace and Miyu Productions in Japan and France, with world sales by Charades in Paris, the film features camera work by Anna Tomizaki, editing by Megumi Uchida, and music by Shuta Hasunuma. Producers include Fumie Takeuchi, Pierre Baussaron, and Emmanuel-Alain Raynal. Additional voice cast includes Takashi Okabe.
