Director Atsushi Nishigori, known for his work on influential anime like FLCL and Neon Genesis Evangelion, is stepping out with his own original anthology film, "Grotesqqque." Set to release in November, the movie is an outlet for Nishigori's long-held creative visions that he has accumulated throughout his career. "There were always a lot of scenes and character designs that I had wanted to do in the past, and I had just been piling them up inside me," Nishigori told Polygon. "I really wanted to bring all of those ideas I had in my mind into this work, so I asked the company to let me make something where I could do whatever I wanted."
This creative freedom resulted in a 104-minute film composed of three distinct stories: an alien comedy, a battle royale set in a world without daylight, and a vampire narrative in a post-human landscape. The film premiered at the Fantasia International Film Festival on July 24.
A Visual-First Approach
Nishigori embraced contrast as a core element of "Grotesqqque," intentionally juxtaposing opposing themes and genres. For example, the action-heavy battle royale story, "Yoroshiku★Shoujo," incorporates explosions and violence but is balanced with a focus on the relationships and emotions of the characters. "If those elements were the only things portrayed, we'd just be looking at one facet of the story, and it wouldn't show the full picture," Nishigori explained.
![Grotesqqque "AELIENS"]( "Grotesqqque "AELIENS"" )
The director's approach prioritized visuals and music, likening the film to a long-form music video. He focused on the visual aspect first, then matched the music to complement it, making visuals a foundational element rather than merely an accessory to the narrative. This method is reminiscent of anime classics like FLCL and Cowboy Bebop, where character and music are equally vital.
The Rhythm of Anthology
Anthology films are a rarity, and Nishigori was mindful of the potential for disjointedness. He ensured that while each of the three stories possesses its own distinct look and flow, they collectively contribute to a cohesive overall experience. "I paid close attention to the viewer's rhythm to ensure the experience is enjoyable, and they never get bored," he said.
In the story "Nocturne," Nishigori chose to focus on the aftermath of an apocalypse, depicting four girls in a ruined world rather than the event itself. This allows viewers to imagine what transpired. "There are a lot of pictures that give you room to imagine what happened during that appearance, so rather I want you to enjoy and imagine that," he stated.
Nishigori intentionally placed recurring elements across the stories, such as locations and emotions, but leaves their exact meaning open to interpretation. He stopped short of confirming whether the stories exist in a shared multiverse, instead encouraging viewers to find their own connections. He also noted potential conceptual echoes between "Nocturne" and his previous work, "Darling in the Franxx," emphasizing that these are more thematic than literal links.
Originality and Entertainment
Nishigori sought to present his accumulated creative output as something new and original for the audience. The challenge was balancing this desire for originality with broad entertainment value, avoiding the trap of becoming an obscure experimental piece. "Finding that exact balance between the originality of the animation and pure entertainment value for the audience is what I paid the most attention to with this project," he said.
He hopes viewers will approach "Grotesqqque" as an immediate, immersive experience, akin to attending a festival, where they can simply enjoy the visuals and music. Nishigori also suggested that repeat viewings would reveal new discoveries and emotions, encouraging audiences to engage with the film multiple times. While the film is designed to be accessible entertainment with darker realities subtly hidden, Nishigori believes fans who look deeper will find ample room for imaginative interpretation. "Grotesqqque" premieres on November 6, 2026, in Japan.