One Piece and Studio Ghibli Veterans Team Up For This Stunning Anime Film

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The upcoming original anime film titled “Star of Paris in Bloom,” produced by Arvo Animation, is directed by Goro Taniguchi, renowned for his work on the “Code Geass” and “One Piece Film: Red” series. Katsuya Kondo, a celebrated artist known for his contributions to Studio Ghibli‘s timeless classics such as “Howl’s Moving Castle,” “Ponyo,” “Princess Mononoke,” and many more, will be responsible for character design in this film. Furthermore, Reiko Yoshida, a highly respected screenwriter with a significant impact on the anime industry throughout her career, is also involved in the project. Some of her most iconic works include “Violet Evergarden,” “A Silent Voice,” “Blue Period,” and “D.Gray-man,” among others.

As an anime enthusiast, I’m thrilled to share that so far, only the character design for our protagonist, Fujiko, has been unveiled! The talented Ami Toma, renowned for her role as Kokoro in the movie “Lonely Castle in the Mirror,” will be lending her voice to Fujiko. The enchanting film “L’etoile de Paris en fleur” is set to grace Japanese theaters on March 13, 2026. However, there’s been no word yet on the international release date. The official website of the movie has released both the film’s synopsis and comments from Taniguchi, Kondo, and Toma, keeping us all on our toes!

What Is the Plot of L’etoile de Paris en fleur?

The movie tells the tale of two spirited teenagers navigating 20th-century Paris, determined to realize their dreams despite hardships. Fate brings together Fujiko, a girl with an artist’s heart, and Chizuru, a ballerina hopeful, who both embark on a journey to chase their passions. As they persist in pursuing their dreams, the narrative instills a sense of optimism for the future within each character, mirroring the tagline “I yearn to bloom in this city.” This encapsulates the central motif of the story.

L’etoile de Paris en fleur Has Been In the Works For Seven Years

In addition to revealing the release date, the official website also posted comments from the staff members. Character designer Katsuya Kondo mentioned, “Seven years ago in May, there was a visitor at my home in Nagano. It was Kalki Rajeev, a producer at Arvo Animation. As it happened to be our first encounter, he asked if I would design a character for a movie he was working on at the time. I respectfully declined my offer.

Initially, Kondo turned down the request, but later responded, “But he insisted on it, suggesting, ‘Could you at least make some conceptual sketches?’ His passion moved me, and I agreed.

Although initially unsure, the artist found himself deeply immersed in the project without realizing it. He went on to say, “However, it turned out to be a lengthy process. Along the way, I didn’t just provide concept sketches, but also created the initial artwork.

In his final words, he notes that it’s been seven years since then, and the film will be launched in March of the following year. Here’s to you, Rajeev, and the entire team! Wishing you all the very best.

The movie’s creator mentioned that they were making this indie film during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then thanked Kondo and the team for their efforts. As of now, there’s no official teaser or trailer out yet. So, we can expect to meet more characters, particularly Chizuru, once the movie is released.

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2025-08-12 02:11