JFF21: Poupelle of Chimney Town

Synopsis

Animation production house Studio 4°C (Children of the Sea) has delivered their finest work to date, bringing to life Akihiro Nishino’s best-selling children’s book Poupelle of Chimney Town. The story follows Lubbichi, a young chimney sweep who sets off in search of the stars beyond the dreary blanket of smoke that constantly cloaks his town. A dystopian metropolis full of stacked chimneys and mountains of waste piled high, it’s no mystery why the curious Lubbichi wants to explore beyond his immediate world. Lubbichi makes an unlikely companion, a smelly sentient being born from garbage whom he christens Poupelle, and together the pair embark on a whirlwind adventure that sweeps through the grimy steampunk-esque town at roller coaster speeds. Soon the duo face hurdles in the form of the fearful townsfolk, who accuse Lubbichi of spouting hearsay just like his father, who mysteriously went missing while searching for the stars. Despite this, Lubbichi is determined to blast through the blackened ceiling that enshrouds them all, and prove the naysayers wrong