A surreal new chapter in the Junk Head saga is on the horizon. The latest trailer for Junk World, an upcoming indie stop-motion animation movie by Japanese filmmaker Takahide Hori, has been released—offering a deeper glimpse into the eerie underground universe that captivated audiences in 2017.
Junk World is the long-awaited second entry in Hori’s ambitious trilogy and serves as a prequel, set over a thousand years before the events of Junk Head. This strange, intricately crafted world is populated by cloned humanoid lifeforms and bizarre, otherworldly creatures, rendered through painstaking stop-motion techniques reminiscent of Phil Tippett’s acclaimed Mad God (2021).
The story begins in a future where the surface of the Earth is nearly uninhabitable, forcing humans to develop underground civilizations. To aid in this new life, they created a race of artificial beings known as the Mulligan—humanlike, but wholly synthetic. Over time, the Mulligan rebelled, multiplying through cloning and seizing control of the subterranean world. Now, 230 years after a third ceasefire between humans and Mulligans, a new anomaly threatens the fragile balance.
A joint investigation team is dispatched to uncover the mystery. The mission is led by Tris, a rare human female, and Dante, an original Mulligan clone. Their journey takes them to Carp Bar, a strange underground city, but they’re soon ambushed by a dangerous sect called the Gyula cult—fanatics who believe Tris herself is a sacred target. Tris is guarded by a loyal robot companion, Robin, who promises to protect her at all costs: “We will protect you, Tris-sama.”
As tensions rise and secrets unravel, Junk World promises a blend of philosophical science fiction, dark humor, and mind-bending visuals. The trailer emphasizes the chaotic collision of power, identity, and rebellion, hinting at high-stakes revelations and an emotional climax in what is shaping up to be a visionary underground epic.
The movie—written, directed, animated, and brought to life entirely by Hori—is set to open in Japanese theaters on June 13, 2025. International release dates have yet to be confirmed.
