Dwarf Studios Unveils First Glimpse of Stunning Stop-Motion Sunny Film
Discover Michael Arias' animated adaptation of Taiyo Matsumoto's acclaimed manga, Sunny—an emotional journey that brings the story to life.
Animated Film Adaptation of Taiyo Matsumoto's Sunny Announced
Japanese stop-motion animation studio dwarf studios has officially announced its collaboration with GKIDS to produce a feature-length animated film adaptation of Taiyo Matsumoto's beloved Sunny manga. Alongside the announcement, dwarf studios shared the first-look images from the film.
Michael Arias Directing
The film will be directed by Michael Arias, known for his work on the anime Tekkonkinkreet. The project is currently slated for completion in 2029.
The upcoming film will be showcased at the 2025 Cannes Annecy Animation Showcase on May 18, coinciding with Cannes' Animation Day.
Film Overview
According to Variety, which reported on April 17, Arias’s film presents a heartfelt story set in 1970s Japan. It centers on Star Kids, a foster home serving as a refuge for children marginalized by society. Told through the perspectives of its young residents, Sunny explores themes of found families and childhood resilience.
From “Tekkonkinkreet” director Michael Arias, “Sunny” is a moving narrative set in 1970s Japan. The film takes viewers inside Star Kids, a foster home that's a sanctuary for children caught in the cracks of society. Told through the eyes of its young inhabitants, Sunny explores the fragile strength of found families and childhood resilience.
Background on the Manga
Taiyo Matsumoto, creator of Ping Pong, Tokyo These Days, and Cats of the Louvre, launched Sunny in 2010 in Shogakukan’s Monthly Ikki magazine. The series concluded in 2015 in Monthly Spirits magazine.
The English version of the manga was released by Viz Media in six volumes between 2013 and 2016, with Arias himself translating the text.
Sunny has earned critical acclaim, winning Best General Manga at the 61st Shogakukan Manga Awards in 2016. The manga was also twice nominated for the Angoulême International Comics Festival top prize (2015, 2016), nominated for a Harvey Award (2014), an Eisner Award (2016), and won the Slate Book Review and Vermont’s Center for Cartoon Studies’ Best Graphic Novel prize in 2014.
Previous Collaboration
Michael Arias previously directed the anime film adaptation of Matsumoto’s Tekkonkinkreet manga, which premiered in 2006.
Sources: Email correspondence, dwarf studios’ official website, Variety