We Are Aliens is an animated film co-produced by Japan and France, drawing attention for its emotionally rich visual style and a story about friendship and childhood memories. The film is scheduled to open in Japanese theaters on September 25, 2026.
We Are Aliens – A French–Japanese Animated Co-Production
We Are Aliens (Wareware wa Uchuujin) is developed by Japan’s NOTHING NEW together with French studio MIYU Productions. The film is directed by Kohei Kadowaki.
The story centers on Tsubasa and Akitaro, two boys who meet in a rural Japanese town during the Heisei era. Their childhood friendship is changed by an incident that continues to affect them for years afterward.
The New Trailer Focuses on Childhood Memories
One notable aspect of We Are Aliens is how the film uses visuals to carry the emotions of its story. Scenes of the rural town, childhood and Heisei-era afternoons create a nostalgic, familiar atmosphere, but the deeper it goes, the more the characters’ world starts to feel off from its initial normality.
The new trailer uses the song “Sasakure” by adieu and was directed by Kadowaki himself, focusing on the memories Tsubasa and Akitaro shared as children.
What’s interesting is this contrast: on one side are the perfectly ordinary games, conversations and friendship of childhood; on the other is an incident that makes those memories hard to look back on. That’s why We Are Aliens isn’t simply a coming-of-age story but also raises a question: are these the beautiful memories of youth, or memories people would rather forget?
We Are Aliens Opens in Theaters on September 25
We Are Aliens officially opens in Japan on September 25, 2026. Before that, the film was presented at Cannes 2026 and the 2026 Annecy International Animation Film Festival.
With its combination of a French–Japanese creative team and a story about friendship and childhood memories, We Are Aliens is one of the most notable animated projects this September.