Masaaki Yuasa, the master of surreal and emotionally rich animation, known for genre-defying works likeMind Game,Inu-Oh, andDevilman Crybaby,is back with a new project. This project promises to be unlike anything seen before, as Yuasa is now turning the page withDaisy’s Life, his first feature from his newly launched studio, ame pippin. Slated for release in 2026, this film marks the beginning of a bold new era for one of anime’s most daring visionaries.
Daisy’s Life, according tovariety.com, is a Japanese-French co-production based on the novel Hinagiku no Jinsei by Banana Yoshimoto.The film follows Daisy, a young girl navigating grief and change after the loss of her mother.When she meets a mysterious girl named Dahlia, Daisy’s world expands into a dreamlike cosmic journey. With character designs by famed artist Yoshitomo Nara and a script by acclaimed screenwriter Sachiko Tanaka, this project is shaping up to be a poetic and visually stunning exploration of childhood, healing, and the mysteries of the universe.
A New Studio, A New Vision
Masaaki Yuasa is Looking to Create Something Entirely New and Exciting
Ame pippin, Yuasa’s new Tokyo-based animation studio, officially opened in early 2025 with a mission to push creative boundaries.After stepping away from his previous studio, Science Saru, Yuasa founded ame pippin to pursue more personal and experimental stories.Backed by industry heavyweights Asmik Ace, Aniplex, and CoMix Wave Films, the studio is poised to be a major player in the global animation scene.
Yuasa described Daisy’s Life as a story that radiates visual imagination and emotional depth, even calling it dreamlike in tone.He aims to portray the small, day-to-day life of a girl in a yakisoba restaurant through a vast cosmic lens.The film blends slice-of-life storytelling with Yuasa’s signature visual eccentricity, promising audiences something intimate yet expansive.
Global Talent Meets Japanese Heart
Yuasa is not going it alone. He is working with a powerhouse team that includes screenwriter Sachiko Tanaka, known for her work on live-action dramas likeBefore We VanishandAsako I & II.Daisy’s Lifemarks her first venture into animation, bringing a fresh narrative sensibility to the medium. Meanwhile, Yoshitomo Nara’s involvement adds an extra layer of emotional authenticity to the film’s aesthetic, especially in capturing childhood vulnerability.
On the production side,the film is a collaboration between Japan’s Asmik Ace and France’s Miyu Productions, both known for award-winning animated works. Miyu’s producers praised the opportunity to work with Yuasa, calling him one of the greatest animation filmmakers alive. Their shared vision suggests thatDaisy’s Lifecould resonate on both artistic and international levels, continuing the trend of anime’s rising global influence. WithDaisy’s Life, Yuasa is doing more than making another film, he is redefining what animation can be, once again.
