Official Trailer Released for Berlin Film Festival Selection "A New Dawn" Featuring Theme Song by imase!

The feature-length animated film "A New Dawn" (Hanarokusho ga Akeru Hi ni), selected for the Competition section of the 76th Berlin International Film Festival, will be released nationwide from March 6th. It has been announced that imase's newly written song "Aoba" has been chosen as the theme song, and the official trailer featuring the track has been unveiled.

This work is the first feature-length animated film by director Yoshitoshi Shinomiya, who has participated in projects by directors Makoto Shinkai and Sunao Katabuchi, and engages in diverse creative activities including commercials and music videos. It is a Japan-France co-production with the cutting-edge French studio "Miyu Productions," and following "Spirited Away" and "Suzume," it has been officially submitted to the Competition section of the Berlin International Film Festival, garnering worldwide attention.

The story is set at "Obinata Fireworks Shop," a fireworks factory with 330 years of history. As the deadline for relocation due to redevelopment approaches, the narrative depicts two days revolving around the legendary firework "Shuhari" and the future of the young people who grew up there. Riku Hagiwara and Kotone Furukawa, both making their voice acting debuts, serve as the dual leads, with seasoned voice actors Miyu Irino and Takashi Okabe providing supporting roles.

The theme song is performed by imase, who enjoys immense popularity especially among the SNS generation. Being of the same generation as the protagonists in the film, he wrote and composed the new song "Aoba" with deep empathy. Shūta Hasunuma, who is in charge of the film's score, handled the arrangement and sound production, creating a track that complements the film's worldview. It should be noted that while imase has been on hiatus from artistic activities since August 4th, 2025, this track was produced before the hiatus began.

imase commented on the song: "I created this track aiming for a piece that, while tinged with blue, allows one to welcome a new self." Hasunuma, who handled the arrangement, expressed his enthusiasm for the collaboration with imase, stating: "I was thrilled. imase's sincere sensibility, melody, and voice. I embraced that transparency and worked together to create a sonic palette that bleeds into the dawn."

The unveiled official trailer depicts the conflicts of childhood friends reuniting after four years and the movement of time that had stopped, all accompanied by imase's vocals. The theme song "Aoba" is set for digital release from February 27th, and the original soundtrack created by Hasunuma is scheduled for release on March 4th.