Cooking and Sci-Fi Themed: Director Takayuki Hirao’s New Anime "WASTED CHEF" Selected for Cannes Showcase! Teaser Visual Released

The 79th Cannes Film Festival's "Annecy Animation Showcase" has selected "WASTED CHEF," the first original animation project by director Takayuki Hirao. On Sunday, May 17 (local time), a presentation was held with Director Hirao and producer Ryoichiro Matsuo from the animation studio CLAP taking the stage, and the teaser visual for the film was released.

The "Annecy Animation Showcase" is a program featuring five in-progress animation works selected from around the world. "WASTED CHEF" was presented as the second title in the showcase.

On stage, Producer Matsuo expressed his gratitude for this first original project being selected for the showcase. Director Hirao then spoke about challenging a new combination of [cooking] and [sci-fi] to express the contemporary theme of "value." He also revealed that the word "restorare," which means "to heal, to restore" in Latin, holds the key, and shared his thoughts on the film, saying, "I hope it can heal and restore those who watch it." Afterward, a nine-minute making-of video was screened, featuring interviews with the director, footage from the film currently in production, and setting materials.

Furthermore, the teaser visual released in conjunction with this showcase captures a moment where two figures are making hamburgers. On the other hand, it is accompanied by the catchphrase, "That day, 'you' and 'taste' vanished from the world," whispering that a major turning point will come for the two.

Follow-up information regarding this film is scheduled to be announced at the 5th anniversary stage greeting of "Pompo the Cinéphile" on Sunday, May 31. In addition, the teaser trailer for this film will be screened in advance during the revival screenings of "Pompo the Cinéphile" starting on Friday, May 29.

Overview of Cannes Film Festival 2026 "Annecy Animation Showcase"

Dates: Friday, May 15, 2026 – Sunday, May 17, 2026
Presentation Date and Time: Sunday, May 17, 2026, 10:00–11:30 (local time)
Speakers: Director Takayuki Hirao, Producer Ryoichiro Matsuo

(C)WASTED CHEF PROJECT