The animated film Another World, the highest-grossing movie in Hong Kong history, lands in the United States on June 5. Distributed by GKIDS, it will be shown in Cantonese with English subtitles. Directed by Tommy Ng Kai Chung and written by Polly Yeung Po Man, it adapts the novel Sennenki by Naka Saijo. The plot follows Gudo, a Soul Guardian, who guides human spirits to their next life. His friendship with a girl named Yuri reveals that her premature death left her cursed by unresolved anger, threatening both realms.
Animation techniques and visual design in Another World 🎨
The studio has combined traditional 2D animation with digital effects to create a contrast between the spiritual and human worlds. The soul transition sequences use computer-generated particles that flow in organic patterns, while the hand-painted backgrounds evoke watercolor textures. The development team applied modular rigging for the characters, allowing fluid movements in spiritual combat scenes. The color palette changes according to the emotional state of the characters, using cool tones for Yuri's curse and warm tones for Gudo's memories.
When your job is to retire souls and you get a rebellious client 😅
Gudo thought his job was simple: receive spirits, give them a form, and send them to the afterlife. But Yuri arrives with a curse and an attitude of "I'm not leaving until I settle my score." Kind of like a customer who refuses to pay their streaming bill because their favorite show was canceled. The worst part is that Gudo doesn't have a complaints department; just a procedures manual that clearly doesn't cover ghost girls with pent-up anger. At least the work insurance covers exorcisms.