The original anime project WASTED CHEF from director Takayuki Hirao has officially released its first teaser video. Details about a manga adaptation have also been announced.
The Teaser Reveals a Mysterious World Where “Taste” Has Disappeared
In the teaser, viewers meet the two main characters: a boy with a bewildered expression and a lively, brightly smiling girl. The pair appear in the colorful atmosphere of a restaurant called THE DAY. A paper bag carried by the girl shows fresh green lettuce and red tomatoes peeking out, before the diner scene cuts to a thick meat patty sizzling on a hot griddle. It ends with a delicious-looking burger and the slogan “Special entertainment for everyone living in this era!”
The atmosphere shifts dramatically near the end of the teaser, showing a mysterious structure, strange light covering the sky, and a desolate world with an ominous mood. The chilling line “That day… ‘you’ and ‘taste’ disappeared from the world–“ builds expectations for the sci-fi story.
Concept and Story
WASTED CHEF is the first full-length original anime film for which Takayuki Hirao serves as both director and screenwriter, following the success of Pompo the Cinephile (映画大好きポンポさん) in 2021, which impressed audiences with its depiction of people devoting themselves to their dreams.
This new work blends cooking and sci-fi in an unusual way, presenting the growth of young chefs alongside an adventure in a world where “taste” has vanished, while asking the contemporary question, “What is value?”
The film has also been selected for the Annecy Animation Showcase at the 79th Cannes Film Festival in 2026, a platform that presents notable new animated works from around the world, drawing broad international attention.
Production Team and Staff
- Director / Original Creator / Script: Takayuki Hirao
- Main Character Design: Shingo Adachi, known for Sword Art Online and Lycoris Recoil
- Music: Kenta Matsukuma, who worked on Kamen Rider BLACK SUN and Juuichinin no Zokugun
- Animation Studio: CLAP, which produced Natsu e no Tunnel, Sayonara no Deguchi and Housenka, and includes staff who worked with director Hirao on Pompo the Cinephile
- Distribution: Shochiku / Kadokawa ANIMATION
Manga Adaptation in Young Ace
In addition to the film, WASTED CHEF will also be adapted into a manga in Young Ace (KADOKAWA), with art by Aero05 and Takayuki Hirao credited as the original creator. Serialization begins with the July 2026 issue, which goes on sale on June 4, 2026.
Source: aniani
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