We Are Aliens

As children, Gyotaro and Tsubasa were inseparable. However, one unfortunate accident changed their relationship forever. Years later, the once-close friends revisit their school days and reflect on how those experiences shaped their adult lives.

“What if I told you I was an alien?” Gyotaro is clearly different from his classmates. There are even rumours that he really does come from another planet. Despite this, he manages to become friends with Tsubasa, who seems to be his complete opposite. At first, the boys are inseparable, but as the years pass, they begin to drift apart. Tsubasa joins a group of popular children, while Gyotaro remains an outcast in his class. One seemingly innocent incident upends everything and ends their friendship – or so it seems – for good. Many years later, however, adult life forces them to revisit their memories and reflect on how the same experiences shaped their later lives in very different ways.

Kohei Kadowaki combines various animation techniques to convey the full range of emotions experienced by the main characters. We Are Aliens is a bittersweet coming-of-age story and a moving reflection on the lasting impact that bullying can have on a person’s life.

Did you know that…

…this is the director’s feature-length debut? At just twenty-nine, Kohei Kadowaki is unusually young for the Japanese animation industry. Despite his age, his first film has already received recognition at the Cannes Film Festival: "We Are Aliens" was screened in the prestigious Directors’ Fortnight section.