When I first came across the trailer for Junk Head on YouTube years ago, I was stunned. It looked like something straight out of a major studio—an intricate, dystopian world filled with bizarre creatures and hauntingly beautiful landscapes. But the most jaw-dropping part? This entire stop-motion film was created by one person: Takehide Hori.
That’s right—Hori spent seven years painstakingly building every frame, every character, and every set of Junk Head on his own. It’s not just a movie; it’s a testament to passion, persistence, and creativity, and it proves that no dream is too big when you’re willing to put in the work.
A Story Worth Telling
Junk Head is set in a distant future where humanity has achieved immortality through genetic manipulation—but at a steep cost: the loss of fertility. To save the species, humans send a cyborg explorer into the underground world of the “Marigans,” rebellious clones who may hold the key to reproduction.
As the explorer journeys through this eerie underground society, he encounters grotesque creatures and unexpected challenges. At one point, the inhabitants begin to see him as a godlike figure because he comes from “above.” In a conversation that goes something like this, they ask him, “Have you seen the sky? Is it beautiful?” He replies, “Yes, it is beautiful.” Then they ask, “Can I see it someday?” and he answers, “Yes, you can.”
This exchange feels simple on the surface, but it’s incredibly moving. It reflects a longing for something greater—beauty, freedom, transcendence. To me, this moment feels like a reflection of Hori himself—a man who poured his heart into this impossible project and, against all odds, reached his own sky.
From Designer to Filmmaker
Hori’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. At 38, he was a successful interior designer creating amusement park attractions. But everything changed when he discovered Makoto Shinkai’s Voices of a Distant Star. Learning that Shinkai had made the entire film on his own inspired Hori to try something similar.
With no formal training in filmmaking, Hori jumped in headfirst. His background in design became his secret weapon, giving him an eye for scale, atmosphere, and detail that brought Junk Head’s underground world to life.
Building an Entire World
Hori transformed his warehouse into a full-fledged animation studio, crafting everything at 1/6th scale. Every single second of the movie required 24 frames of animation—140,000 frames in total! He taught himself the techniques of stop-motion through trial and error, often juggling multiple tasks at once.
And while Junk Head’s visual style is breathtaking, its characters speak an unknown language, likely invented by Hori. The result is a story that feels universal, untied to any specific culture or time. You rely on subtitles, but the emotions come through so clearly that you’re never lost.
The Price of Passion
Hori’s path wasn’t easy. Financially, he had to cut back his interior design work to just one weekend a month, scraping by to fund his dream. A crowdfunding campaign raised some money but fell far short of the 20 million yen goal. Yet Hori found creative ways to stretch his resources, reusing sets and adapting lighting to transform the same corridors into entirely new locations.
Emotionally, it was no less grueling. Imagine carrying the weight of an entire film—scriptwriting, animation, set design, music, editing—all on your shoulders. But Hori wasn’t completely alone. His wife provided critical emotional support, helping him through the toughest moments.
The Sky Beckons
After years of relentless work, Junk Head was finally released—and the world took notice. The film won the Satoshi Kon Award for Excellence in Animation and the Audience Award at the New York Asian Film Festival, among others. Critics and filmmakers, including Guillermo del Toro, praised its creativity and ambition.
In a way, Hori had finally reached his sky.
But the journey isn’t over. Hori is now working on the highly anticipated sequel, Junk World, set to release in 2025. If Junk Head is any indication, the next installment will be just as groundbreaking, if not more. I, for one, can’t wait to see where this story goes next.
Why Junk Head Matters
At its core, Junk Head is about more than just filmmaking. It’s about what’s possible when someone dares to dream big and refuses to give up. Hori didn’t have a massive team or a Hollywood budget—he had passion, persistence, and a vision.
This film resonates because it’s universal. Whether it’s the longing of the underground inhabitants to see the sky or Hori’s own journey to achieve the impossible, Junk Head speaks to something deeply human: the desire to create, to connect, and to transcend.
Hori’s story reminds us that no matter how small we start, there’s no limit to how high we can reach.
Tom’s Blog 