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Published Jul 16, 2026, 1:58 PM EDT
Cocoon - One Summer of Girlhood looks like a spiritual successor to one of Ghibli's most poignant films
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People like to throw around the phrase "Ghibli-esque" when describing all types of media, including video games. It can be overused and misunderstood, but when it comes to Cocoon - One Summer of Girlhood, the descriptor fits. Made by a team of Studio Ghibli veterans, Cocoon is shaping up to be one of the most interesting film releases of the year.
Cocoon is the debut feature for director Yukimitsu Ina (Star Wars: Visions) and for animation studio Sasayuri. The studio was founded in 2018 by Ghibli veteran Tateno Hitoma, who worked on legendary films like Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and Grave of the Fireflies, among others. Fellow ex-Ghibli employees Akihiko Yamashita and Shinji Otsuka are also working on Cocoon. Distributor GKIDS acquired the North American rights to the film last month and set a Sept. 4 release. Today the company released an English subtitled trailer for the film.
1989's Grave of the Fireflies is especially relevant to Cocoon, as that movie's emotionally devastating plot seems to have a lot in common with the upcoming picture. Here's the official synopsis from distributor GKIDS:
San and Mayu attend an all-girls school on a warm and tranquil island. When war reaches their shores, they are ordered to help nurse the wounded in a military hospital hidden away in a cave. Amidst escalating death and brutality, the friends struggle to find solace in their fragile lives.
The film adapts the manga of the same name by Machiko Kyo, which is itself based on the real-life tragedy of the Himeyuri students at the Battle of Okinawa in the final months of World War 2. The film's Japan premiere last year coincided with the 80th anniversary of the war's end. It received widespread praise for its gorgeous yet sobering portrayal of gendered violence and suffering. The animation itself is, naturally, as impressive as one would expect from a team with Sasayuri's caliber of talent. For Scrmbl, Alicia Haddick wrote that, "through the story’s grounding in San and Mayu’s relationship we are brought into the trenches of their hopeless fight to survive with equal love and anger."
The North American release of the film will include showings of both the Japanese and English dubs. The Japanese cast is led by Mitsushima Hikari (Mary and the Witch's Flower) as Mayu, and Itō Marika as San. The English cast has yet to be revealed by GKIDS. Like the best Ghibli films, Cocoon - One Summer of Girlhood appears to pack a visual and emotional punch. The film will be released in theaters on Sept. 4.
English (US) ·