Chimney Town: Frozen In Time Trailer Debuts Ahead Of Berlinale Premiere
The sequel's Berlinale slot in the Generation Kplus section signals that Studio4°C's hybrid CG-2D aesthetic and its thematic focus on patience and timeless values are being positioned for a family and youth audience at one of Europe's top festivals.
Reporting from 1 sources: Cartoon Brew.
Studio4°C has released the first English-subtitled trailer for "Chimney Town: Frozen in Time," the sequel to the 2020 film "Poupelle of Chimney Town." The trailer debuted exclusively on Cartoon Brew ahead of the film's world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, where it will screen in the Generation Kplus section, a program dedicated to young audiences and family animation. Directed by Yusuke Hirota, the sequel follows young Lubicchi as he enters the Millennium Fortress, a surreal realm where time has stopped. The trailer showcases the studio's hybrid visual style, blending CG characters with 2D textures and lines against intricately layered backgrounds. Director Hirota said the film explores themes of waiting with courage and conviction in a world that demands convenience and instant results. The Berlinale's Generation strand and its European Film Market have placed increased emphasis on animated films and projects, making this a significant festival platform for the expanding franchise.
The trailer for "Chimney Town: Frozen in Time" arrives just days before the film's world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, which runs from February 13 to 23, 2026. The Generation Kplus section has historically been a launchpad for international family animation, and the Berlinale's European Film Market has been actively courting animated projects in recent editions. Studio4°C, known for "Mind Game" and "Children of the Sea," returns to the steampunk world of Poupelle of Chimney Town, which was released in 2020 and directed by the same Yusuke Hirota. The sequel's English-subtitled trailer was provided exclusively to Cartoon Brew, with no other outlets reporting on it before the publication. The trailer does not reveal a release date for markets outside of the festival circuit.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.