Sumikko Gurashi: The Pop-up Book and the Secret Child

Sumikkogurashi debuted in 2012 as slightly negative characters who like to stay in the corner of a room. The characters include "Shirokuma", a polar bear who is sensitive to cold, "Penguin?" (with a question mark in its name), a penguin who is unsure if it is actually a penguin, "Tonkatsu", a piece of pork cutlet that was left uneaten, "Neko", a shy cat, and "Tokage", who hides his nature as one of the last dinosaurs. The franchise has inspired toys, books, stationery material, video games—and now a feature film.

Directed by Mankyu, Sumikko Gurashi: The Pop-up Book and the Secret Child leans on a strong ensemble — Yoshihiko Inohara, Manami Honjo — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about animation titles of 2019.