Grotesqqque Anime Film Reveals New A(E)liens Trailer and November 6 Premiere in Japan

Aniplex has dropped a new trailer for Grotesqqque, and yes, this movie is already walking in like the weird kid at the party who ends up being the most interesting one in the room. The preview focuses on “A(E)liens”, one of the three stories inside Atsushi Nishigori’s original anime film. On top of that, the movie now has its Japan release locked for November 6.

We’re looking at an omnibus film built from three separate stories, each with its own mood, its own worldview, and its own flavor. It feels less like one straight road and more like three tunnels opening into different kinds of chaos. Mostro, that alone gives this project a lot of personality.

The film arrives in Japan this November

Grotesqqque, previously introduced under the title Grotesque, will premiere in Japanese theaters on November 6. Before that wider release, the film already made an international stop with its world premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal, held from July 16 to August 2.

That early festival showing gave the project a first spotlight outside Japan, and now the local theatrical rollout is ready to take over. Bit by bit, this one is stepping out of the shadows.

Three stories, three very different worlds

The movie is structured as an omnibus with these three segments:

• A(E)liens
• Yoroshiku★Girl
• Nocturne: Nuit Grotesque

Each story carries a different worldview, which is where the real hook sits. This is not one of those projects trying to wear a single face the whole time. Nah, pucha, it wants to mutate.

A closer look at Yoroshiku★Girl

Yoroshiku★Girl is also known as 4649 Girl, read as Yoroshiku★Shōjo. The title plays with the familiar Japanese reading of the numbers 4649 as “yoroshiku.” It also carries a darker kanji meaning, giving the name a twist that is much more in line with the film’s eerie identity.

That contrast alone says plenty about the movie’s vibe: playful on the surface, but with something a little crooked underneath. Like a smile with a hidden fang.

The Nocturne segment leans fully into the mood

The third story, Nocturne: Nuit Grotesque, also appears as Nocturne: Kono Grotesque na Yoru ni. The title points hard toward an atmosphere-heavy experience, and honestly, it sounds like the kind of segment that walks in wearing perfume, moonlight, and unresolved trauma. Asumadre.

Atsushi Nishigori is leading the project from the front

The film is directed by Atsushi Nishigori, known for works like The IDOLM@STER and DARLING in the FRANXX. He is not just directing, either. He is also handling the screenplay and character designs.

That kind of involvement matters. When one creator has hands on the look, the writing, and the overall direction, the final work tends to feel more unified, even when the structure itself is split into multiple stories. We can end up with something wild, sure, but not messy in the bad sense. More like lightning in a bottle than socks in a drawer.

The production team and music lineup are aiming big

Grotesqqque comes from JOEN, the company created jointly by Aniplex, CloverWorks, Wit Studio, and Shueisha. That is a heavyweight combination, no joke.

The representative directors of JOEN are Yūichi Fukushima of CloverWorks and Tetsuya Nakatake of Wit Studio. So yes, there is serious production muscle behind this film.

And then there’s the music. A total of 35 musical acts are contributing across the film’s three stories. That’s a chunky lineup. Not content with that, the opening theme song, “Shoot Shoot Shoot”, is performed by METALVERSE. The ending theme is performed by Haoto, with lyrics by momosu momosu.

That soundtrack approach could become one of the film’s biggest selling points. With three separate stories and that many artists involved, the movie has room to sound as unpredictable as it looks.

Why Grotesqqque is already standing out

There are a few reasons this film is catching attention fast:

• It’s original, not tied to an existing manga or anime franchise.
• Its omnibus format gives it space to experiment.
• Nishigori’s creative control is broad and personal.
• The music roster is massive.
• The tone seems unafraid to be stylish, strange, and a bit unhinged.

In a season where plenty of anime projects fight for attention with familiar formulas, Grotesqqque feels like the one scribbling on the walls and daring us to step closer. And honestly, we love a project with that kind of nerve.

If this one is already on your radar, keep it there. November 6 is the date to watch in Japan, and the new “A(E)liens” trailer is the latest sign that this film is not playing safe. If you like anime that swings first and explains later, this could be your chamba for the season.