by The original Japanese animated film GROTESQQQUE is officially heading to South Korea. The anthology film will receive an exclusive theatrical release at MEGABOX cinemas across South Korea on November 26, 2026. Directed by Atsushi Nishigori and animated by CloverWorks, the movie brings together three unusual stories featuring an alien girl, a group of girls competing in a mysterious game, and a vampire travelling through a world where humanity has disappeared.
One of the film’s biggest attractions is its impressive musical lineup. A total of 35 J-POP artists from different musical backgrounds have contributed songs to the project, creating a soundtrack that combines genres such as technopop, Vocaloid, city pop, loud rock, and electronic dance music (EDM).
The voice cast is equally notable, featuring singer and actor Gen Hoshino, Kana Ichinose, Saori Hayami, Rie Kugimiya, actress Sara Minami, and members of the popular Japanese idol group Nogizaka46.
GROTESQQQUE Confirms November 26 Release in South Korea
The South Korean theatrical release of GROTESQQQUE has been confirmed for November 26, 2026. The film will screen exclusively at MEGABOX cinemas, giving Korean audiences a chance to experience the original Japanese animated feature on the big screen.
GROTESQQQUE is not a conventional feature-length anime with one continuous storyline. Instead, it is an anthology film made up of three separate animated segments. Each chapter introduces a different setting, group of characters, and atmosphere, while the music connects the film’s varied worlds.
The movie originally opened in Japanese cinemas on November 6, 2026. Its international screenings have also included a U.S. premiere event hosted by Japan Society in New York on October 8, 2026. The film has a reported runtime of approximately 104 minutes and is presented in Japanese with English subtitles at the Japan Society screening.
Atsushi Nishigori Directs the Original Animated Film
GROTESQQQUE is directed by Atsushi Nishigori, an animation creator known for his work on several prominent Japanese anime projects. He previously directed THE IDOLM@STER and DARLING in the FRANXX, designed characters for Gurren Lagann, and served as chief animation director for EVANGELION: 3.0+1.0 THRICE UPON A TIME.
For this project, Nishigori is also credited with the screenplay and original character concepts, giving him a central creative role in shaping the film’s distinctive identity.
Animation production is handled by CloverWorks, the studio behind popular titles such as SPY×FAMILY, Bocchi the Rock!, and My Dress-Up Darling. The project is planned and produced by JOEN and Aniplex, with the film’s production credited to Project GTQ.
Bringing three different stories together under one title gives the creative team an opportunity to explore contrasting animation styles, characters, and moods within a single theatrical experience.
Three Stories Make Up the GROTESQQQUE Anthology Film
The film is divided into three segments: “ÆLIENS,” “4649★Girl,” and “Nocturne On This Grotesque Night.” Each story explores a different world, ranging from lively comedy to intense competition and a supernatural journey.
- ÆLIENS – An Alien Girl Searches for Human Friends
The first segment, “ÆLIENS,” is a slapstick comedy centred on Ellie, an alien girl who arrives on Earth as a space goodwill ambassador.
Although her mission brings her to an unfamiliar planet, Ellie is interested in something more personal: finding human friends. She begins a journey to connect with people on Earth, leading to a series of unusual and humorous situations.
The story combines science-fiction elements with comedy and everyday human interactions. Its central idea of an alien trying to understand and make friends with people offers a light-hearted opening to the film.
The segment features voice performances by Kana Ichinose and Gen Hoshino.
- 4649★Girl – A Fierce Competition in a City Without Morning
The second chapter, “4649★Girl,” introduces a much more intense setting.
The story takes place in a mysterious city where morning never arrives. In this unusual environment, girls gather to compete in a game called “Queen of Butterfly.” Their goal is to claim the title of queen, turning the competition into a fierce battle for supremacy.
The segment features a group of distinctive characters and a high-energy atmosphere. Its focus on rivalry, competition, and the desire to become the strongest gives this chapter a different tone from the opening comedy.
The voice cast for this segment includes Sara Minami, Ikumi Hasegawa, Saori Hayami, Maaya Uchida, Chika Anzai, Miyu Tomita, Rumi Okubo, and Rie Kugimiya.
- Nocturne
On This Grotesque Night– A Vampire’s Journey Through a Lost World
The final segment, “Nocturne On This Grotesque Night,” moves into a post-apocalyptic setting where humanity has already perished.
It follows Ayame, a pure-blooded vampire travelling through the deserted world alongside three young girls. The girls survived by becoming infected through Ayame’s blood, and the group continues its journey through a world left behind by humanity.
Unlike the comedy of “ÆLIENS” and the competitive action of “4649★Girl,” this chapter explores a more atmospheric and mysterious setting. Its central journey brings together supernatural elements, survival, and the relationships between Ayame and the three girls.
The segment features members of Nogizaka46: Nagi Inoue, Aruno Nakanishi, Miku Ichinose, and Nao Tomisato.
Gen Hoshino, Saori Hayami, Rie Kugimiya and More Join the Voice Cast
Another major highlight of GROTESQQQUE is its diverse voice cast. The production brings together experienced voice actors, musicians, actresses, and members of Nogizaka46.
The announced cast includes:
- Gen Hoshino
- Kana Ichinose
- Saori Hayami
- Rie Kugimiya
- Sara Minami
- Ikumi Hasegawa
- Maaya Uchida
- Chika Anzai
- Miyu Tomita
- Rumi Okubo
- Nagi Inoue (Nogizaka46)
- Aruno Nakanishi (Nogizaka46)
- Miku Ichinose (Nogizaka46)
- Nao Tomisato (Nogizaka46)
The combination of established voice actors and performers from outside the traditional voice-acting industry gives the project a varied cast. Gen Hoshino’s participation is particularly noteworthy, as he is widely known for his work as a singer-songwriter and actor.
Nogizaka46 members also play an important part in the film, with four members participating in the voice cast for the vampire-themed final segment.
35 J-POP Artists Contribute to the Film’s Soundtrack
Music is one of the defining features of GROTESQQQUE. Rather than relying on a single musical style, the film features contributions from 35 J-POP artists, bringing together a broad selection of sounds and genres.
The soundtrack covers technopop, Vocaloid music, city pop, loud rock, EDM, rap, and classical influences. This variety helps distinguish the three segments and supports the film’s changing atmosphere.
The opening theme, “Shoot Shoot Shoot,” is performed by METALVERSE. Its inclusion gives the film an energetic musical introduction.
By bringing together artists from different genres, GROTESQQQUE aims to create an experience in which music is more than background accompaniment. The soundtrack forms an important part of the film’s identity, complementing its unusual characters and contrasting story settings.
What Makes GROTESQQQUE Worth Watching?
The most interesting aspect of GROTESQQQUE is its anthology format. Instead of following one protagonist through a single storyline, the film presents three different worlds within one feature-length production.
Each segment has its own central concept:
- ÆLIENS: Science-fiction comedy about an alien girl searching for friends.
- 4649★Girl: A competitive story about girls fighting for the title of queen in a city without morning.
- Nocturne: A supernatural journey featuring a vampire and three girls in a world without humanity.
The combination of Atsushi Nishigori’s creative direction, CloverWorks’ animation production, a large voice cast, and music from 35 artists makes the film an interesting original anime project.
For viewers who enjoy experimental animation, unusual storytelling, and music-driven productions, GROTESQQQUE offers a different kind of theatrical anime experience.
GROTESQQQUE South Korean Release Date
GROTESQQQUE will open exclusively at MEGABOX cinemas across South Korea on November 26, 2026. The film is an original animated anthology directed by Atsushi Nishigori and produced by CloverWorks.
With three contrasting stories, a voice cast featuring Gen Hoshino and members of Nogizaka46, and music contributions from 35 J-POP artists, the film brings together several creative elements in one theatrical release.
Anime fans in South Korea can look forward to experiencing all three stories on the big screen when GROTESQQQUE arrives later this month.
