The creative team behind Pompo: The Cinéphile is reuniting for an ambitious new original anime film project titled WASTED CHEF, as revealed by KADOKAWA on May 31, 2026. Director Takayuki Hirao, character designer Shingo Adachi, and composer Kenta Matsukuma have joined forces once again at studio CLAP to bring this original story to life, with a teaser trailer and a companion manga adaptation launching simultaneously.
The project was first announced in June 2023 and is now targeting completion in 2027, according to a Variety report. A teaser visual and a 30-second teaser trailer were released on May 31, 2026, with the official website opening on the same day.
Key Announcement Details
- Title: WASTED CHEF (『WASTED CHEF』)
- Director / Original Story / Script: Takayuki Hirao (Pompo: The Cinéphile, Magical Sisters Yoyo & Nene)
- Animation Studio: CLAP
- Character Designer: Shingo Adachi (Pompo: The Cinéphile, Sword Art Online)
- Composer: Kenta Matsukuma (Pompo: The Cinéphile, Made in Abyss)
- Target Completion: 2027
- Manga Adaptation: By Aero05, launching June 4, 2026 in Young Ace magazine
"A young chef chasing a lost flavor lands in a ruined city without taste. Saved by Kasumi, his cooking awakens forgotten memories. But a dark force threatens to erase all desire — making his quest the last hope to save both worlds."
The teaser tagline reads: "That day, 'you' and 'taste' vanished from the world."
Community Reception
The teaser trailer on KADOKAWAanime's YouTube channel has amassed over 108,000 views within 21 hours of upload, with a 4,400+ like count and an overwhelmingly positive reception. Fans on social media have expressed excitement about the Pompo team's reunion, with many praising Shingo Adachi's return as character designer. The announcement was also featured at the Annecy Animation Showcase and Cannes Animation (May 15–17, 2026), signaling strong international interest in the project.
On MyAnimeList forums and r/anime, discussion has centered on the intriguing premise of a chef in a ruined world, with comparisons drawn to other food-themed anime like Food Wars! and the emotional depth of Pompo: The Cinéphile. The project's originality — a rare non-adaptation in an era of source material-driven productions — has been met with particular enthusiasm.
Visual/Video
What This Means
WASTED CHEF represents a significant bet on original anime storytelling at a time when the industry is increasingly dominated by manga, light novel, and webtoon adaptations. The reunion of the core Pompo: The Cinéphile creative trio — Hirao, Adachi, and Matsukuma — signals CLAP's ambition to establish itself as a home for distinctive original films. The parallel manga adaptation in Young Ace magazine is a smart strategy to build awareness ahead of the 2027 release while giving fans a way to engage with the world and characters early.
The project's presence at Annecy and Cannes Animation indicates international distribution ambitions, potentially following Pompo's successful global release. With the teaser already generating strong buzz, WASTED CHEF is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated original anime films in development.