German writer, producer and filmmaker, Werner Herzog–who’s behind celebrated work such as Grizzly Man, Fitzcarraldo (Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival), and Aguirre, The Wrath of God–will take on his first animated film, The Twilight World. Herzog will direct the narrative feature, with animation and production support from animation studio Psyop in partnership with Sun Creature Studio, producers of the BAFTA- and triple Oscar-nominated film, Flee. Sun Creature will also be providing animation services for the film out of its Bordeaux-based studio, and has brokered discussions with several potential French animation directors to collaborate with Herzog on the project.
Adapted from Herzog’s best selling novel of the same name, The Twilight World tells the true story of Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese intelligence officer who refused to believe that World War II was over, and continued to fight a personal, fictitious war in the jungles of the Philippines for 30 years. Part fictionalized history, part war drama and part dream log, the film is a meditation on the nature of reality, the illusion of time, and the conflict between the external world and our inner lives. Herzog worked closely with writers Michael Arias (Tekkonkinkreet, The Animatrix), and Luca Vitale on the screenplay adaptation of the book. Herzog will also narrate the film.
Herzog explained, “I always felt that Hiroo Onoda’s story, having spanned almost 30 years of fever dreams in the jungle, was best suited for literature, not cinema–which is why I chose to tell it through a novel. It wasn’t until the producers at Psyop approached me about adapting Onoda’s story into an animated film that I realized the potential that animation had to tell this story in a truly compelling and imaginative way. I am very much looking forward to the challenge of working in what is, for me, a totally new medium.”
The film is being produced by Psyop’s Amanda Miller and Andrew Linsk. “Working with Werner is a masterclass in nuanced storytelling,” stated Linsk, “And this particular story–because of the dreamlike and expressionistic way that it deals with the characters’ perception of the passage of time, is particularly suited to animation. The screenplay that Werner has crafted with Michael and Luca is unconventional and deeply layered, and the resulting film will bear the unmistakable mark of its director.”
“We have a wonderful relationship with our long time partners at Sun Creature,” said producer Miller, “The sensibility of the studio, coupled with their vast network of French animation talent, makes them the perfect fit for this project. They were our top choice as partners to collaborate with on The Twilight World.”
Sun Creature co-founder and executive producer Charlotte De La Gournerie added, “We are incredibly excited to be Psyop’s co-production partner for this deeply imaginative story, alongside one of the greatest writers and filmmakers of our time. We are proud to bring our expertise, and our access to the world’s best animators to support Werner in bringing this story to the screen.”
The Twilight World is a French/German co-production between Psyop (Germany/USA), and Sun Creature Studios (France/Denmark). Currently in development, production on The Twilight World will commence in early 2026, after Herzog’s recently announced live action film, Bucking Fastard, which stars sisters Kate and Rooney Mara, is completed.
The Twilight World will be featured as part of the lineup at Cartoon Movie, the annual co-production and pitching event in Bordeaux for European animated feature films. The producers are seeking partnerships with private investors, broadcasters, and distributors. Target release is 2028.
