Werner Herzog’s Animated Feature: A New Chapter in Filmmaking

Renowned German filmmaker and provocateur Werner Herzog is embarking on an exciting journey as he directs his first animated feature, marking a significant milestone in his illustrious career spanning over sixty years.

At 82, Herzog, celebrated for iconic films such as Grizzly Man, Fitzcarraldo, Aguirre, The Wrath of God, and Cave of Forgotten Dreams, is set to make his directorial debut in feature animation with The Twilight World, based on his recent novel of the same name.

This innovative project is currently in development and will be pitched for the first time this week at the prestigious animated film event Cartoon Movie in Bordeaux, France. Here’s what we know so far about Herzog’s groundbreaking film:

• The Story: Herzog’s book, which serves as the foundation for the film, narrates the true story of Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese intelligence officer who, for nearly thirty years, refused to accept the end of World War II and continued to wage a personal, imagined war in the jungles of the Philippines. The producers describe the film as a blend of “part fictionalized history, part war drama, and part dream log,” offering a profound exploration of reality, the illusion of time, and the tension between our external circumstances and inner lives.
• Screenplay Adaptation: The screenplay is being crafted by Michael Arias (Tekkonkinkreet, The Animatrix) and Luca Vitale, who are collaborating closely with Herzog. Notably, Herzog will also lend his voice as the narrator of the film.
• Production Details: This project is set up as a French/German co-production involving Psyop (Germany/U.S.) and Sun Creature Studio (France/Denmark). Production is anticipated to commence in 2026, following the completion of Herzog’s recently announced live-action film Bucking Fastard. The film is actively seeking partnerships with private investors, broadcasters, and distributors, with a target release date set for 2028.
• Studio Background: Psyop, celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is a respected producer known for its advertising and short-form work. Meanwhile, Sun Creature Studio has gained recognition for the Oscar-nominated animated documentary Flee and the Cartoon Network series The Heroic Quest of the Valiant Prince Ivandoe. Both studios will provide top-notch animation services for this project.
• Herzog’s Vision: In a recent statement, Herzog expressed his initial reservations about adapting Onoda’s story for film, stating:
  

  “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.”

• Production Team: The film is being produced by Amanda Miller and Andrew Linsk for Psyop, with Charlotte de la Gournerie producing for Sun Creature. Linsk remarked, “Working with Werner is a masterclass in nuanced storytelling. This particular story — due to its dreamlike and expressionistic approach to the characters’ perception of time — is especially suited to animation. The screenplay that Werner has crafted with Michael and Luca is unconventional and deeply layered, ensuring that the final film will unmistakably reflect Herzog’s unique vision.”