Anime fans finally have a proper preview of Paris ni Saku Étoile, also known as L'étoile de Paris en fleur or Étoile Blossoming in Paris. The film’s official website has now released the first 11 minutes online, giving viewers an early look at the new original movie from director Gorō Taniguchi and studio Arvo Animation.
That alone is enough to get attention, because Taniguchi is not exactly a random name. This is the director behind Code Geass and One Piece Film Red, so there is already plenty of interest from anime fans across Malaysia and the wider SEA region. When a creator with that kind of track record drops a new original film, people are going to watch closely.
The movie itself opened in Japan on March 13, and the newly streamed opening gives a better sense of its tone. Instead of going for giant battles or flashy blockbuster chaos, this one leans into a more emotional period-story setup.
Paris ni Saku Étoile follows two Japanese girls chasing their dreams in the difficult years at the start of the 20th century. One of them, Fujiko, wants to become a painter. The other, Chizuru, gets pulled into the world of ballet. The two first cross paths in Yokohama, then later meet again in Paris, where they keep pushing forward together.
It sounds like the kind of story built more on ambition, struggle, art, and friendship than big anime spectacle, which honestly could make it stand out. For viewers here in SEA, that is part of the appeal. We get plenty of action-heavy releases every season, but original films with a stronger dramatic identity usually hit differently, especially when the staff lineup is this stacked.
The main cast includes Ami Tōma as Fujiko and Lina Arashi as Chizuru, with Taichi Saotome playing Ruslan. The supporting cast also includes Mugi Kadowaki as the strict ballet teacher Olga, Onoe Matsuya II as Fujiko’s uncle Chuu Wakabayashi, Tokyo03 member Akihiro Kakuta as Wakabayashi’s drinking buddy Enzo, and Kenjirō Tsuda as Shoichi Yajima, a friend of Fujiko’s brother.
Behind the scenes, the creative team is seriously solid. Reiko Yoshida, known for work like Violet Evergarden, Maria Watches Over Us, and Kaleido Star, is handling the script. Character design starts with Katsuya Kondō, whose past work includes major Studio Ghibli titles such as Kiki’s Delivery Service and Ponyo. His original designs were then adapted for animation by Yū Yamashita, while Takayuki Hattori is composing the music.
That combination matters. For anime fans in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, staff names often tell you whether a film is worth tracking even before trailers do. Taniguchi brings prestige, Yoshida usually delivers emotional writing, and Kondō’s involvement gives the project extra visual pedigree.
There is also already a manga adaptation in the works. Zerihan launched the film’s manga version in Kodansha’s Afternoon magazine on November 25, so this is clearly a project being pushed across more than one format.
For now, the big takeaway is simple: if you were curious about Paris ni Saku Étoile, you do not have to rely only on posters and staff credits anymore. With the first 11 minutes now out, fans can get an actual feel for the film’s atmosphere, characters, and visual direction. And for SEA anime fans who are always hunting for something beyond the usual seasonal noise, this looks like one to keep on the radar.
Source: Anime News Network