What is the "Dragon Heart" film about?

The animated film "Dragon Heart: Adventures Beyond This World" follows two teenage cousins, Ryusuke and Tomomi, who are rescued by a dragon and taken on a sweeping adventure through the spirit world, including different sections of hell.

How did director Isamu Imakake prepare for making "Dragon Heart"?

Imakake and his team visited real-world locations like Tokushima and Kyoto to inspire the film's story and visuals, and they also practiced meditation to "calm our minds and concentrate our minds so that we can create a better production."

What unique elements does "Dragon Heart" incorporate?

The film blends genres like horror, crime, and war as the characters navigate the fantastical realms of the afterlife, with Imakake drawing inspiration from real-world elements like snakes and temple designs to bring the otherworldly settings to life.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Animated "Dragon Heart" Explores Afterlife Realms in Meditative Journey

Animated "Dragon Heart" Explores Afterlife Realms in Meditative Journey

23 Oct

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Summary

Director Imakake visited real-world locations to inspire film
Meditation helped team create "world beyond this world"
Fantastical premise blends genres like horror, crime, and war

Animated "Dragon Heart" Explores Afterlife Realms in Meditative Journey

In October 2025, director Isamu Imakake is preparing for the release of his latest animated film, "Dragon Heart: Adventures Beyond This World," which is eligible for Best Animated Feature at the 2026 Academy Awards. The more than three-year journey to bring this film to life has been a transformative experience for Imakake, who has visited a slew of real-world locations, including Tokushima and Kyoto, to inspire both the story and the visuals.

"It was a journey of my enlightenment," Imakake told TheWrap's Joe McGovern during a virtual screening last month. Along the way, Imakake and his team began practicing meditation in a bid to "calm our minds and concentrate our minds so that we can create a better production." This focus on inner reflection was crucial, as the film aims to illustrate "the world beyond this world, which is after life or after world."