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