Poupelle of Chimney Town
Пупелль из города дымоходов
Coming to the big screen for the first time, a ballet based on the famous anime – the touching and wise fairy tale "Poupelle of Chimney Town."
The story about a boy living in a city where the chimneys smoke so heavily that the sky and stars are hidden, and a garbage monster who helps him fight for his dream, was written and illustrated by Japanese artist Akihiro Nishino. This children's book, first published in 2016, is a genuine bestseller. It has been adapted into an anime and a musical; it also became a source of inspiration for Haruka Seki, who conceived a large-scale ballet based on the adventures of the two friends.
Classical ballet and anime came together like ice and flame, resulting in an elegant, lavish performance with a slight touch of exoticism – incredibly beautiful, graceful, and truly magical.
Actors
Haloween Poupelle / Bruno
Shizen Kazama
Lubicchi
Hitomi Takeda
Crew
Original story & script
Akihiro Nishino
Executive Producer
Haruka Seki
Composer
Ko Tanaka
Choreographer
Naoya Homan
Conductor
Misato Tomita
In Chimney Town, covered in thick smoke, the townspeople had long forgotten to look up at the sky. They knew nothing of the blue sky, nor of the twinkling stars above. Among them, only Bruno spoke of the stars. But one day, in search of those stars, he sailed out to sea - and never returned. His son, Lubicchi, holding onto his father’s words, continued to believe in the stars.
On Halloween night, a garbage man named Poupelle was born from a pile of trash, and soon became friends with Lubicchi. But when Lubicchi spoke to Poupelle about the stars, the townspeople turned on him, calling him a liar and shunning him. Saddened and lost, Lubicchi withdrew into himself.
Seeing his dear friend in such despair, Poupelle made a decision. He would take Lubicchi on a journey to find the stars.
On Halloween night, a garbage man named Poupelle was born from a pile of trash, and soon became friends with Lubicchi. But when Lubicchi spoke to Poupelle about the stars, the townspeople turned on him, calling him a liar and shunning him. Saddened and lost, Lubicchi withdrew into himself.
Seeing his dear friend in such despair, Poupelle made a decision. He would take Lubicchi on a journey to find the stars.
Summary
In Chimney Town, covered in thick smoke, the townspeople had long forgotten to look up at the sky. They knew nothing of the blue sky, nor of the twinkling stars above. Among them, only Bruno spoke of the stars. But one day, in search of those stars, he sailed out to sea - and never returned. His son, Lubicchi, holding onto his father’s words, continued to believe in the stars. On Halloween night, a garbage man named Poupelle was born from a pile of trash, and soon became friends with Lubicchi. But when Lubicchi spoke to Poupelle about the stars, the townspeople turned on him, calling him a liar and shunning him. Saddened and lost, Lubicchi withdrew into himself. Seeing his dear friend in such despair, Poupelle made a decision. He would take Lubicchi on a journey to find the stars.
Whole Story
▼Bruno pointed to the smoky sky and said to his son, Lubicchi, "Beyond that smoke, there must be stars. Believe. Even if you’re the only one." Bruno rubbed under his nose with his forefinger and handed Lubicchi a pendant. Lubicchi's eyes sparkled as he gazed at the pendant, but his hands slipped, and the pendant fell to the ground.
Act 1
On Halloween night, A heart fell from the sky onto a pile of trash at the edge of town. All types of rubbish stuck onto the thumping, beating heart, until finally a trashman was born. He was a very filthy trashman. A very smelly trashman. The trashman began to walk, eventually reaching the town.
The Halloween town was filled with monsters everywhere. The trashman started dancing with the monsters who had gathered. Later, the bell of the clock tower rang, and as the monsters prepared to head home, they removed their masks one by one. "Take off your mask too, trashman," they said. When someone grabbed his arm and pulled, it stretched out long. "!!!" "A real monster!" People panicked, and frightened, the trashman fled.
As the trashman ran, he came upon Lubicchi, sitting covered in soot. Though surprised at the monster-like figure, Lubicchi was curious. "Are you in costume? That’s funny!" "No... this isn’t a costume, actually..." Just then, the children came chasing after the trashman. The kids seemed determined to catch him. Lubicchi and the trashman hurriedly ran away.
They finally escaped and found themselves deep inside a dark underground mine. "Whoa, careful!" When Lubicchi nearly slipped from a rock, the trashman saved him, but fell with a thud. Lubicchi rushed to him. Seeing the trashman all in pieces, Lubicchi was shocked and couldn’t stop his tears. But the trashman pulled himself together and stood up. "Ahhh! Are you really a monster?" Though surprised, Lubicchi was happy to see him okay. When Lubicchi tugged on his hand, the arm stretched out long. The two played joyfully in the mine, and Lubicchi decided to call him "Poupelle."
Boom! With a loud explosion, Scoop and his mini-scoops appeared. They showed Lubicchi and Poupelle the way back to the surface.
At home, Lubicchi’s mother, Laula, waited for Lubicchi. He returned happily with Poupelle and introduced him as his friend. It was Lubicchi’s first friend, and Laula was overjoyed. Seeing Lubicchi talk excitedly about Poupelle reminded Laula of Bruno.
Bruno had suddenly disappeared, swallowed by the large black smoke.
Act 2
Chimney Town was filled with chimneys. Black smoke billowed everywhere, from morning till night. Lubicchi, the chimney sweep, was very busy. When he finished work, he’d always high-five Poupelle, who waited in hiding, and they’d walk off together. Lubicchi spoke of the pendant he’d lost, and the story of the stars his dad told him. "There are stars beyond that smoke!"
But Rebecca, who was eavesdropping, confronted him with the other kids. "You were saying something about stars, weren’t you?" "There’s no such thing as stars! You liar!" Tears filled Lubicchi’s eyes.
Seeing Lubicchi so downcast, Poupelle rushed to the garbage heap. Since hearing about the pendant, he’d been searching for it. Amidst the trash, he desperately looked. But then he stumbled and hurt his chest. "Ouch!" As he rubbed his chest, he felt something. It was Lubicchi’s lost pendant. If he removed it, Poupelle would fall apart into garbage. But still, he was determined to return Bruno’s keepsake to his precious friend Lubicchi.
When the streetlight and scoops who’d followed out of concern caught up, Poupelle said, "I want to give this pendant back to Lubicchi." "But if you do that, Poupelle..." "Yes, I know. But I still want to give it back. And before that, I want Lubicchi to see the stars." How could they go above the smoke? Scoop glanced at a mini-scoop holding a balloon. "That’s it!" They would build a flying ship with balloons to rise above the smoke!
Poupelle rushed to Lubicchi. "Lubicchi, let’s go see the stars!" But Lubicchi was losing hope. "I don’t care about the stars anymore." Still, Poupelle took his hand and led him to the beach, and There it is a flying ship adorned with countless balloons, prepared by Scoop and his crew! They boarded, heading toward the other side of the smoke!
The black smoke swallowed the ship, rumbling and roaring as it filled the air! Rumble rumble rumble. “Lubicchi, look up. We’re coming out of the smoke! Don’t close your eyes.” The place was filled with countless points of light. “Dad wasn’t lying.” Poupelle placed a hand on his chest to return the pendant. But Lubicchi stopped him. "It’s enough if you stay by my side." Embarrassed, Poupelle rubbed under his nose with his forefinger. Seeing that, Lubicchi realized - “You came to see me, Dad.”
In Chimney Town, covered in thick smoke, the townspeople had long forgotten to look up at the sky. They knew nothing of the blue sky, nor of the twinkling stars above. Among them, only Bruno spoke of the stars. But one day, in search of those stars, he sailed out to sea - and never returned. His son, Lubicchi, holding onto his father’s words, continued to believe in the stars. On Halloween night, a garbage man named Poupelle was born from a pile of trash, and soon became friends with Lubicchi. But when Lubicchi spoke to Poupelle about the stars, the townspeople turned on him, calling him a liar and shunning him. Saddened and lost, Lubicchi withdrew into himself. Seeing his dear friend in such despair, Poupelle made a decision. He would take Lubicchi on a journey to find the stars.
Whole Story
▼Bruno pointed to the smoky sky and said to his son, Lubicchi, "Beyond that smoke, there must be stars. Believe. Even if you’re the only one." Bruno rubbed under his nose with his forefinger and handed Lubicchi a pendant. Lubicchi's eyes sparkled as he gazed at the pendant, but his hands slipped, and the pendant fell to the ground.
Act 1
On Halloween night, A heart fell from the sky onto a pile of trash at the edge of town. All types of rubbish stuck onto the thumping, beating heart, until finally a trashman was born. He was a very filthy trashman. A very smelly trashman. The trashman began to walk, eventually reaching the town.
The Halloween town was filled with monsters everywhere. The trashman started dancing with the monsters who had gathered. Later, the bell of the clock tower rang, and as the monsters prepared to head home, they removed their masks one by one. "Take off your mask too, trashman," they said. When someone grabbed his arm and pulled, it stretched out long. "!!!" "A real monster!" People panicked, and frightened, the trashman fled.
As the trashman ran, he came upon Lubicchi, sitting covered in soot. Though surprised at the monster-like figure, Lubicchi was curious. "Are you in costume? That’s funny!" "No... this isn’t a costume, actually..." Just then, the children came chasing after the trashman. The kids seemed determined to catch him. Lubicchi and the trashman hurriedly ran away.
They finally escaped and found themselves deep inside a dark underground mine. "Whoa, careful!" When Lubicchi nearly slipped from a rock, the trashman saved him, but fell with a thud. Lubicchi rushed to him. Seeing the trashman all in pieces, Lubicchi was shocked and couldn’t stop his tears. But the trashman pulled himself together and stood up. "Ahhh! Are you really a monster?" Though surprised, Lubicchi was happy to see him okay. When Lubicchi tugged on his hand, the arm stretched out long. The two played joyfully in the mine, and Lubicchi decided to call him "Poupelle."
Boom! With a loud explosion, Scoop and his mini-scoops appeared. They showed Lubicchi and Poupelle the way back to the surface.
At home, Lubicchi’s mother, Laula, waited for Lubicchi. He returned happily with Poupelle and introduced him as his friend. It was Lubicchi’s first friend, and Laula was overjoyed. Seeing Lubicchi talk excitedly about Poupelle reminded Laula of Bruno.
Bruno had suddenly disappeared, swallowed by the large black smoke.
Act 2
Chimney Town was filled with chimneys. Black smoke billowed everywhere, from morning till night. Lubicchi, the chimney sweep, was very busy. When he finished work, he’d always high-five Poupelle, who waited in hiding, and they’d walk off together. Lubicchi spoke of the pendant he’d lost, and the story of the stars his dad told him. "There are stars beyond that smoke!"
But Rebecca, who was eavesdropping, confronted him with the other kids. "You were saying something about stars, weren’t you?" "There’s no such thing as stars! You liar!" Tears filled Lubicchi’s eyes.
Seeing Lubicchi so downcast, Poupelle rushed to the garbage heap. Since hearing about the pendant, he’d been searching for it. Amidst the trash, he desperately looked. But then he stumbled and hurt his chest. "Ouch!" As he rubbed his chest, he felt something. It was Lubicchi’s lost pendant. If he removed it, Poupelle would fall apart into garbage. But still, he was determined to return Bruno’s keepsake to his precious friend Lubicchi.
When the streetlight and scoops who’d followed out of concern caught up, Poupelle said, "I want to give this pendant back to Lubicchi." "But if you do that, Poupelle..." "Yes, I know. But I still want to give it back. And before that, I want Lubicchi to see the stars." How could they go above the smoke? Scoop glanced at a mini-scoop holding a balloon. "That’s it!" They would build a flying ship with balloons to rise above the smoke!
Poupelle rushed to Lubicchi. "Lubicchi, let’s go see the stars!" But Lubicchi was losing hope. "I don’t care about the stars anymore." Still, Poupelle took his hand and led him to the beach, and There it is a flying ship adorned with countless balloons, prepared by Scoop and his crew! They boarded, heading toward the other side of the smoke!
The black smoke swallowed the ship, rumbling and roaring as it filled the air! Rumble rumble rumble. “Lubicchi, look up. We’re coming out of the smoke! Don’t close your eyes.” The place was filled with countless points of light. “Dad wasn’t lying.” Poupelle placed a hand on his chest to return the pendant. But Lubicchi stopped him. "It’s enough if you stay by my side." Embarrassed, Poupelle rubbed under his nose with his forefinger. Seeing that, Lubicchi realized - “You came to see me, Dad.”
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