Product Info

Studio

Studio 4°C, Warner Bros. Japan

Director

Kenichiro Akimoto

Genre

Action, Animation, Sci-Fi

Rated

NA

Theatrical Release Date (NA)

Jan 16, 2026

Film Length

1hr 22min

Purchase From

All You Need Is Kill is the animated adaptation of the 2004 Japanese light novel of the same name. Its unique animation style tells the story of two individuals trapped in a time loop, forced to battle a massive alien force. The film kicks off the new year with a bold entry into the world of animated films in 2026.

This Isn’t Hollywood

©Hiroshi Sakurazaka / Shueisha, ALL YOU NEED IS KILL Project

When people think of movies with a time loop, they typically think of films like Groundhog Day and Edge of Tomorrow. Edge of Tomorrow was originally based on the 2004 Japanese light novel, All You Need Is Kill, which has a more Hollywood-like feel with big names like Tom Cruise, large explosions, and visually pleasing scenes to satisfy a broad audience. A movie about a time loop itself surely captures the audience’s attention.

The animated adaptation follows a similar story but with some alterations. For example, Rita is the main protagonist the film follows, with Keiji as the secondary protagonist, whereas in the novel, it’s the other way around. The film is more vibrant with a loose animation style on its characters. While it doesn’t have the same degree of Hollywood’s life-like visuals, All You Need Is Kill feels more like art with its visuals and animation style by Studio 4°C. Still, a time loop storyline is enough to make you want to watch it in the first place. Using colorful palettes and trippy visual scenes, the film plays with your visual senses. It may seem trippy at first, but it feels right at home in this version of All You Need Is Kill, especially towards the end where more sensory visuals come into play.

Some may be put off by the art style at first glance, but once you delve into the world directed by Kenichiro Akimoto, you can appreciate the style created for this different perspective of the original light novel. There are some scenes where the character’s frame rates are smooth, but the foreground objects have a lower frame rate and feel a bit off. This tends to work itself out as you progress further into the film, especially during the more intense battles.

Flower Power

©Hiroshi Sakurazaka / Shueisha, ALL YOU NEED IS KILL Project

The story takes place one year after the alien invasion of a giant flower called “Darol.” Upon first viewing, it evoked nostalgic moments of another anime film, Dragon Ball Z‘s Tree of Might. However, this story is more about the humans on Earth defeating the invasion rather than a martial arts film. The plot follows Rita, an isolated young woman who volunteers to help rebuild Japan after Darol’s appearance. She keeps everything to herself, and the film delves into pieces of her dramatic life to explain why she is isolated from the public. 

One year after Darol arrives on the planet, it begins its deadly event. Rita gets caught up in the chaos and is killed but wakes up to find herself back on the same day of the tragic event. Trapped in an endless time loop, Rita experiences trauma and repetitive deaths until she meets Keiji, a shy young man who is also stuck in the same cycle. The two team up to find a way to escape the time loop. The audience witnesses their emotional growth and development throughout the film, although the focus remains more on Rita due to her deeper story and emotions. Spending more time developing Keiji’s character would have helped the audience connect with him better.

All You Need Is Kill doesn’t delve deeply into a large-scale story, instead focusing solely on Rita and Keiji and their recurring time loops. For a film centered on breaking a time loop, it effectively maintains its focus. The animated film repeats some scenes but keeps them brief. For instance, Rita stealing a pickup truck at the facility is shown once, and then in subsequent time loop sequences, she is back in the vehicle attempting a different approach to avoid repetitive viewing. Scenes of Rita surviving can be graphic, but the film doesn’t dwell on visuals, often cutting to black or moving swiftly to the next scene of Rita waking up by her alarm. The film includes slower-paced moments between tragic deaths to allow the audience time to breathe and process.

While the ending provides closure to the invasion, it feels somewhat rushed. Given the slower pace leading up to the conclusion, it would have been more effective to maintain that pacing rather than hurrying to defeat Darol. Nevertheless, it is a movie worth watching repeatedly.

The Final Loop

All You Need Is Kill is a visually stunning animated sci-fi film that reimagines the time loop story of Rita as she relives a deadly alien invasion through bold, artistic visuals. Though its conclusion feels rushed, its unique style and storytelling make it a rewatchable experience.

An early screening provided by GKIDS for this review. All You Need Is Kill releases in theaters on January 16, 2026. Fans can visit the movie’s official website for more details and ticket purchasing.