Product Info

Studio

SASAYURI

Director

Yukimitsu Ina

Genre

Animation, Drama, War

Rated

NA

Theatrical Release Date (NA)

Sep 4, 2026

Film Length

1hr 25min

Purchase From

Home » cocoon – One Summer of Girlhood (Review)

Cocoon: One Summer of Girlhood is a haunting and beautifully animated story about childhood innocence caught in the middle of war. It delivers many emotional visuals, though the ending could be delivered in a better way.

A Paradise Surrounded by War

© Machiko Kyo (AKITASHOTEN) / NHK, NEP

Studio Sasayuri, staffed by former Studio Ghibli animators, set its debut film in 1940s Japan during the Pacific War. The film, based on the manga of the same name and loosely inspired by true events, follows young girls on an island who are recruited by their government for education and to serve as nurses for wounded soldiers.

The girls, heavily dependent on their government and the adults around them, remain unaware of the lies and abandonment they face. They must find a way to survive amidst the active war and military presence surrounding them, along with all the associated horrors. San and Mayu, the two main characters, along with the other children, must discover a way to cope, grow, and survive in unimaginable circumstances while in the ‘care’ of the government and adults, especially after being abandoned by these authority figures, with the understanding that death is better than being captured by the enemy, who will do unimaginable things to them.

Finding Beauty in the Horror

© Machiko Kyo (AKITASHOTEN) / NHK, NEP

During the film, San and Mayu, who have been enlisted to join the young girls on the island, carry two different personalities that work well together. San is quiet and worried about what people will think of her and her ideas, while Mayu is the opposite while taking charge, helping, and keeping morale up. At first, the girls appear carefree, but it soon becomes apparent that their school in their tropical paradise is a location to seek refuge from enemy bombs during wartime, and they must take cover. With the war getting closer and closer, it is more difficult for them to avoid being impacted, especially when they are called to action as nurses in an underground, makeshift hospital in a cavern. 

The girls blindly follow all the orders to care for these grown, injured men, despite the physical attacks and subtle hints of assault. San is losing hope and mentally breaking down from the horrors of blood, death, and attacks. Mayu casts a “spell” on San to see bright, beautiful flower petals whenever there is blood or injury as a way to cope with the violence around her. The flowers are beautiful and one of the strongest elements of this movie. San is able to see beauty instead of violence. The idea of horror with the use of imagination and imagery will resonate within the audience. Using these petals is more powerful than blood or violence would have been, because it shows a child trying to cope with beauty in a scary world. Hitomi Tateno, Akihiko Yamashita, and Shinji Otsuka, former Studio Ghibli staff members, infused this film with beauty, artistry, and emotion.

Cocoon also carries a very similar theme to the popular animated film Grave of the Firefly, with children dealing with wartime horrors and innocents being lost. When you have animators Hitomi Tateno and Akihiko Yamashita, who once worked on that tragic wartime film, it’s no surprise that their experience on that film carried over to Cocoon. It’s a must-see, but be warned: its chilling core will haunt you for years.

A Bittersweet Conclusion

© Machiko Kyo (AKITASHOTEN) / NHK, NEP

Though Cocoon is a very well-done film, it does miss the mark on feeling like it is complete. If you haven’t read the manga, the ending may seem confusing, although it suggests a joyful resolution. While it is a positive development compared to where San and the other girls started, their current situation is still not ideal. However, it does highlight the brief contrast to their previous circumstances. The manga leaves a significant overarching point about the story’s conclusion undeveloped, even for those who have read it.

Regardless, the film delivers and deserves a spot on your must-see animated films list this year. The film takes you on an emotional ride from beginning to end, contrasting the subtle tone of happiness in the close relationships among the young girls, who experience joy in their safe environment while receiving an education and having their needs met, with the horror of blood, injury, and attacks that occur after they are abandoned by the government and the adults responsible for their care.

The Final War

Cocoon: One Summer of Girlhooddelivers a beautiful and emotional story that deserves a spot on your must-watch animated films. Stunning visuals, great character relationships and an emotional story that will carry with you from beginning to end.

An early screening was provided for this review. Cocoon: One Summer of Girlhood arrives in theaters on September 4, 2026. Fans can visit the film’s official website for more information and ticket purchasing.