One Artist, 18 Months: Indie Anime Flick ‘Jinsei’ Gets Trailer Ahead Of June Theatrical Release

After debuting at last year’s Annecy, Greenwich Entertainment has debuted its first trailer for the indie anime feature Jinsei as the film gears up for a summer theatrical release.

Written and directed by newcomer Ryuya Suzuki, Jinsei opens in New York on June 5 before expanding nationwide on June 12. The film follows a single protagonist across a hundred years, with each chapter presenting him under a different name and identity. Voiced by rapper Ace Cool, the character moves through life as a J-pop idol, an outcast, a leader, and eventually an oracle, tracing an evolving sense of self across past, present, and future.

The story begins with a chance encounter and a transfer student who draws the young hero into idol training. From there, the narrative expands into a broader exploration of identity, ambition, and personal transformation.

Suzuki completed the film over eighteen months and handled nearly every major creative role, including animation, art direction, cinematography, editing, character design, color design, and music. The fully hand-drawn feature reflects a highly personal, self-contained production process.

Since Annecy, Jinsei has continued its festival run with selections at the Tokyo International Film Festival and DOK Leipzig, among others. It also received a Special Jury Prize at the New Chitose Airport International Animation Festival.

With its ambitious scope and singular authorship, Jinsei positions Suzuki as someone to watch in the independent animation space.