A brand‑new trailer has dropped for the upcoming GROTESQQQUE anthology film, putting the spotlight on the third short, “NOCTURNE: NUIT GROTESQUE.” The teaser not only teases the eerie visuals of the vampire‑infused tale but also showcases its insert theme “TINY LUCK,” performed by singer‑songwriter Kairi Yagi.
The short is helmed by veteran director Atsushi Nishigori, known for his work on Darling in the Franxx and The Idolmaster. Nishigori also serves as the overall director, scriptwriter, and original character designer for the entire anthology. He takes on character design duties for “NOCTURNE,” while Kazuko Nakajima (who contributed to Wonder Egg Priority) handles color design across all three segments. Compositing direction is overseen by Yuya Sakuma, a lighting veteran from Bocchi the Rock!.
The voice cast features members of the popular idol group Nogizaka46, giving the short a fresh, youthful energy. Nagi Inoue voices Ayame, Aruno Nakanishi takes on Shion, Miku Ichinose plays Momo, and Nao Tomisato portrays Kanna.
“NOCTURNE” joins two other original shorts—”YOROSHIKU★Girl” and “A(E)LIENS”—that together form the three‑part structure of the anthology. Both of those pieces also benefit from Nakajima’s color expertise. Fans can catch the latest glimpse of “YOROSHIKU★Girl” in its own trailer here and the “A(E)LIENS” preview here.
The anthology is produced by CloverWorks, with planning and production support from JOEN and Aniplex. JOEN, a joint venture between CloverWorks, Shueisha, and Aniplex, was formed to streamline collaborative projects as detailed in its 2022 announcement. The film’s original release was slated for 2025 under the working title “Grotesque,” but a delay announced in July 2025 pushed the launch to 2026 (see announcement).
Internationally, GROTESQQQUE will make its U.S. debut at the Japan Society in New York City on October 8, 2026. Director Nishigori will attend the event to present the film in person, offering American audiences their first full‑length glimpse of the project (event details). Aniplex USA has already shared an English‑subtitled version of a prior trailer on its YouTube channel, building anticipation for the upcoming screening.
Following the New York premiere, the anthology will roll out across Japanese theaters beginning November 6, 2026. The film’s world premiere took place earlier this summer at the Fantasia Film Festival, where all three shorts were presented as part of the festival’s 30th‑edition lineup (see coverage). The festival description emphasizes Nishigori’s ambition to fuse “pop and edgy” visuals with an original score, creating a “chimera‑like” experience that blends aliens, gyarus, and vampires into a single, distorted yet beautiful narrative.
For fans eager to dive deeper, the official X account has posted the latest trailer and behind‑the‑scenes snippets (see the tweet). Additionally, Anime News Network reported on the trailer’s release, noting the striking animation and the involvement of the idol‑group cast (source).
With its unique blend of gothic aesthetics, pop‑culture references, and a fresh musical touch, “NOCTURNE: NUIT GROTESQUE” promises to be a standout segment within the larger GROTESQQQUE experience. The film’s upcoming theatrical run, combined with the international premiere and the buzz generated by the new trailer, positions it as one of the most anticipated anime anthology releases of the year.
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Source: AniTrendz