Tomorrow's Leaves is a special production created for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, commissioned by the Olympic Foundation for Culture and Heritage (OFCH) and animated by Studio Ponoc.
Each year, the message leaf arrives, but this time its appearance stirs unease—something is clearly amiss. The leaf, normally bright and enduring, quickly loses its colour, then suddenly wilts and crumbles.
Five envoys, each hailing from a different land, are sent to investigate the cause. Guided by tiny, unobtrusive spirits, they journey to a distant country. Each envoy has unique strengths and vulnerabilities. Along the way, they both rival and support one another, drawing closer to their destination while overcoming perilous terrain and difficult conditions. Through athletic challenges and sport's power to unite, they discover the positive fundamental values that come from playful competition.
United, the envoys approach the source of the message leaf. Can they restore life to a future in peril?
Note: The film premiered early on June 14, 2021 at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, ahead of the cultural programme at Tokyo 2020. It also premiered at the Tokyo Skytree Round Theater on July 12, 2021.