A scene from 'Junk World'

Junk World review: TIFF 2025

‘Junk World’ is a striking stop-animation prequel that time travels through a post-apocalyptic world populated by genetic mutations.

In this time-conscious story, Humans and the rogue Mulligan clone race have enjoyed peace for 150 years. But this joint exploration of an unknown anomaly is their first since the war ended. Human investigator Tris is joined by her guardian robot, Robin. A rare woman military leader, she demands respect. She, on the other hand, does not revere the Mulligans, making an alliance with the clone Dante fragile. In the meantime, an antagonistic cult threatens the delicate truce with its own agenda that could upend the whole mission.

This stop-motion animation film is a prequel to the 2017 post-apocalyptic picture, Junk Head. The first movie sought a cure for human sterility among the world’s subterranean clones. Director Takahide Hori expands the story’s universe by exploring a more prosperous past in which the surface and air are still habitable. Most of the characters still hold recognizable forms and don’t yet need to be concealed in protective suits. However, frighteningly familiar mutants from the previous picture also make appearances.

Read the full review of Junk World at thatshelf.com

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