Childhood in our memories is always a little crooked, clumsy, and therefore all the more vivid. Flowing through bold, rustic brushstrokes, the world of Iron Boy bears a peculiar resemblance to such childhood recollections. Director Louis Clichy, an animator who previously contributed to Pixar’s WALL-E and Up, brings a story rooted in his personal experience to his solo feature directorial debut. Christophe, who intended to follow in his father’s footsteps as a farmer, is fitted with iron body braces due to a physical disability. The braces are meant to straighten his body yet instead steer him away from his predetermined path in life, allowing music, friendship, and new emotions to seep into the crevices. The moment the organ-playing boy’s reality branches out into free imagination, his physical limitations transform into a power to see the world as never before. Growth comes to everyone, but the path is never the same for any two people. Through one boy’s coming-of-age story, Iron Boy quietly awakens the distinct childhood lingering within each of us. It is a winner of the Cannes Un Certain Regard Special Jury Prize, as well as the Annecy IFF Jury Award and Audience Award.
Louis Clichy studied animation at the École Gobelin in Paris and worked as an animator at Pixar on films such as WALL-E (2008) and Up (2009). He co-directed Asterix: The Secret of the Magic Potion (2018), which nominated the César Award for Best Animated Film.
From Tokyo International Film Festival 2026, No. 39
