I Want to Eat Your Pancreas (2018)
A tender and heartbreaking Japanese animated drama about two high schoolers, a secret illness, and the beauty of fleeting human connection.
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas - Movie Information
- Original Title: 君の膵臓をたべたい
- Release Year: 2018
- Directed by: Shinichiro Ushijima
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Animation, Drama, Romance
- Runtime: 1h 48m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): September 1, 2018 (Japan - G), May 15, 2020 (France), January 21, 2019 (Italy), April 12, 2019 (Spain - 7), January 18, 2019 (China)
- Alternative Titles: Let Me Eat Your Pancreas (AU), Kimi no Suizou o Tabetai (JP), Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai (US), Хочу съесть твою поджелудочную железу (RU), Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai (MX), Kimi no Suizou wo Tabetai (ES), 我想吃掉你的胰脏 (CN), 너의 췌장을 먹고 싶어 (KR)
- Production Companies: ABC Animation, Aniplex, jeki, Futabasha, Studio VOLN, Tohan, The Asahi Shimbun
- Production Countries: Japan
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas - Plot
After his classmate and crush is diagnosed with a pancreatic disease, an average high schooler sets out to make the most of her final days.
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the story of Haruki and Sakura unfold:
This is a story about an unforgettable spring...
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I Want to Eat Your Pancreas - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Shinichiro Ushijima
Main Cast
- Mahiro Takasugi
- Lynn
- Yukiyo Fujii
- Yuma Uchida
- Jun Fukushima
- Atsuko Tanaka
- Shin-ichiro Miki
- Emi Wakui
- Nanami Atsugi
- Kazuya Saji
Writers
- Shinichiro Ushijima
Producers
- Shinichiro Kashiwada
- Yuma Takahashi
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas - FAQs
What is I Want to Eat Your Pancreas about?
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas follows Haruki, a reserved high school student who stumbles upon his classmate Sakura's secret diary revealing her terminal pancreatic illness. The two form an unlikely, deeply emotional bond as they spend her remaining days together, exploring themes of life, connection, and what it means to truly live.
What does the title I Want to Eat Your Pancreas mean?
The title draws from an old Japanese folk belief that eating a diseased organ from someone you love could heal them or absorb their spirit. In the film, it becomes a deeply personal expression of connection — Haruki's way of saying he wants to share in Sakura's life and carry a piece of her with him always.
Does I Want to Eat Your Pancreas have a sad ending?
Yes, the film is genuinely heartbreaking. Without giving too much away, the ending takes an unexpected and devastating turn that goes beyond what viewers might anticipate. It's an emotionally raw conclusion that lingers long after the credits roll — bring tissues.
Is I Want to Eat Your Pancreas based on a true story?
Not a true story, but it is based on a real novel. The film adapts Yoru Sumino's popular web novel of the same name, which was later published in print and became a bestseller in Japan. The story is fictional, though its emotional authenticity resonates as deeply as real life.
Is I Want to Eat Your Pancreas worth watching?
Absolutely. Critics and audiences alike have praised it as one of the most emotionally powerful anime films in recent years. It balances tenderness and tragedy with remarkable grace, and the voice performances — especially Lynn as Sakura — are outstanding. If you enjoy heartfelt animated dramas, this one is essential viewing.
Who are the main voice actors in this film?
The film features Mahiro Takasugi as the introverted Haruki Shiga and Lynn as the vibrant, life-loving Sakura Yamauchi. Yukiyo Fujii and Yuma Uchida round out the principal cast. Lynn's performance as Sakura is widely considered the emotional heart of the film.
What are some similar anime films to watch next?
If I Want to Eat Your Pancreas moved you, you'll likely love A Silent Voice (2016), Your Name. (2016), and Rascal Does Not Dream of a Dreaming Girl (2019). For something equally tender and bittersweet, Ride Your Wave (2019) and Lonely Castle in the Mirror (2022) are also wonderful choices.
Did I Want to Eat Your Pancreas win any awards?
Yes, the film earned strong recognition on the festival circuit. It won the Animation of the Year award at the 42nd Japan Academy Film Prize in 2019 — a prestigious honor that cemented its place as one of the standout Japanese animated features of its era.
More About I Want to Eat Your Pancreas
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