Stained Smell (2022)
A haunting three-minute Japanese animated short by Amane Abe, tracing the emotional residue of childhood and the quiet ache of being left behind.
Stained Smell - Movie Information
- Original Title: 残り香
- Release Year: 2022
- Directed by: Amane Abe
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Animation
- Runtime: 3m
- Original Language: Japanese
- Spoken Languages: Japanese
- Release Date (Theatrical): February 12, 2022 (Japan), May 24, 2022 (Germany)
- Production Companies: Tokyo University of the Arts
- Production Countries: Japan
Stained Smell - Plot
The film expresses the sense of being left behind. It stems from the realities of my childhood and how they did not match up with what I was feeling back then.
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Stained Smell - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Amane Abe
Producers
- Koji Yamamura
Stained Smell - FAQs
What is Stained Smell about?
Stained Smell is a deeply personal animated short by Amane Abe that explores the feeling of being left behind. Drawing from her own childhood experiences, Abe captures the quiet emotional disconnect between lived reality and inner feeling, rendered through evocative animation in just three minutes.
What emotion does Stained Smell try to convey?
The film centers on the sensation of being left behind — that lingering, bittersweet feeling when life moves on but something inside you hasn't caught up. Abe draws directly from her childhood, giving the film an intimate, almost confessional quality that resonates beyond its brief runtime.
Who directed Stained Smell?
Stained Smell was directed by Amane Abe, an animator associated with Tokyo University of the Arts. The film reflects a deeply personal creative vision, using animation as a medium to process and express childhood memories and emotional experiences that words alone struggle to capture.
Is Stained Smell based on a true story?
Yes, in a meaningful sense. Director Amane Abe has stated that the film stems from the realities of her own childhood and the gap between those experiences and what she was feeling at the time. It's autobiographical in spirit, using animation to translate personal memory into a universal emotional language.
How long is Stained Smell?
Stained Smell runs just 3 minutes — an exceptionally brief runtime even by short film standards. Yet within that compact span, director Amane Abe manages to distill a complex emotional experience, making every second count in this intimate animated work from Tokyo University of the Arts.
Where was Stained Smell first released?
Stained Smell premiered in Japan on February 12, 2022, before traveling to Germany, where it screened on May 24, 2022. The film's international journey reflects the universal emotional themes at its core, resonating with audiences well beyond its Japanese origins.
What are similar films to Stained Smell?
If Stained Smell resonated with you, explore other introspective animated shorts like Le Clitoris (2017), Piccolo (1959), Bimini (1981), and Don't Hug Me I'm Scared 2 (2014). Each offers a distinct visual language and emotional register, making them rewarding companions to Abe's intimate short.
Who produced Stained Smell?
Stained Smell was produced by Koji Yamamura, a celebrated Japanese animator and filmmaker known for his own distinctive short films. His involvement as producer, under the banner of Tokyo University of the Arts, lends the project strong artistic credibility within the world of independent animation.
More About Stained Smell
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