Toonz Media Group has partnered with Japan-based Supersub LLC to co-produce ‘The Taste of Water’, an animated feature documentary that explores the history, culture and future of Japanese sake through an innovative blend of live-action filmmaking, animation and emerging visual technologies.

According to a press release, the film was announced at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival and is currently in production. Directed by Riki Ohkanda, ‘The Taste of Water’ marks a creative collaboration between India and Japan, combining cultural storytelling with advanced animation techniques to create a unique documentary experience.

The film takes viewers on a journey through Japan’s rich sake-making tradition, exploring the craftsmanship, philosophy and people behind one of the country’s most iconic cultural symbols. Structured across five chapters — ‘The Basics of Sake’, ‘The History of Sake’, ‘Sake and Culture’, ‘The Crisis of Sake’ and ‘The Future of Sake’ — the documentary examines how sake has evolved over centuries while highlighting the challenges and opportunities facing the industry today.

At the heart of the narrative is a simple yet intriguing question: what does it mean when exceptional sake “tastes like water”? Through conversations with brewers, historians, artists, distributors and cultural experts, the film seeks to uncover the deeper meanings, traditions and emotions associated with sake beyond its role as a beverage.

What sets the project apart is its production approach. Live-action footage filmed across Japan is being transformed into anime-inspired visuals using a workflow that combines AI-assisted rotoscoping and 3D Gaussian Splatting (3DGS) technology developed by Supersub LLC. The technique aims to preserve the authenticity of documentary filmmaking while leveraging animation to visualize emotions, memories and cultural experiences that are difficult to capture through conventional methods.

Executive Producer Ryo Nakajima said the story of sake engages all five senses and that the combination of live action, animation and AI-assisted visual transformation allows audiences to experience elements that traditional filmmaking cannot fully convey.

Viswanath Rao of Toonz Media Group said the project demonstrates how artificial intelligence can be used as a creative tool rather than a replacement for human artistry. He noted that the film brings together technology, creativity and cultural storytelling to expand the possibilities of documentary filmmaking while maintaining a strong emotional core.

The collaboration also highlights growing creative ties between India and Japan. While Supersub contributes its expertise in innovative production technologies and Japanese cultural narratives, Toonz brings its global animation capabilities and international distribution experience to the project.

Gulshan David, Vice President – Feature Films at Toonz Media Group, described animated feature documentaries as one of the most exciting yet underrepresented categories in the international market. He said the team believes ‘The Taste of Water’ has strong potential to connect with audiences across festivals, streaming platforms and international territories.

The film is targeting major international documentary and animation festivals in 2027, including Berlin, Seattle and San Sebastian. With its focus on cultural heritage, craftsmanship and innovation, ‘The Taste of Water’ aims to appeal to the growing global audience for premium animated content and documentary storytelling.