What Let's Go! Anpanman: Baikinman and Lulun is about
Let's Go! Anpanman: Baikinman and Lulun — known in Japan as Soreike! Anpanman: Baikinman to Ehon no Lulun — pulls off something the franchise hasn't quite tried before: it puts the villain front and center and dares you to root for him. The setup is deceptively simple. Baikinman, Anpanman's perpetually scheming nemesis, gets magically pulled inside a picture book, where the rules of his usual world don't apply. There he meets Lulun, a fairy native to that storybook realm, and the two form an unlikely partnership to take down a rampaging giant elephant threatening the book's world. It's only when Baikinman's own plans start falling apart that Lulun is forced to call on Anpanman himself. No spoilers on how that shakes out — but the premise alone is enough to make this one feel genuinely fresh inside a franchise now spanning 35 films.
How Let's Go! Anpanman: Baikinman and Lulun came together
The film is the 35th feature in the long-running Anpanman series, based on Takashi Yanase's beloved picture books, and was directed by Jun Kawagoe from a screenplay by Shoji Yonemura — a pairing with deep roots in the franchise. Production was handled by TMS Entertainment alongside Tokyo Theatres Company, Froebel-Kan, and Nippon Television Network Corporation, the same core group that has kept these films running like clockwork for decades. The runtime clocks in at approximately 63 minutes, which is exactly the right length for its target audience: young enough to need something brisk, old enough to want a real story.
The regular voice cast returns in full, with Keiko Toda reprising her role as Anpanman and Ryūsei Nakao — a voice actor with serious genre credentials, having played Frieza in the Dragon Ball franchise — back as Baikinman. Guest casting adds real texture here. Aya Ueto voices Lulun, bringing warmth to what could have been a throwaway new character, while comedian Takashi Okamura lends his voice to the rampaging elephant, a choice that adds a layer of absurdist humor that fits the franchise's tone perfectly.
Box office results were strong. According to Japanese industry tracking, the film debuted at number one in Japan during its opening weekend of June 28–30, 2024, earning roughly ¥170 million in its first two days. Over its first 50 days in theaters, it accumulated more than ¥670 million — placing it among the stronger-performing entries in the Anpanman theatrical catalog. The film received a DVD release from VAP on November 20, 2024, and is available for digital rental and purchase on Apple's Japanese storefront.
Why Let's Go! Anpanman: Baikinman and Lulun stands out from the franchise
Honestly, the thing nobody mentions about these Anpanman films is how disciplined the storytelling is. Sixty-three minutes. No fat. The Baikinman-as-protagonist structure gives Yonemura's screenplay room to do something the main-series formula can't always accommodate — genuine character ambiguity. Baikinman isn't reformed here. He's still selfish, still scheming. But the picture-book setting forces him into situations where his usual tricks don't work, and watching him adapt (badly, then less badly) gives the film a comedic rhythm that feels earned rather than manufactured.
What's striking is how much Aya Ueto's performance as Lulun carries the emotional weight. Lulun isn't just a device to get Anpanman involved — she has her own stakes in the picture-book world, her own reasons to distrust a villain who stumbles into her home. The dynamic between her and Ryūsei Nakao's Baikinman is the engine the film runs on, and it works because both performances have specificity. Nakao in particular — and I keep coming back to this — finds notes in Baikinman's frustration that are genuinely funny without tipping into mean-spirited territory.
As Wikipedia's entry on the film notes, the franchise has maintained its appeal across generations, and this installment demonstrates why: it doesn't talk down to kids, but it doesn't forget who its audience is either. The giant elephant set piece in the picture-book world lands as both visually inventive and narratively purposeful — a rare combination in children's animation. No Rotten Tomatoes or Metacritic scores have been published for this one, which isn't unusual for Japanese theatrical anime releases in the Western critical ecosystem, but user response on Letterboxd skews warmly positive.
Movie OTT tracks critical reception and audience scores across platforms as they accumulate, so if aggregated ratings become available closer to wider streaming release, you'll find them updated there.
Where to stream Let's Go! Anpanman: Baikinman and Lulun
Let's Go! Anpanman: Baikinman and Lulun is currently available on major OTT services — check the Where-to-Watch widget at the top of this page for a real-time breakdown of which platforms are carrying it in your region, since availability can shift. The film had its theatrical run in Japan through Tokyo Theatres starting June 28, 2024, followed by a DVD release in November of that year and digital availability on Apple's Japanese storefront for rental and purchase. Movie OTT monitors streaming rights announcements across services like Netflix, Prime Video, and regional platforms, so as international distribution expands, this page will reflect those updates. If you're outside Japan and hunting for a legal stream, the widget is your fastest route to a current answer.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Who directed Let's Go! Anpanman: Baikinman and Lulun?
The film was directed by Jun Kawagoe, with a screenplay by Shoji Yonemura. Both have extensive histories with the Anpanman franchise, which gives the production a consistency that fans of the series will immediately recognize.
Q: Where can I watch Let's Go! Anpanman: Baikinman and Lulun?
The film is available on major OTT services — exact regional availability varies, so use the Where-to-Watch widget on this page for the most current information. Movie OTT updates streaming listings as rights are confirmed across platforms, so checking back here is the most reliable approach.
Q: Is Let's Go! Anpanman: Baikinman and Lulun the first film to focus on Baikinman?
Baikinman has appeared prominently throughout the franchise, but this installment is notable for placing him at the center of the story rather than treating him purely as an obstacle. It's a structural shift that gives the film a distinct personality within the 35-film series.
Q: How long is Let's Go! Anpanman: Baikinman and Lulun?
The film runs approximately 63 minutes, which makes it comfortably accessible for young viewers. It was released theatrically in Japan on June 28, 2024, and later on DVD in November 2024.
Q: Who voices Lulun in Let's Go! Anpanman: Baikinman and Lulun?
Lulun is voiced by Japanese actress Aya Ueto, who joins the regular cast as a guest performer. Ryūsei Nakao returns as Baikinman, and Keiko Toda continues in her long-running role as Anpanman.
Who should watch Let's Go! Anpanman: Baikinman and Lulun
Families with young children are the obvious audience — but this one has a bit more going on than a typical franchise entry, which makes it worth a look even for adults who've been dragged to one too many animated sequels. The Baikinman-centric structure is a genuine creative swing. Not every viewer will find it as satisfying as a straight Anpanman adventure. Hard to say if it'll convert anyone who isn't already fond of the series. But for fans, it's a confident, funny, and occasionally touching 63 minutes. Movie OTT recommends it as a solid starting point for newcomers curious about the franchise, too — the picture-book framing does a lot of the world-building work for you.
