Imagine an alternate version of early 20th century Kyoto where technological progress diverged toward steam power, leaving the city shrouded in smoke. That’s the world of the new anime series Sparks of Tomorrow, now streaming. 

The series, released on July 5, follows a boy and a girl who dream of a life beyond the haze. But after losses upend both of their lives, any hope for a brighter tomorrow feels achingly out of reach. The boy, Kihachi, has grown cynical since his brother’s death shattered their shared vision of an “Age of Electricity.” The girl, Inako, devoted in her faith, has learned to keep both her own dreams and her grief for her late mother carefully hidden away. Drawn together by the mysterious 20th Century Electrical Catalog and its tantalizing glimpse of all they’ve longed for, the two set out to uncover its secrets. Staring down their pasts together, the two begin to clear a path toward the future they once thought was gone — and push their smoke-choked world to the brink of a blazing revolution. 

Based on Hiro Yūki’s novel 20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku, Sparks of Tomorrow is realized in a bold, impressionistic new vision from Kyoto Animation. “In crafting the world of the series, our primary goal was to use it to make the characters shine,” director Minoru Ôta tells Tudum. “After a shared interest in the 20th Century Electrical Catalog brings them together, Kihachi and Inako form a deep connection and encourage each other, paving the way for the regeneration of the dreams they had once given up on. I believe that watching these characters might offer viewers a fresh perspective on their own.

“I hope the sight of these characters striving for their own regeneration will give you the strength to improve your own life,” says Ôta.

Sparks of Tomorrow is now streaming.