Drifting Home

Updated 2026-05-11

Drifting Home is a 2022 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film produced by Studio Colorido in collaboration with Netflix. The film was directed and written by Hiroyasu Ishida and was released worldwide on the Netflix streaming platform on June 24 2022.

Production

Director: Hiroyasu Ishida
Screenplay: Hiroyasu Ishida
Production company: Studio Colorido
Distributor: Netflix
Country of origin: Japan
Language: Japanese (original); dubbed versions in multiple languages are available on Netflix.

Synopsis

The narrative follows a group of elementary‑school children who become stranded in their school building after a sudden disaster causes the structure to detach from the ground and float away. As the drifting school traverses unfamiliar terrain, the children must cooperate to locate a way back to their families and confront personal anxieties about growing up and leaving behind their childhood home.

Cast (selected)

Natsume: voiced by Mutsumi Tamura (Japanese version)
Riku: voiced by Shōta Sometani (Japanese version)
Other supporting characters: voiced by a cast of Japanese voice actors, with English dubs featuring an international ensemble.

(Exact casting details are based on publicly released credits; any additional cast members not listed here are omitted for brevity.)

Reception

Critical response to Drifting Home has been generally favorable. Reviewers have highlighted the film’s vibrant animation style, evocative musical score, and its thematic exploration of friendship, loss, and the transition from childhood to adolescence. Some critics noted that the pacing of the story could be uneven in places, but overall the film has been praised for its emotional resonance and visual imagination. Audience reception, as reflected in user ratings on streaming platforms, indicates a positive reception among both domestic and international viewers.

Home media and availability

Since its initial streaming release, Drifting Home remains available for streaming exclusively on Netflix. No theatrical release outside of limited promotional screenings has been reported.