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Action thriller

Promare (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

Promare (2019) movie poster

Promare is a 2019 action thriller directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi, starring Ken'ichi Matsuyama as Galo Thymos, Johnny Yong Bosch and Crispin Freeman. It runs 1 hour 51 minutes and earned $9.9 million worldwide. It earned 1 award nomination, including Best Animated Feature — Independent at the Annie Awards 2020. Critics gave it 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10.

IMDb rating
7.0/10
Rotten Tomatoes
97%
worldwide gross
$9.9M
award nomination
1
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Promare (2019) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 51m (111 min)
Director
Hiroyuki Imaishi
Genres
Action , Adventure , Sci-Fi , Drama
Original language
Japanese
Studio
GKIDS
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Promare About?

The premise of Promare without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Thirty years after a devastating firestorm, a new generation of mutants known as Burnish threaten to plunge the world into chaos once more. Rookie firefighter Galo Thymos is thrust into the conflict when he joins a specialized rescue team. He finds himself at odds with Lio Fotia, the charismatic leader of the extremist Mad Burnish group, as they clash in a desperate fight for survival, uncovering a shared past and seeking a path toward redemption.

Promare Themes & Keywords

· 29 tags
  • futuristic
  • anime
  • anime animation
  • firefighting
  • firefighter
  • mutants
  • calamity
  • fictional city
  • pyrokinesis
  • pyrokinetic
  • treason
  • warp drive
+17 more
  • human experiment
  • cataclysmic event
  • alternate dimension
  • alien parasite
  • symbiotic relationship
  • impending apocalypse
  • childhood hero
  • gay
  • gay subtext
  • mecha
  • superpower
  • tokyo japan
  • japan
  • san francisco california
  • paris france
  • spontaneous human combustion
  • time jump
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Cast & crew

Promare Cast & Characters

Ken'ichi Matsuyama leads the cast as Galo Thymos, with Johnny Yong Bosch as Lio Fotia and Crispin Freeman as Kray Foresight, Additional Voices. Directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi; 17 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in Promare

· 13 more
From the director

More from Hiroyuki Imaishi

More films directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi: Promare / Side: Galo, Sex & Violence with Machspeed, Panty & Stocking in Sanitarybox and Gurren Lagann the Movie: The Lights in the Sky Are Stars.

Full filmography
Ratings

Promare Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Promare 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 76 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.0/10. Our Echo Score gives it 66/100, strongest in art & craft (85) and weakest in story & flow (50).

66 /100

Promare Echo Score Breakdown

The film excels in visual spectacle but falters in narrative depth. Critics highlight hyperkinetic animation, bold color palette and sensory overload while many users note chaotic pacing and superficial character arcs. The story's predictability and uneven emotional resonance temper the excitement generated by the art direction. On balance, Promare delivers a striking audiovisual experience that struggles to sustain engagement beyond its stylistic flair.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of art and craft, the direction and animation present a hyperactive, comic-book energy that consistently commands attention. Critics praise the fluid action sequences, vivid color palette and inventive production design, while occasional notes of jerky motion and uneven CGI emerge from user feedback. The editing maintains relentless momentum, even when clarity suffers. Overall, the film's visual ambition remains its most compelling hallmark.

  • Character & Emotion 55

    When it comes to character and emotion, Promare offers energetic personalities but sparse depth. Viewers appreciate the spirited dynamics and bold character designs, yet many comment on predictable arcs and limited development. Emotional beats resonate briefly amid moments of humor and camaraderie, but supporting roles often feel underexplored. In sum, the film's character work provides enough charm to sustain interest, though it rarely achieves lasting resonance.

  • Story & Flow 50

    In terms of story and flow, the film moves at a breakneck pace that sustains excitement but sacrifices coherence. The narrative framework relies on familiar genre tropes, leading to predictable twists and minimal thematic exploration. Critics note the relentless escalation, while some users report that expository dialogue and abrupt shifts hinder engagement. Overall, the plot propels the action with energy but lacks the structural depth to fully engage the audience.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    Regarding sensory experience, Promare delivers a potent blend of sound and visual style that immerses the viewer. The soundtrack's bold compositions and dynamic sound design amplify every explosion and dramatic beat, reinforcing the vivid color scheme and kinetic animation. While a few reviewers cite moments of audio indistinction, the overall cohesion of style and sound remains impressive. Ultimately, the film excels at delivering an intense audiovisual spectacle.

  • Rewatch Factor 60

    When considering rewatch factor, the film's exuberant visuals and soundtrack invite repeat viewings for spectacle alone. Some viewers report an urge to revisit the bold animation sequences, while others find the thin narrative and limited character progression reduce long-term appeal. Although the sensory impact holds up across multiple sessions, the lack of deeper layers and resolved arcs may diminish motivation for a full repeat experience. Overall, the movie offers moderate replay value.

Plot

Promare Plot Summary

What happens in Promare from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

During a cataclysmic event dubbed the Great World Blaze, widespread spontaneous human combustions led to catastrophic fires that resulted in the loss of half the global population. In the aftermath of this upheaval, certain individuals emerged with the extraordinary ability to generate fire, earning the name Burnish. Fast forward thirty years, we find ourselves in the bustling city of Promepolis, where Galo Thymos serves as a dedicated member of the firefighting unit known as Burning Rescue. This elite group responds to emergency situations involving the Mad Burnish, a faction of radical Burnish deemed terrorists by society.

Full summary

The whole story of Promare, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

Promare Box Office

Promare grossed $9.9 million worldwide. $2.5 million came from the US and Canada and $7.3 million (74%) from the rest of the world.

2019 box office

Worldwide gross

$9.9M

US & Canada
$2.5M
International
$7.3M
US & Canada 26% Rest of the world 74%
Awards

Promare Awards & Nominations

Promare earned 1 award nomination, including Best Animated Feature — Independent at the Annie Awards 2020.

1 nomination1 ceremony

Videos

Promare Trailers & Videos

7 videos: 2 trailers, 3 teasers, 1 clip and 1 featurette.

All 7 videos
PROMARE [Official US Trailer #1, GKIDS]
  • Trailer PROMARE [Official Trailer #2 - English Dub, GKIDS]
  • Teaser PROMARE [Official Teaser #1 - GKIDS]
  • Teaser PROMARE [Official Teaser #2 - GKIDS]
  • Teaser PROMARE - [Official Teaser #2 - English Dub, GKIDS]
Quiz

How Well Do You Know Promare?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

What catastrophic event led to the development of pyrokinetic abilities in some humans?

Cars

Cars in Promare

6 cars on screen, including the Kawasaki GPZ 900 R and the 1941 Studebaker US6.

All 6 cars
  • Kawasaki GPZ 900 R in Promare Kawasaki GPZ 900 R Minor role
  • 1941 Studebaker US6 in Promare 1941 Studebaker US6 Minor role
  • unknown in Promare unknown Minor role
  • 2005 Ford Focus MkII in Promare 2005 Ford Focus MkII Background role
Details

Promare Also Known As

8 alternative titles, including “Puromea” and “Промар”.

Also known as
  • Puromea
  • Промар
  • 普羅米亞
  • 普罗米亚
  • 프로메어
  • Промари
  • โปรแมร์
  • פרומר

Seen Promare?

FAQ

Promare FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of Promare, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Promare?

Promare runs 1 hour 51 minutes (111 minutes).

When was Promare released?

Promare was released on September 17, 2019.

Who directed Promare?

Promare was directed by Hiroyuki Imaishi.

More films by Hiroyuki Imaishi

Who is in the cast of Promare?

Promare stars Ken'ichi Matsuyama as Galo Thymos, Johnny Yong Bosch as Lio Fotia and Crispin Freeman as Kray Foresight, Additional Voices, among 17 credited actors.

How much did Promare make at the box office?

Promare grossed $9.9 million worldwide ($2.5 million domestic, $7.3 million international).

How is Promare rated?

Promare has 7.0/10 on IMDb, 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 76 on Metacritic and 71% on TMDB.

Was Promare nominated for any awards?

Promare received 1 nomination across 1 ceremony.

Does Promare have a post-credit scene?

No. Promare has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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