Crunchyroll Acquires Global Rights to New Shinkai Film, Excluding Asia but Including India

Crunchyroll announced on August 13 that it has acquired worldwide distribution rights to director Makoto Shinkai's next animated feature, excluding Asia but including India. The film will be jointly distributed globally by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment. Production company CoMix Wave Films stated that all personnel involved are fully committed to the production.

Following the announcement, Shinkai addressed why the overseas press release preceded news for the domestic Japanese market, attributing it to "internal circumstances." He revealed that he has been working with global partners on the new project for years, aiming to reach both Japanese and international audiences simultaneously. Regarding the film's creation, Shinkai said the team is striving to produce a movie worthy of audiences' theater-going experience, noting the costs involved in booking tickets, paying the admission price, and traveling to the cinema, and emphasizing efforts to deliver value for money.

Specific details about the film have not yet been disclosed. Shinkai indicated that the official announcement and release date in Japan are likely "not far away." His previous work, "Suzume," was released four years ago.