Crunchyroll and Sony Secure Rights to Makoto Shinkai’s Next Film

Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) have acquired the theatrical distribution rights to acclaimed filmmaker Makoto Shinkai’s next anime feature. The companies announced the agreement on Aug 11, confirming they will release the film across international markets outside Asia (including India).

Crunchyroll did not disclose the film’s title, which Shinkai first teased in November 2025 during a video message on Crunchyroll India. Plot details and a release date also remain unannounced, as of writing. 

Under the deal, the duo will release the film in the Western territories and in India. The Hollywood Reporter stated that the unannounced film project will follow the distribution strategy of Shinkai’s last film, Suzume. 

SPE and Crunchyroll handled the overseas release of Suzume in 2023, which generated $221.3 million USD across all markets. Back then, Wild Bunch International also joined the pair as a regional co-distributor for German-French-language European territories.

Shinkai's Path From Indie Animator to Box-Office Force

Few creative details have been disclosed about the project beyond its international distribution plan. The secrecy is unsurprising for Shinkai; however, it builds anticipation for the eighth film of one of the most acclaimed anime directors of the past decade. 

His 2007 release, 5 Centimeters Per Second, earned the best animated feature prize at the Asia Pacific awards, cementing him as one of Japan’s most closely watched filmmakers. The director also had his commercial breakthrough with 2016’s Your Name, which grossed more than $357M worldwide.

In 2017, Your Name won the best screenplay honors at the Japan Academy Film Prize, marking the first time an animated feature won the award. Weathering With You followed the success in 2019 and became Japan’s second anime Oscar submission for the Best International Feature Film category. 

Shinkai’s films have also enjoyed strong international recognition. GKIDS will screen a new 4K remaster of Your Name for its 10th anniversary from Aug 14 in North America, underscoring how Shinkai’s back catalog also remains lucrative. 

Securing Shinkai’s next movie extends Crunchyroll and SPE’s strategy to bring popular anime IPs across overseas markets. Last year, the duo also distributed Demon Slayer Infinity Castle across most international regions in a phased rollout. For Sony and Crunchyroll, repeating the formula with Shinkai’s next feature could further strengthen their position in the expanding anime film market.