Crunchyroll has secured worldwide distribution rights for the highly anticipated upcoming animated film from acclaimed director Makoto Shinkai.
Partnering with Sony Pictures Entertainment, Crunchyroll will handle global distribution outside of Asia, though India is included in their Western territory coverage. Specific details regarding the film’s title, storyline, and release timeline remain tightly under wraps.
Given Shinkai’s track record, the project is expected to be a major global event. He stands as one of the most successful filmmakers in the medium, having directed three of the highest-grossing anime movies in history: Your Name (2016), which pulled in $358 million globally; Weathering With You (2019), which earned $193 million; and Suzume (2022), which grossed approximately $323 million.
This upcoming release mirrors the rollout strategy used for Suzume, which was also co-distributed by Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures. That film achieved notable international acclaim, competing at the Berlin International Film Festival, grossing over $10 million domestically, and landing a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature.
Sticking to his usual roughly three-year production cycle—following Your Name in 2016, Weathering With You in 2019, and Suzume in 2022—fans have eagerly awaited news of Shinkai’s next project. The 53-year-old director hinted at the timeline in a New Year’s social media post this past January, stating that concrete details about the film would be revealed later this year.
For Crunchyroll, this acquisition further cements its status as the leading Western distributor for Japanese animation. The Sony-owned platform currently accounts for 12 of the top 20 highest-grossing anime releases in U.S. history, a lineup that includes major global hits like Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle.