Makoto Shinkai’s next anime film has found its global distribution partner, even though audiences still do not know what the movie is called. Crunchyroll has acquired worldwide distribution rights to the filmmaker’s upcoming feature, with one notable regional exception: Asia is excluded from the deal, but India is included. The announcement gives Shinkai’s next project a major international home before its title, story or release date has even been revealed.
The deal is particularly significant because Shinkai has become one of the most commercially successful Japanese animation filmmakers working today. His recent movies, including Your Name, Weathering With You and Suzume, have turned his name into a global attraction in their own right. Now Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment are once again preparing to take one of his films to audiences outside Japan, following their international work on Suzume.
For anime fans, the most intriguing part of the announcement may actually be what has not been revealed. There is no title, plot synopsis or release date yet, meaning the distribution deal has arrived almost entirely on the strength of Shinkai’s reputation.
Shinkai’s Next Movie Remains a Mystery
Crunchyroll has confirmed that it will distribute Shinkai’s next feature internationally, with Sony Pictures Entertainment involved in the co-distribution arrangement. The rights cover territories around the world outside Asia, while India is specifically included despite the broader Asian exclusion. The companies have not announced when audiences will be able to see the film, leaving the project without a public release timetable for now.
That level of secrecy is unusual for a major animated feature that already has international distribution attached. Normally, a distribution announcement arrives alongside at least a title, a short story description or some indication of when the movie is expected to reach cinemas. In Shinkai’s case, the filmmaker’s name is arguably enough to generate attention, especially after the enormous international response to his recent work.
The timing also suggests that the project is moving into a more visible phase of its development. Crunchyroll would not normally announce worldwide distribution without having confidence in the film’s international potential, and the company has already demonstrated its interest in Shinkai’s work through Suzume. The previous collaboration gives the upcoming project a useful foundation rather than making this a completely new relationship.
There is still no official information about the characters, setting or themes. That means speculation about the story should remain just that until Shinkai or the production team provides details. For now, the confirmed news is simple: his next feature is in the works and Crunchyroll has secured its international distribution.
Why Crunchyroll Is Betting on Shinkai Again
The decision makes sense when looking at Shinkai’s recent track record. Suzume, his most recent feature, was released in Japan in November 2022 before receiving an international theatrical rollout in 2023 through Crunchyroll, Sony Pictures Entertainment and other distribution partners. The film eventually earned more than $300 million worldwide and became another major international success for the director.
Suzume also became an important title for Crunchyroll because it demonstrated that a Japanese animated film could perform strongly outside its home market when supported by a global theatrical strategy. The company has continued expanding its role in anime distribution, and bringing Shinkai’s next movie into that pipeline gives it another premium title with built-in international recognition.
Shinkai’s reputation was already established before Suzume, of course. Your Name became a worldwide phenomenon after its 2016 release, turning the filmmaker into one of the most recognisable names in modern anime cinema. The film’s combination of romance, fantasy and body-swapping became a major international success and helped demonstrate that Japanese animation could attract large audiences far beyond the traditional anime market.
He followed that with Weathering With You in 2019, another visually ambitious story that combined romance, supernatural elements and environmental themes. The movie became Japan’s official submission for the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature Film category, further strengthening Shinkai’s position as a filmmaker whose work could travel beyond anime-focused audiences.
That history gives Crunchyroll a strong reason to secure the next project early. The company is not simply acquiring an unknown animated film; it is partnering on the next work from a director whose previous releases have repeatedly generated global interest. The absence of a title or plot therefore becomes less of a problem because Shinkai himself is the selling point.
The India exception is particularly interesting. While the broader agreement excludes Asia, India has been specifically included, meaning Indian audiences are part of Crunchyroll’s international plans for the new film. That follows the growing presence of Shinkai’s catalogue in India, where Crunchyroll has promoted titles including Suzume, Your Name, Weathering With You and several of his earlier works.
From Your Name to Suzume
Shinkai’s journey to becoming a global anime name began well before Your Name. Born in Nagano Prefecture in 1973, he initially built a reputation through independent animation work, including the 2002 short film Voices of a Distant Star. He later made his first feature, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, which went on to win Best Animated Film at the Mainichi Film Concours.
His filmography gradually expanded with projects such as 5 Centimeters per Second, Children Who Chase Lost Voices and The Garden of Words. These films helped establish many of the visual and emotional qualities that later became closely associated with Shinkai, particularly his detailed backgrounds, atmospheric skies, intimate character relationships and stories built around separation and connection.
Then Your Name changed the scale of his career. The 2016 film combined a supernatural premise with a deeply emotional coming-of-age story and became one of the highest-grossing anime films ever released. Its success transformed Shinkai from a highly regarded anime filmmaker into a name that could attract mainstream international attention.
Weathering With You continued that momentum three years later. The film again used a supernatural concept to tell a story about young people dealing with forces larger than themselves, while its striking visuals became another major part of its international appeal.
Suzume took that formula in another direction. The story followed 17-year-old Suzume Iwato, who encounters a mysterious young man named Souta and becomes involved in a supernatural crisis involving doors that can unleash disasters across Japan. The film mixed fantasy adventure with themes of grief, memory and recovery, and its international theatrical run pushed Shinkai’s worldwide profile even further.
That progression makes his unnamed next movie especially interesting. Shinkai has developed recognisable storytelling patterns, but each recent feature has introduced a different central concept and visual world. Until the filmmakers reveal more, it is impossible to know whether the new project will return to familiar themes or take him into completely different territory.
For now, the distribution announcement is the first major piece of information about the project. Crunchyroll has the international rights, India is included, and Sony Pictures Entertainment is part of the global distribution arrangement. Everything else remains deliberately hidden.
That may actually be the best possible way to begin the campaign for a new Shinkai movie. After years of building an audience that follows his work from one film to the next, the director no longer needs to explain much to create curiosity. A title, first poster or teaser could change that very quickly, but until those arrive, fans are left with one simple promise: the director behind Your Name, Weathering With You and Suzume is making another film.
Makoto Shinkai’s Next Film Q&A
Who is distributing Makoto Shinkai’s next movie?
Crunchyroll has acquired worldwide distribution rights, excluding Asia except for India, with Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment involved in the international distribution.
What is Makoto Shinkai’s next film called?
The title has not been announced yet. The filmmakers have also not revealed plot details or a release date.
Will Makoto Shinkai’s next movie release in India?
India is specifically included in Crunchyroll’s distribution agreement, despite the broader exclusion of Asia.
When will Shinkai’s next film be released?
There is currently no announced release date. Crunchyroll has confirmed the distribution deal, but the production team has not yet revealed a theatrical schedule.
What was Makoto Shinkai’s last movie?
His most recent feature was Suzume, which was released in Japan in 2022 and internationally in 2023. It earned more than $300 million worldwide.
What are Makoto Shinkai’s most famous films?
His best-known movies include Your Name, Weathering With You and Suzume, alongside earlier works such as 5 Centimeters per Second and The Garden of Words.
