Makoto Shinkai’s highly anticipated next anime film has secured a major global distribution deal, with Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment set to co-distribute the untitled project. The companies announced the agreement on August 12, 2026, confirming that the film will receive a worldwide release outside Asia, with India specifically included among the territories covered by the deal.
Despite the distribution announcement, major details about the upcoming Makoto Shinkai movie remain under wraps. Crunchyroll has confirmed that the film’s title, story, and release date have not yet been revealed, leaving fans waiting for the director’s next major announcement.
The project will be Shinkai’s first feature film following Suzume, continuing a remarkable run that has established him as one of the most commercially successful Japanese anime filmmakers internationally.
Crunchyroll and Sony Expand Their Partnership With Shinkai’s Next Film
The new agreement follows Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures Entertainment’s previous collaboration on Suzume. Released in 2022, the film earned more than $300 million worldwide and received significant international recognition, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Animated Feature. Suzume also competed at the Berlin International Film Festival, becoming the first anime feature to compete there in decades.
Shinkai’s recent filmography has played a major role in expanding anime’s international theatrical presence. Your Name. became a worldwide phenomenon after its 2016 release, while Weathering With You followed in 2019 with further international recognition, including its selection as Japan’s submission for the Academy Awards’ Best International Feature category.
The upcoming film therefore arrives with considerable expectations, particularly after Shinkai established a pattern of releasing major features approximately every three years. His previous films have also demonstrated his ability to combine emotionally driven stories with highly detailed animation and spectacular visual environments.
For Crunchyroll, the deal further strengthens its position as a major distributor of Japanese animation in international theaters. The company says its theatrical division has handled 12 of the 20 highest-performing anime films in U.S. box-office history, including Suzume, Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – Mugen Train and JUJUTSU KAISEN 0.
With the title, plot and release date still undisclosed, Shinkai’s next movie remains one of the most closely watched upcoming projects in anime. More information is expected when the filmmaker and his production partners are ready to begin the next phase of the announcement.
