No title. No character designs. Not even a release date. But the rights deal is already signed. Crunchyroll has announced it has secured global streaming rights to Makoto Shinkai's next animated feature film, covering all territories outside Asia, with India included. The partner is once again Sony Pictures Entertainment, continuing the distribution relationship the two established after "Suzume."
Shinkai's last feature, "Suzume," came out in 2022, preceded by "Weathering With You" and the film that put him on the global map, "Your Name." These works share a common thread: weaving deeply personal emotion into a much larger world, often tinged with disaster or supernatural elements. His next film is expected to follow this same path, but so far, no story details, character designs, or a confirmed release window have been made public.
For Crunchyroll, this deal continues its recent strategy of locking down high-profile anime films, keeping the Shinkai name firmly in its lineup. As for what this new film will be called or what story it will tell, one thing is already certain: by the time it's announced, Crunchyroll will already hold streaming rights across most of the world.
