All of Makoto Shinkai's Works Return to the Big Screen in a Massive Selection in Tokyo
For fans of Makoto Shinkai, one of the most impressive names in the modern anime world, 2026 is starting off quite excitingly. The Tollywood cinema in Shimokitazawa, one of Tokyo's cultural hubs, has announced that it will host a massive event titled "Makoto Shinkai Director's Special Selection 2026" between May 1 and May 31, 2026. This month-long retrospective will offer the opportunity to watch all of the director's works, from his independent short films to his global box-office-breaking masterpieces, on the big screen.
The fact that this event is taking place at Shimokitazawa Tollywood carries deep meaning for Shinkai fans. This is the place where the director's 2002 film Voices of a Distant Star (Hoshi no Koe), which he created almost entirely on his own and which served as a turning point in his career, was first screened. This short film, which Shinkai voiced himself at the time and completed at home using a Power Mac G4, laid the foundation for his visual style and his "distance"-themed storytelling. In this sense, Tollywood is considered a sacred venue where Shinkai's journey from a "one-man army" to a worldwide phenomenon began.
The screening schedule will provide a chance to follow the director's entire filmography in chronological order. In addition to classics such as 5 Centimeters per Second, The Garden of Words, and the anime world-shaking Your Name. (Kimi no Na wa.), the selection will also include the director's latest major success, Suzume. Viewers will be able to experience once again on the big screen Shinkai's hyper-realistic background drawings that have evolved over the years, his mastery of light, and his emotional depth. In particular, the cinematic power of the "Disaster Trilogy" consisting of Your Name., Weathering with You, and Suzume is among the most anticipated moments of this event.
So, why is this event being held now? Shinkai recently announced that he is working on his eighth feature film and that this new project will present a world never seen before. This retrospective, organized ahead of his new film expected to be released in late 2026 or early 2027, serves as a perfect reminder for fans. Furthermore, with the live-action adaptation of 5 Centimeters per Second scheduled for release in the fall of 2025, the Shinkai universe is going through a more vibrant period than ever before. If your path takes you to Tokyo in May, we recommend you do not miss this visual feast of animation history.
