Crunchyroll Takes Over Global Distribution for Makoto Shinkai’s New Anime Film
Makoto Shinkai fans have experienced an important development. Crunchyroll has acquired the global distribution rights outside Asia for the highly anticipated new anime film by the renowned director. According to Anime Corner, Shinkai said that the film's theatrical release is “probably not too far away.”
This news is one of the most concrete developments regarding his feature-length project following Suzume. The director had previously reached millions of viewers worldwide with Your Name and Weathering with You. In particular, the 2016 film Your Name is regarded as one of the greatest box office successes in modern anime history. Suzume, on the other hand, premiered in 2022, earning critical acclaim and delivering a strong performance at the international box office.
The new film's title, story, and character roster have not yet been officially announced. However, Crunchyroll's involvement indicates that the film will be shown widely across North America, Latin America, Europe, Oceania, and other regions of the world. Shinkai's statement that it is “not far from release” also suggests that the promotional process may begin soon.
This collaboration demonstrates that Crunchyroll has become not only an anime streaming platform but also one of the largest international distributors of anime films. The platform previously facilitated the theatrical release of Suzume in many countries globally and had built a strong working relationship with Shinkai. The new agreement signifies that this partnership will continue and that the global reach of anime cinema will expand even further.
All eyes are now on the official promotional campaign. The film's first poster, trailer, and release date are expected to be shared in the coming months. For distribution in Japan and Asia, Toho, which also distributed Shinkai's past films, is expected to be involved. This means fans will have the opportunity to watch the film both in theaters in their own countries and later on Crunchyroll.
