Umi ga Hashiru End Roll Celebrates Its Finale with Film Awards: Big News from Kyoto Animation!

The enchanting manga series Umi ga Hashiru End Roll (The Credits Roll into the Sea), which tells the story of a passion for cinema and the idea that dreams have no age, celebrated its finale with a special ceremony held at Euro Live in Tokyo on May 14. The “Umi ga Hashiru End Roll Film Awards” ceremony, held in honor of the series' completion, featured manga artist Tarachine John as well as renowned film directors Rikiya Imaizumi and Yoko Yamanaka as jury members. The competition aimed to honor independent filmmakers in a way that fits the spirit of the series.

The manga, written by Tarachine John and beginning its journey in Mystery Bonita magazine in 2020, tells the story of Umiko Chino, a 65-year-old widow. After losing her husband, Umiko goes to the cinema for the first time in years, where she meets film student Kai and realizes that she actually enjoys observing the audience's reactions more than watching the films themselves. This discovery leads Umiko to enroll in an art school at the age of 65 and embark on a journey to make her own films. The series officially concluded with its 9th volume, released in Japan on May 15.

One of the most exciting moments of the ceremony was the major announcement regarding the future of the series. Kyoto Animation (KyoAni), which has a huge fan base worldwide, officially confirmed that Umi ga Hashiru End Roll will be adapted into an anime film. The film, scheduled for release in 2027, will be directed by Taichi Ishidate, known for masterpieces such as Violet Evergarden and Beyond the Boundary. Sharing her feelings after the announcement, Tarachine John said, “It would be impossible for my past self, who loved KyoAni's works, to believe this.”