CoMix Wave Films Steps Beyond Makoto Shinkai With New Anime Short Shiranuhi

AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·

CoMix Wave Films Steps Beyond Makoto Shinkai With New Anime Short Shiranuhi

CoMix Wave Films is branching out beyond Makoto Shinkai by producing Shiranuhi, a new anime short film directed by newcomer Ryo Katanozaka and slated for an August theatrical release.

CoMix Wave Films, the animation powerhouse behind modern masterpieces like Your Name and Suzume, is passing the baton. According to a recent report by Polygon, the celebrated studio is backing rookie director Ryo Katanozaka for a brand new anime short film titled Shiranuhi. Set to premiere in Japanese theaters on August 21, the project proves the studio is willing to cultivate fresh talent rather than rest on its laurels.

Shiranuhi takes place in a coastal town in Kumamoto during the tail end of the summer of 1996. The story follows a ten-year-old boy named Minato who struggles against an abusive and neglectful home life. His sole comfort is visiting Benten Island, where he forms a bond with a young goddess named Ben-chan. When family circumstances threaten to tear him away from his only sanctuary, Minato makes a desperate wish to a mysterious floating sea light. That wish eventually spirals from raw grief into a dark curse.

Even without veteran director Makoto Shinkai at the helm, the creative pedigree behind this project remains exceptionally strong. Composer Taro Umebayashi, known for Yuri on Ice and The Summer Hikaru Died, is handling the score, while musician Ichiko Aoba is performing the theme song. For fans who view animated storytelling as a vital emotional lifeline, Shiranuhi looks poised to deliver the same poignant, beautifully rendered heartbreak that made CoMix Wave a household name across global streaming and theatrical communities.

Tags: Anime, CoMix Wave Films, Makoto Shinkai, Shiranuhi, Film

Original article: Polygon