Crunchyroll Secures Global Distribution for Makoto Shinkai’s Next Feature Film

Crunchyroll announced that it has obtained worldwide distribution rights—excluding all of Asia except India—to the forthcoming feature film by acclaimed Japanese animator Makoto Shinkai. The company will partner with Sony Pictures Entertainment to co-distribute the project in all territories outside Japan and India. Neither the film’s title, plot details nor its release schedule have been disclosed at this stage.

Crunchyroll Acquires Global Rights to Makoto Shinkai Mystery Film

Shinkai’s recent works have consistently achieved both critical and commercial success. *Suzume* (2023) earned more than $300 million globally and received a Golden Globe nomination, while *Your Name* (2016) grossed roughly $400 million, becoming the highest-grossing Japanese film until overtaken by *Demon Slayer: Mugen Train* in 2020. Earlier titles such as *Weathering With You* (2019) and *5 Centimeters per Second* (2007) also garnered major awards and international recognition, establishing Shinkai as a leading figure in contemporary animation.

Deadline Hollywood

The new agreement expands the existing partnership that saw Crunchyroll and Sony Pictures handle the global rollout of *Suzume*. By retaining rights in most markets while leaving Asian distribution (aside from India) to other partners, the deal reflects a strategic focus on leveraging Crunchyroll’s growing theatrical footprint. The arrangement follows Crunchyroll’s recent success in bringing *Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle* to worldwide audiences, where the film set a record as the highest-grossing anime movie with $793 million total earnings, $543.5 million of which came from territories under Sony and Crunchyroll’s distribution.

The Wrap

Analysts note that the partnership underscores Crunchyroll’s evolving role from a streaming platform to a major exporter of Japanese animation in theatrical markets. The exclusion of most Asian territories suggests that regional distributors will continue to handle local releases, preserving market-specific expertise while allowing Crunchyroll to capitalize on its expanding global network. If the upcoming film follows Shinkai’s pattern of disaster-themed storytelling, its international rollout could further cement the studio’s influence on worldwide anime consumption.

The Wrap