In the history of anime, no creator can match the sheer name recognition of Hayao Miyazaki, but if there is one director who comes close, it is Suzume director Makoto Shinkai. The acclaimed creator became a household name after his film Your Name unseated Spirited Away’s reign as the highest-grossing anime film.
Now, Shinkai is teasing his next project. In a video message meant to celebrate the release of Shinkai’s films on Crunchyroll India, the man himself gave a few words of appreciation for his Indian fans.
In the middle of the video, Shinkai reveals that he is working on a new film, solidifying his comeback and giving fans a tantalizing tease. Unfortunately, that’s all fans have to go on right now, as there is no information on the upcoming film’s release date, premise, or even title.
What Fans Know About Makoto Shinkai’s New Film
The new project, whatever form it takes, will be Makoto Shinkai’s 8th film.
Shinkai had previously teased that he was working on a new project, so the 8th film shouldn’t be a surprise for fans. Given that Shinkai feels comfortable announcing that he’s working on it, and that his projects generally have a 3 to 4 year gap between them, it’s entirely possible Shinkai’s new film will be released in late 2026 or early 2027.
Shinkai’s previous film, Suzume, was a critical and commercial success that continued exploring the director’s favored themes of young people finding connection in the wake of natural disasters.
Why Makoto Shinkai Is Called Miyazaki’s One True Successor
Though Miyazaki and Shinkai are very different creators, their works do share more than a few common elements. Both directors have a knack for well-written female characters and both know how to use silence and atmosphere to evoke strong emotions.
In addition to the handful of stylistic elements they share, the directors are also box office juggernauts. Shinkai shocked the world when his film Your Name ended Spirited Away’s 15-year run as the highest-grossing anime film of all time.
Of course, both Spirited Away and Your Name have subsequently been beaten twice over by the pair of Demon Slayer movies, but that does little to diminish the impact and success of Miyazaki and Shinkai.
While it might be difficult to imagine that Shinkai’s next film will be a Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle-level hit, it’s not outside the realm of possibility. No one saw the earth-shattering success of Your Name coming, so it’s possible that Makoto Shinkai will defy expectations.
Hopefully, whatever Suzume’s Makoto Shinkai does next, it can finally earn him the Oscar nod that would truly put him on the same playing field as Hayao Miyazaki.
