Your Name and Suzune studio returns with new anime short film

1 hour ago 1

Published Mar 5, 2026, 6:56 AM EST

Will Ryo Katanozaka continue Makoto Shinkai's legacy of great anime movies?

A screenshot from the Shiranuhi animated film. It shows a man holding a small boy who is crying and has a bloodied nose.

CoMix Wave Films broke hearts and changed lives withanimated films likeYour Name and Suzume, both of which showcased beautiful visuals and intense, emotional stories. After the success of the masterpieces directed by Makoto Shinkai, the studio plans to let rookie director Ryo Katanozaka take the stage with a new anime short film titledShiranuhi.

Set to debut in theaters in Japan on Aug. 21 this year,Shiranuhi follows 10-year-old boy Minato, and is set in a coastal town in Kumamoto at the end of summer 1996. Minato's life is far from ideal as he must deal with an alcoholic father who neglects him.

His only escape from such hardship is spending time on Benten Island. It is there that Ben-chan, a goddess who takes on the form of a young girl, first appears to him and gives him the strength and joy to carry on even when life is difficult. However, when his father’s neglect forces Minato to be sent to a children’s home, his desperation at not wanting to be separated from Ben-chan leads him to pray to a mysterious floating light, the Shiranuhi, above the sea. His wish, full of hate towards his father, eventually transforms into a curse.

Sounds like another tear-jerker from CoMix Wave Films, and the movie's plot and trailer look really promising, even ifYour Name andSuzume director Makoto Shinkai won’t be involved.While that might be enough to turn some fans away, particularly those who enjoy Shinkai’s vision, Shiranuhi’s exploration of loss, love, and dysfunctional family relationships does seem to capture the same themes set out by Shinkai’s past work.

Alongside Katanozaka, the animated short will feature well-known names, including composer Taro Umebayashi, who worked onYuri on Ice andThe Summer Hikaru Died, and Ichiko Aoba, who will perform the theme song for Shiranuhi.