Director Shoji Kawamori will release his first original feature-length anime film, Meikyu no Shiori (“Shiori of the Labyrinth”), in January 2026. The announcement was made on July 2 with a teaser visual and a short trailer (PV). We recently had a chance to interview Kawamori, where he spoke about his creative process and a lot more.
The new film will follow high school student Shiori Maezawa, who is transported to an alternate version of Yokohama after her smartphone suddenly breaks. She notices unfamiliar photos of herself appearing on social media and realizes a version of herself is acting independently in the real world. The story centers on her trying to navigate a digital space that looks like a maze and confront her other self.
Kawamori, known for his work on the Macross and Aquarion series, aims to show themes like identity, digital technology, and personal data, blending sci-fi with psychological and fantasy elements. You can also see the teaser visual below.
Kawamori stated that the concept originated from seeing smartphones as repositories of personal identity and memory. According to him, the story explores the relationship between the digital self and the real self.
Meikyu no Shiori is Kawamori’s first fully original theatrical film.
Source: Comic Natalie
©”Meikyu no Shiori” Production Committee
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