The animated film Shiranui opened in theaters on February 21. It marks the latest project from CoMix Wave Films, the studio behind blockbuster hits such as Your Name and Suzume.
Making his commercial animation feature debut with the film is rising filmmaker Ryo Katanozaka, a native of Fukuoka Prefecture. Katanozaka has an unconventional background: while working at the seafood counter of a supermarket, he built a career as a freelance filmmaker producing live-action corporate commercials. In recent years he began teaching himself animation, leading to the creation of this project.
Set in Kumamoto in 1996, the 35-minute short follows a 10-year-old boy named Minato. After praying to a mysterious light known as “Shiranui,” said to grant wishes, the boy’s hatred toward his father gradually transforms into something darker — a curse.
The newly released trailer offers a glimpse of the film’s striking visuals, where nostalgic Japanese landscapes are interwoven with an unsettling emotional tension. Delicately rendered backgrounds deepen the story’s lingering themes of loss and forgiveness.
The film’s score is composed by Taro Umebayashi, known for his work on anime including The Summer Hikaru Died. The theme song is performed by Ichiko Aoba, an artist widely acclaimed both in Japan and internationally for her distinctive musical world.
Shiranui
Release Date: August 21, 2026
Theatrical Release: Opening at Shinjuku Wald 9 and expanding nationwide
Original Story / Screenplay / Director: Ryo Katanozaka
Music: Taro Umebayashi
Theme Song: Ichiko Aoba
Animation Production: CoMix Wave Films
