It has been announced that the short animated film "Shiranuhi," the latest work from animation production company CoMix Wave Films, known for the animated feature films "Your Name." and "Sparrow's Suzume," will be released as a feature film on August 21st. The film will be directed by Ryo Katanozaka, marking his first foray into commercial animated feature films. Katanozaka was selected as director after being recognized for his skills in live-action films and animation, which he has continued to produce independently as a freelance filmmaker while working in the fresh fish section of a supermarket. "Shiranuhi" is said to be a shocking work that depicts the pain and love of a young boy with overwhelming visual beauty.
At the end of the summer of 1996, Minato, a 10-year-old boy living in hiding with his alcoholic father in a seaside town in Kumamoto, finds solace only in the time he spends with "Ben-chan," a young goddess who appears on Benten Island. However, as Minato is placed in an orphanage, the time to part with Ben-chan approaches. Minato prays to "Shiranuhi," a mysterious light floating in the sea that is said to grant one wish, but as his hatred for his father grows, his prayers turn into an irreversible curse.
It was also announced that Umebayashi Taro, who has worked on "Yuri on Ice," will be in charge of the music, and musician Aoba Ichiko will be in charge of the theme song.
A teaser visual has been released, depicting the protagonist, a young boy named Minato, racing across the ocean. It is accompanied by the tagline, "That prayer turns into a curse." A trailer has also been released, beginning with a mystical, shimmering light called "Shiranuhi" on the ocean. Young Minato looks up at his mother, who is wearing whale earrings, and she makes a wish to the "Shiranuhi" to become a whale. The story then shifts to a ten-year-old Minato, living in a dilapidated house with no sign of his mother. As he cherishes the whale earrings that remain, Minato wishes for his father's death. The final scene shows Minato heading toward a lushly wooded island, accompanied by the sounds of late-summer cicadas.
