Shoji Kawamori’s First Original Feature Film “Labyrinth” Set for January 2026 Release — A Sci-Fi Fantasy Rooted in Smartphones and Identity
Shoji Kawamori, the visionary director behind the Macross and Aquarion series, known for his distinct visual storytelling and richly imagined worlds, will release his first original animated feature film Labyrinth (JP 迷宮のしおり, meikyu no Shiori) in January 2026.
Labyrinth teaser Visual
Labyrinth brings together three signature themes that have defined Kawamori's previous hits—music, sci-fi, and love triangles. This time, the story adds a modern twist with elements inspired by the everyday use of smartphones, creating a pop-colored, slightly horror-tinged escape adventure set in an alternate dimension. With this new project, Kawamori transforms a common coming-of-age story into a universal emotional journey that resonates with today's youth.
Labyrinth set for theatrical release in January next year
The screenplay is written by Taichi Hashimoto (Revisions, HUMAN LOST), while character design is helmed by Risa Ebata, who previously collaborated with Kawamori on Macross Frontier and its theatrical installment The False Songstress. The result is an ambitious culmination of Kawamori’s artistic legacy, supported by a stellar production team.
Labyrinth set for theatrical release in January next year
The story centers on Shiori Maezawa, an ordinary high school girl whose life is upended when her smartphone suddenly shatters. She wakes up in a deserted alternate version of Yokohama, and to her shock, her social media is filled with photos she never took. As another version of herself appears and begins to run wild, Shiori is drawn into a strange labyrinth within her smartphone. In a surreal and suspenseful fantasy that feels eerily plausible in today’s social media age, she must navigate a world of unknown threats to confront her digital doppelgänger and find her way back.
Labyrinth set for theatrical release in January next year
The newly released teaser visual features a dramatic image of Shiori being sucked into her phone against the backdrop of Yokohama. The teaser trailer opens with a light-hearted moment of Shiori filming a dance video with friends, but quickly takes a dark turn as she becomes trapped in the smartphone world. Viewers are teased with mysterious figures, a pink rabbit, and bizarre airborne creatures navigating missile-filled skies. Who are these characters, and what role do they play?
Labyrinth set for theatrical release in January next year
■Director Shoji Kawamori’s Comment
“Labyrinth began with the idea of smartphones as ‘another self’—a vessel that holds your history and personal data. When a phone breaks, it might also represent a fracture in one’s heart. The story follows a girl trapped in a digital labyrinth, while her other self begins to wreak havoc in the real-world Yokohama. Moving between this ‘inner world’ and the real world, I wanted to create an emotional and visually striking entertainment piece—a fusion of music and horror, where feelings explode and emojis fly. As my first entirely original feature-length film, I hope audiences will follow the dramatic clash between these two versions of the same protagonist.”
Teaser Trailer
Source : ORICON NEWS