(C) “Labyrinth’s Bookmark” Production Committee
It has been announced that the original feature-length animated film “Labyrinth’s Bookmark,” directed by Shoji Kawamori, known for the “Macross” and “Aquarion” series, will be released in January 2026. A teaser visual and special trailer have also been unveiled.
(C) “Labyrinth’s Bookmark” Production Committee
The character designs are by Ebata Risa of “Macross Frontier,” the script is by Hashimoto Taichi of “HUMAN LOST: No Longer Human,” and animation is handled by Sanzigen, known for the anime series “BanG Dream!”. Planning and production are handled by Slow Curve, who also worked on “LISTENERS” and “BLOODY ESCAPE: Hell’s Escape.”
(C) “Labyrinth’s Bookmark” Production Committee
“Labyrinth’s Bookmark” is based on the three elements found in Director Kawamori’s previous hit series: song, science fiction, and love triangles, and depicts an escape story to another world that mixes in “smartphone-related things.”
(C) “Meikyū no Shiori” Production Committee
The teaser visual depicts the protagonist, high school girl Maezawa Shiori, who is trapped inside her smartphone, set against the backdrop of the cityscape of Yokohama, where the story takes place. The trailer begins with Shiori filming a dance video for social media with her friends, and shows the various predicaments that befall Shiori, who is suddenly trapped inside her smartphone, as well as the appearance of a mysterious girl, a pink rabbit, and a strange character flying through the air with missiles flying around.
The full comment from Director Kawamori is below.
[Director Shoji Kawamori]
“Labyrinth’s Bookmark” is a story born from the idea that smartphones, which are used by everyone today, are “another self” that accumulates history and personal information. If your smartphone breaks, it may mean that your heart breaks. A girl trapped in a labyrinth of her smartphone and her “other self” that starts to run wild in the real world of Yokohama. I aim to create an emotional and pop entertainment piece that combines song and horror, where emotions explode and stamps fly around, while traveling between the “other world of the heart” and the real world. This is my first completely original story for a movie version. Please watch the outcome of the showdown between the two “protagonists”!
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“Macross” series creator Shoji Kawamori’s first original feature-length animated film “The Labyrinth’s Bookmark” to be released nationwide in January 2026
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The Labyrinth’s Bookmark Set for Jan 2026 Release
Shoji Kawamori’s original film explores a high school girl’s otherworldly escape
Shoji Kawamori, best known for his visionary work on Macross and Aquarion, is once again pushing the boundaries of anime storytelling with The Labyrinth’s Bookmark. This time, he delves into the theme of escapism through the eyes of a high school girl lost in a mysterious labyrinthine world. The use of Sanzigen’s 3DCG animation suggests a stylistically bold and immersive experience. Rather than focusing purely on action or fantasy, the film appears to center on emotional introspection and self-discovery—making it a spiritual successor to Kawamori’s more philosophical works. With its January 2026 release, it might set the tone for a new wave of emotionally resonant sci-fi anime.
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