CoMix Wave Films Inc. is known as the studio that produced Makoto Shinkai's 2016 anime "Kimi no Na wa" (your name.), a film that earned more than 25 billion yen at the box office. The company has finally announced its hotly anticipated next project -- an anthology of three short films, one with a Japanese director and two with a Chinese director.
"We've at last reached the stage where we can make an announcement [about our next project]," said CWF Chief Executive Officer Noritaka Kawaguchi.
CWF is teaming with Shanghai-based anime production company Haoliners for the project, its first collaboration with a Chinese company. The anthology -- "Shiki Oriori," with its English title "Flavors of Youth (Japanese version)" -- consists of three short stories set in contemporary China. Though Shinkai was not directly involved this time around, many of the staff members who have helped bring his creative vision to life in the past have a hand in the project.
Yoshitaka Takeuchi, who was in charge of computer graphics on several of Shinkai's works, is making his directorial debut with one of the stories, entitled "Chiisana Fashion Show" (A Little Fashion Show), while Haoliners Chief Executive Officer Li Haolin is directing another called "Shanghai-ren" (Love in Shanghai) and the third one, Yi Xiaoxing, is making "Hidamari no Choshoku" (The Rice Noodles).
"The three stories will be typical of our laid-back anime and depict bittersweet love as well as affection among family members," Kawaguchi said.
"Shiki Oriori" will be available in China only through a streaming service, while its Japanese version will be released in cinemas this summer, with voice-overs by Japanese actors and newly recorded music. CWF will be in charge of promoting the movie in countries outside China.
"Kimi no Na wa" was a blockbuster hit in China as well, raking in 9.5 billion yen from moviegoers there. Kawaguchi said the success can be attributed to his studio "always taking our relationship with Chinese fans seriously."
Kawaguchi has supported Shinkai in producing, distributing and marketing his anime since the creator made his commercial debut with "Hoshi no Koe" (The voices of a distant star) in 2002. Shinkai has had enthusiastic fans in China ever since, but his movies were not released to the public until "Koto no Ha no Niwa" (The Garden of Words) in 2013. The situation prompted many illegal copies and pirated versions online.
"We were concerned about what was going on, but we intentionally left it alone," Kawaguchi said. "We waited for the right time because we believed Chinese fans would eventually pay money to watch his films when the country's economy gained momentum."
Meanwhile, Haoliners CEO Li played an important role in realizing the current collaboration. He himself is an enthusiastic fan of Shinkai's 2007 title "Byosoku Go-senchimetoru" (5 Centimeters Per Second).
"Mr. Li sent us passionate requests over the past four or five years," Kawaguchi said. "When we sat down and thought about what we should work on after 'Kimi no Na wa,' I thought, 'Why not try working with him?'"
Kawaguchi is one of the key figures behind the fame Shinkai enjoys today, but the executive has seldom put himself in the spotlight.
"At a time when the sun has finally risen and begun to shine, it's inappropriate to talk about the hardships I faced in the past," he said.
Originally employed at the trading firm Itochu Corp., Kawaguchi transferred to the now-defunct CoMix Wave Inc. in 1998. He met Shinkai when he was still an unknown, independent anime creator and found himself drawn to his talent.
The story of how Kawaguchi borrowed hundreds of millions of yen and founded his own company, CWF, in 2007 to promote Shinkai's works is now well-known.
"My encounter with him was like destiny," the CEO said. "He always produces something 120 percent that goes beyond my expectations."
When it came to "Kimi no Na wa," Kawaguchi remained in the background and left its planning and production up to Genki Kawamura of Toho Co., the producer behind a number of hit films. Kawaguchi said he made the decision because he "found it hard to boost Shinkai to an even higher stage by myself."
"I'm so grateful for Toho and Mr. Kawamura," Kawaguchi said. "They enabled me to finally break free from my impoverished everyday life and go on to hire more staff members."
As someone who came to the animation industry from a different field, Kawaguchi has a clear idea of the crisis it is currently facing. "While there are a number of talented creators out there, only a few producers are capable of bringing them into the spotlight. We definitely need more people who think about things from the production side."
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