The Labyrinth anime film, which is officially titled as "Meikyū no Shiori" in Japanese, is an original anime movie 2026 directed by "Shōji Kawamori," who is the creator of the "Macross" series and one of the most influential figures in anime history. This film is produced by "Sanzigen Studio," which is the acclaimed 3DCG animation house known for Promare and BanG Dream!, and is backed by major Japanese media companies including "Fuji Television" and "Gaga."
Story:
"Shiori Maezawa," who is an anxious and socially awkward high school girl from 'Yokohama' who dreams of social media fame but struggles to gain any real attention online. Her life is upended when an embarrassing video of her goes viral, and she is literally trapped inside her own smartphone, which is sucked into a mysterious, cracked digital world called the Labyrinth.
In the real world, a charismatic digital doppelganger calling herself "Shiori@Revolution" takes over her life, quickly rising to internet stardom and hatching a sinister plan to replace mankind with "brainrot," by staging a viral concert engineered to hit 100 million likes and trigger a world-changing event.
The real Shiori must team up with a group of online outcasts to navigate the Labyrinth, confront her digital alter ego, and reclaim her place in the real world. Director "Kawamori" has described the film's central idea as the concept that our smartphones are "another self," which is a device that quietly accumulates everything about us, including our preferences, habits, fears, and desires, and that this digital self might one day become more powerful than the person it mimics.
The film is a vivid, high-energy commentary on social media addiction, internet culture, brainrot content, and online identity. This film has a runtime of 115 minutes, a vibrant 3DCG visual style, and the theme song, "Sailor, Sail On," which is performed by viral Japanese pop group "Atarashii Gakko!." This film was officially launched in Japan on January 1, 2026 and is now reaching global audiences across Southeast Asia, North America, and beyond.
Basic Details:
Announcement:
This film was first announced in mid-2025 under the working title Meikyū no Shiori. Early teasers revealed the January 2026 Japan premiere, and the film screened at the "Tokyo International Film Festival" in October 2025. GKIDS Films announced North American theatrical rights in February 2026, and the English-subtitled international trailer dropped on March 26, 2026. The GKIDS Films North American release will screen in both Japanese with English subtitles and an English dub.
Budget and Revenue Details:
No official production budget has been disclosed; however the involvement of broadcaster "Fuji Television," shows us that the production costs are expected to be consistent with mid-to-high-tier anime films. Revenue is expected to come from Japan's theatrical earnings, the multi-country Southeast Asian rollout, North American event screenings, international home video rights, and eventual streaming platform licensing. Merchandise and music provide additional revenue channels.
Early Reviews:
Labyrinth holds a 6.8/10 rating on IMDb at time of writing. Critics at "Free Malaysia Today" described the film as an entertaining. The unexpected "mecha battle" sequence has been called a highlight by multiple reviewers. "Anime News Network" gave the film extensive coverage, including an in-depth interview with "Kawamori" published in December 2025 on crafting a film about social media-induced trauma.
Anyways, what are your reviews on this anime film, Labyrinth? Let me know all your answers in the comments, where you can also provide the latest news so I can make a breakdown of it.