'Your Name' Producers Team With Chinese Filmmakers on New Anime Anthology

CoMix Wave is working with Shanghai's Haoliners on a three-film project by Chinese and Japanese directors.


CoMix Wave Films, the Tokyo anime production house behind 2016's mega-hit Your Name, is producing a three-film anime anthology titled Flavors of Youth (Shiki Oriori) with Chinese animation heavyweight Shanghai-based Haoliners Animation League.


The three anime in the new project will be directed separately by two Chinese directors and one from Japan, with the films set in three cities in contemporary China. Haoliners CEO Li Haoling is helming Love in Shanghai, while Yi Xiaoxing will direct The Rice Noodles.


Yoshitaka Takeuchi, who handled CG on many of Your Name helmer Makoto Shinkai's productions, will make his directorial debut with A Little Fashion Show. Other CoMix Wave staff who have worked on Shinkai's previous projects are also set to be involved in realizing the anthology.


The Japanese end of the project will be overseen by Comix Wave CEO Noritaka Kawaguchi, who was instrumental in the development of Shinkai's career. Kawaguchi was credited as a producer alongside Toho hitmaker Genki Kawamura on Your Name, which took in more than $350 million globally, making it the most successful anime of all time.


Flavors of Youth is scheduled to screen in China via a streaming platform, while a Japanese version will get a theatrical release in the summer.