Shoji Kawamori is a highly successful anime director known for his work on many popular series, especially those featuring giant robots. He’s now releasing his first full-length movie, and it will be shown in Western countries soon.
Directed by acclaimed anime creator Shoji Kawamori, Labyrinth (also known as Meikyu no Shiori) is a 2025 film recently licensed by GKIDS. The movie blends science fiction with pop music, a combination Kawamori is known for, and playfully incorporates common anime themes, proving that even familiar tropes can be reinvented by experienced creators.
Macross Creator’s New Sci-Fi Anime Movie Is Coming to the U.S. This May
GKIDS has acquired the rights to distribute the film Labyrinth in North America, as announced in a press release originally issued in November 2025. The movie marks the directorial debut of Shoji Kawamori, a long-time veteran of the anime industry. Similar to his previous projects, Labyrinth blends science fiction and fantasy elements with a strong musical component.
The storyline involves a young girl named Shiori who desires stardom, only for a video of hers to go viral for all the wrong reasons. When she becomes trapped in an alternate world inside her phone, she’s replaced by a popular version of herself, who has nefarious aims amid her pop music success. Shiori is voiced by Suzuka of the band Atarashii Gakko!, with the band also providing the movie’s theme song, “Sailor, Sail On.”
The anime film Labyrinth, praised for its accurate portrayal of social media and Gen Z trends, is now coming to North America. GKIDS will be showing the movie on May 10th and 11th, about six months after it first premiered in Japan. Viewers can choose to watch it with original Japanese audio and English subtitles, or with an English dub. Details about where and when to buy tickets will be announced shortly.
Even before he became known for Labyrinth, Shoji Kawamori significantly influenced anime, particularly with robot-focused series that gained popularity in both Asia and the West. He first gained recognition for his designs, which were later adapted into the Transformers toy line by Takara and Hasbro. Simultaneously, Kawamori developed Macross, blending the concept of transforming robots with the appeal of anime pop idols.
In addition to numerous sequels and iterations (most notably with Kawamori’s continued involvement), the original series also formed the foundation for the Western adaptation, Robotech. Kawamori also created The Vision of Escaflowne, a unique blend of mecha, fantasy, and the ‘isekai’ genre (stories about being transported to another world). Having recently directed an original anime film, Kawamori’s impact on anime is greater than ever, and North American fans will soon have the chance to experience his latest work.
Read More
- Best Controller Settings for ARC Raiders
- 7 Home Alone Moments That Still Make No Sense (And #2 Is a Plot Hole)
- Stephen Colbert Jokes This Could Be Next Job After Late Show Canceled
- DCU Nightwing Contender Addresses Casting Rumors & Reveals His Other Dream DC Role [Exclusive]
- Ashes of Creation Rogue Guide for Beginners
- Is XRP ETF the New Stock Market Rockstar? Find Out Why Everyone’s Obsessed!
- 10 X-Men Batman Could Beat (Ranked By How Hard It’d Be)
- DC K.O.: Superman vs Captain Atom #1 Uses a Fight as Character Study (Review)
- Gold Rate Forecast
- Heather Rae El Moussa Reacts to Critics of Christina Haack Friendship
2026-02-05 20:15