The upcoming original anime film Labyrinth (Meikyū no Shiori), helmed by the acclaimed director Shoji Kawamori, has unveiled key members of its cast. Set to open in January 2026, the film marks Kawamori’s first feature-length animated film not based on an existing franchise.
Leading the Voice Cast
The film’s protagonist, Shiori Maezawa, will be voiced by Suzuka from the pop group Atarashii Gakkō!, in what marks her voice acting debut. Suzuka will portray both the ordinary high school girl Shiori and her “other self,” Shiori@Revolution, who she encounters in a parallel world.
Joining Suzuka are:
- Taizō Harada as Komori, a rabbit stamp.
- Aoi Itō as Kirara Kurashina, Shiori’s schoolmate. (Note: Some reports identify the character as Kurashina Nozomi, Shiori’s childhood friend and high school influencer.)
- Jun Saitō as Kento Yamada, a classmate of Shiori’s. (Note: Some reports identify the character simply as Yamada, a playful classmate.)
The Intriguing Premise of Labyrinth
Labyrinth centers on Shiori Maezawa, a typical high school girl whose life takes an extraordinary turn when her smartphone suddenly breaks. This incident transports her to a deserted parallel version of Yokohama. Upon checking her phone, Shiori discovers photos on her social media accounts that she has no recollection of posting. The core conflict of the film revolves around Shiori’s attempt to escape this bizarre “smartphone labyrinth” and regain control as her “other self” begins to act independently in the real world.
Director Kawamori has commented that the film’s concept stems from the idea of smartphones acting as an “other self” that accumulates data and personal information. He suggests that a broken smartphone could symbolize a broken heart. The narrative is described as a “pop, slightly horror, otherworldly escape drama,” blending elements of sci-fi, music, and love triangles, which are hallmarks of Kawamori’s previous works.
Creative Team Behind the Film
Shoji Kawamori, renowned for his work on iconic series like Macross and Aquarion, is directing Labyrinth at SANZIGEN. The original story concept is attributed to Slow Curve, Vector Vision, GAGA, and Fuji Television, with Slow Curve also handling the planning and production.
The creative team includes:
- Risa Ebata (Macross Frontier, AKB0048) as character designer.
- Taichi Hashimoto (Listeners, Gate Keepers 21, Revisions, HUMAN LOST) as scriptwriter.
Gaga Corporation is set to distribute the film.
