Makoto Shinkai has used his magic to whip up many movies and the fans believe it is time to make a film on adults for many fans to relate to.

SUMMARY

Makoto Shinkai’s new movie is confirmed for a 2025 release, sparking high expectations among fans.
Fans are requesting a shift to adult protagonists from the teenage centric focus until now.
Shinkai’s ability to merge emotion with fantasy could make an adult-focused story a massive hit.

Makoto Shinkai is the visionary director behind Your Name, Weathering With You, and many more phenomenon titles. He has announced his next movie will hit theaters in 2025. Known for his breathtaking visuals and heartfelt storytelling that seems to get more and more magical each time, Shinkai has captivated audiences worldwide with tales of love, loss, and fate.

Mitsuha and Taki meet for the first time in Your Name. [Credit: Toho]

However, with this new project on the horizon, fans are voicing a collective request for Shinkai— ‘Can we have an adult cast now?’ Shinkai’s previous works predominantly feature teenage protagonists navigating first love, separation, and self-discovery.

Makoto Shinkai is no doubt a genius and has cracked the secrets to success and has even challenged himself by making a chair a protagonist. While this formula has delivered many emotional masterpieces, the fans feel it’s time for a shift.

Fans want Shinkai’s storytelling to focus on Adults this time

Given Shinkai’s talent for narrating stories with incredible amounts of emotional depth, viewers believe he could tackle adulthood with the same grace as his previous films and the Shinkai magic guarantees that there is a definite hit.

Suzume with Souta the chair | Credits: CoMix Wave

Shinkai’s films have often focused on teenagers yearning for connection or battling forces beyond their control, be it a meteor or something even more magical. Your Name explored body-swapping and cosmic fate, while Suzume blended fantasy with trauma recovery.

Yet, audiences who grew up watching Shinkai’s earlier works are now older, and like with all things, audiences are more drawn to narratives that reflect their current realities; adults can better relate to adults.

Fans believe it’s time for Shinkai to step outside the high school setting and focus on adult relationships, careers, and the complexities of modern life. The difficulty of an adult’s life is such that there is no semblance of magic, and that is why Shinkai is needed.

Shinkai’s magic can enrapture adults already; an adult cast cannot go wrong

The themes are getting repetitive, and they’re asking Shinkai to explore more mature themes with adult characters now; everyone needs some magic.

Mitsuha crying after forgetting Taki | Credits: Toho

Considering Shinkai’s ability to blend realism with fantasy, an adult-focused storyline could give the anime world something very new and exciting.

While Shinkai hasn’t revealed details about the plot or the cast of voice actors, fans remain hopeful.

This would resonate not only with his longtime fans but also attract a broader audience. With the 2025 release date set, expectations are sky-high from Shinkai, and the hopes linger for an adult cast plot.