Shoji Kawamori’s Meikyu no Shiori Releases January 2026: Plot, Cast & Everything You Need to Know

Shoji Kawamori, the man who used to do anime like Macross and EscaFlowne in the past, is currently working on his very first full-fledged anime film. It's called Meikyu no Shiori, which translated is Shiori of the Labyrinth. The English title is Labyrinth. They've made an announcement that this film is gonna be out in theaters in January 2026. One teaser and one poster are out now already.

This is not a standard story. Escape type with minimal horror in it, but still colorful like a pop feeling. Also has some sci-fi and music included, as Kawamori always wants it to have. Triangle love can be included. Viewers who have watched his previous work are gonna probably going to experience the same here, but in other places.

Phone Gone, But New World Start

The protagonist is Shiori, an ordinary schoolgirl. Her cell phone broke down one day. Then she doesn't wake up in the real world—she is somewhere else in Yokohama. It's kinda similar, but not really. Like a dream, but she feels like it is real.

Then her phone started showing pictures of some person who looked like her. But she never does all those things in the picture. It's as if the other Shiori, maybe an imitation one, exists. This copy version starts living her life, and she needs to stop that. So, Shiori tries to find a way to get out of this mirror city before the copy takes her place permanently.

The world is filled with strange things. Time is not normal, and the standard isn't rational. It is hard for her to establish an identity. That makes fleeing all the more horrifying.

Team Working Hard Behind the Scenes

Kawamori directs once more. The same studio that animated BanG Dream! Animated this one: SANZIGEN. Risa Ebata created the character's look—she did Macross Frontier before. Taichi Hashimoto writes, and he also wrote Revisions. 

It will be released at the cinema by Gaga Corporation. It's released in January of 2026.

Also Read: Lord of Mysteries Anime: Strong Atmosphere but Concerns Over Story Pacing

This movie is neither a remake nor a manga. It is a whole new idea from the director himself. It shows a girl trying to understand herself when her life is no longer hers. It may be a mix of horror and beauty. The Kawamori fans will be gonna love how it gets deep but still colorful.

Written By Manika Kayal, Intern, India Today Gaming.