Taishi Ishidate’s 2027 Anime Teaser: Beyond the Boundary’s Director Reveals New Project

Kyoto Animation has announced that the acclaimed manga The Credits Roll Into the Sea (Umi ga Hashiru End Roll) will be adapted into a feature-length anime film, set for release in 2027. Directed by Taishi Ishidate—best known for his work on Violet Evergarden, CITY The Animation, and Beyond the Boundary—the film marks a significant expansion of Kyoto Animation’s slate of original and adapted projects.

The story follows Umiko, a 65-year-old widow who, after decades away from cinemas, steps into a movie theater for the first time since losing her husband. There, she meets Kai, a film student, and through their encounter, Umiko discovers a long-repressed passion for filmmaking. The narrative explores themes of second chances, creativity, and the universal human desire to create, regardless of age or circumstance. The manga, serialized in Monthly Mystery Bonita from 2020 to 2025, earned critical acclaim, including the top spot in the 2022 Kono Manga ga Sugoi! guidebook’s female readers’ rankings and nominations for the Tezuka Osamu Cultural Prize.

Ishidate’s involvement is particularly noteworthy, as he previously directed the record-breaking Violet Evergarden theatrical film, which grossed over 2.1 billion yen at the Japanese box office. For this project, he has emphasized his commitment to capturing the manga’s emotional depth and the quiet strength of its characters. “I want to create a film that makes audiences feel the effort and soul of those who pursue their dreams with all their heart,” Ishidate stated in a press release. “What we have is a story about someone finding her own voice through filmmaking, and I hope the film conveys that sense of rediscovery and joy.”

The film’s visual identity has been teased through a newly released promotional image, depicting Umiko standing on a seaside cliff, camera in hand, as the waves crash below. The scene is accompanied by a poetic narration, underscoring the story’s themes of perseverance and the beauty of the creative process. The image and accompanying materials suggest a film that balances introspection with visual splendor, a hallmark of Kyoto Animation’s approach to storytelling.

Dark Horse has licensed the manga for English-language release, with the first volume scheduled for July 7, 2026. The adaptation’s announcement comes at a time when Kyoto Animation continues to build on its reputation for high-quality, emotionally resonant animation, following the success of recent projects like Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid and the ongoing CITY The Animation series.

With distribution handled by Shochiku, the film is poised to reach both domestic and international audiences, further cementing Kyoto Animation’s status as a leading force in the anime industry. Fans of the manga and Ishidate’s previous works can look forward to a film that promises to be as thought-provoking as It’s visually stunning, offering a fresh perspective on the timeless appeal of storytelling.