Two of the most iconic anime studios have just confirmed they are working together for the first time. Sunrise and SHAFT announced on June 18, via Bandai Namco Filmworks, a joint project under the name Sunrise × SHAFT. Full anime details will be revealed on June 23.

What is known and how it’s being announced

The announcement is more about the event than the content. To build anticipation, a five-day countdown campaign has been launched that will release new content leading up to the June 23 reveal. The first campaign post included a video created with color scripts, which are color and atmosphere studies studios use to define the visual tone before final animation. The video offers a first impression of the project’s visual identity and atmosphere without explicitly showing characters or plots. What is seen is enough to get an idea of the aesthetic style they aim for.

This is the first time in history these two studios are collaborating on an animated production, making the project unusual by itself. It’s uncommon for studios with such distinct visual identities to work together, and the result of that combination is precisely what makes the June 23 reveal generate excitement.

About Sunrise and SHAFT

Sunrise is a studio with over four decades of history specializing in original anime, responsible for franchises that defined generations: the Mobile Suit Gundam saga, Code Geass, and Love Live! are some of its most recognized titles. SHAFT, founded in 1975, is known for its distinctive visual style and works like Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the Monogatari series, as well as theatrical productions, commercials, and video game work. The fact that these two studios, with such particular creative philosophies, are joining forces on one project is the kind of announcement the anime industry hasn’t seen before.

What kind of anime do you imagine could come from combining Sunrise’s style with SHAFT’s?