After 40 years in anime franchises, director Shoji Kawamori has released his first fully original film, 'Labyrinth', tackling the smartphone age. This project fulfills a long-eluded goal in his illustrious career.
Shoji Kawamori began his career in the anime industry as a teenager, establishing himself as a director, writer, and mechanical designer. He co-created the 1982 classic series "Super Dimension Fortress Macross" and directed many of its sequels and spinoffs. He also masterminded other acclaimed series such as "The Vision of Escaflowne" and "Earth Maiden Arjuna," while providing designs for films, series, and games including "Ghost in the Shell," "Eureka Seven," and "Armored Core." Additionally, he produced a mixed-reality-based pavilion for last year's Osaka Expo in 2025.
Despite this impressive resume, one goal had always eluded him—creating a fully original film—until now with 'Labyrinth.' This project marks a departure from his franchise-heavy work, addressing themes of the smartphone age after four decades in the industry.