Sunrise and SHAFT have launched a joint social media account teasing their first-ever collaborative anime project, with a full reveal scheduled for June 24 at 12:30 a.m. JST.
Sunrise and SHAFT launched a joint X account on June 18 under the handle @sunrise_shaft, teasing their first-ever collaborative anime project. A full reveal is set for June 24 at 12:30 a.m. JST, with daily countdown posts building anticipation until then.
The newly created account debuted a short teaser video featuring color script artwork preliminary illustrations used in animation production to establish a scene's mood, lighting, and palette before full production begins. Three color script images, credited to Bandai Namco Filmworks, offer a first glimpse at the project's atmosphere and visual direction. No title, format, story details, or production staff have been disclosed yet.
The countdown kicked off with a "5 days" post, confirming that June 23 at 24:30 JST effectively the early morning hours of June 24 will bring the complete announcement.
The pairing is remarkable given the distinct identities each studio has carved out over decades. Sunrise, currently celebrating its 50th anniversary under the Bandai Namco Filmworks umbrella, built its legacy on mecha franchises like Mobile Suit Gundam, Code Geass, and Armored Trooper Votoms, while also branching into idol territory with Love Live! The anniversary celebration has already produced several short film collaborations, but a full project with an outside studio of SHAFT's stature represents uncharted territory.
SHAFT, founded in 1975, is known for a visual style that is immediately recognizable the studio's work under director Akiyuki Shinbo on Puella Magi Madoka Magica and the Monogatari series redefined what television anime could look like. More recently, SHAFT has been working on the TV anime adaptation of Just Like Mona Lisa.
Cross-studio collaborations of this nature are exceptionally rare in anime production. While outsourcing individual episodes or sequences to partner studios is standard industry practice, two major studios publicly branding a project as a joint venture from the announcement stage signals a fundamentally different kind of creative partnership. The fact that Bandai Namco Filmworks Sunrise's parent company is credited on the teaser materials suggests the project carries significant corporate backing.
The color scripts themselves are an unusual choice for a first reveal. Rather than leading with character designs or key visuals, the studios chose to showcase the project's environmental aesthetic, possibly indicating a production where world-building and atmosphere take center stage.
With five days of teaser content planned before the June 24 reveal, additional details may surface through the @sunrise_shaft account in the coming days. The announcement is expected to unveil the project's title, format, story premise, and key creative staff. Fans of both studios will be watching closely to see how Sunrise's mechanical precision and SHAFT's avant-garde visual language intersect in what promises to be one of the most unusual anime announcements of 2026.
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