TL;DR, Bandai Namco Filmworks announced Mirai e no Kouro, a Sunrise 50th anniversary project of six original 3DCG short movies. The official site revealed teaser visuals and promotional videos for Haseo Sugoroku and Metafear.
A milestone year for Sunrise arrives with a clear message. Bandai Namco Filmworks announced Mirai e no Kouro, a set of six original 3DCG shorts marking the studio’s 50th. Two shorts, Haseo Sugoroku and Metafear, led the reveal with staff, teaser visuals, and promotional videos.
Framed as “A Voyage Towards the Future,” the Sunrise 50th anniversary short movies spotlight a new CG-forward lane for the studio’s brand. The official site hosts the first materials and confirms the creators steering the opening pair. The project leans on compact storytelling and distinctive teams per film.
That lets Sunrise celebrate legacy while testing new techniques in short form.
What Sunrise just announced for its 50th anniversary
Bandai Namco Filmworks announced Mirai e no Kouro (A Voyage Towards the Future), a short movie project that marks Sunrise’s 50th anniversary. The project consists of six 3DCG short movies made by six participating studios, including Sunrise. The official website revealed the first two titles with main staff, teaser visuals, and teaser promotional videos.
jp/shortfilmproject/”>official site. The company shared the news on Wednesday. Each film is an original story produced in 3DCG.
Teaser visuals and PVs for both shorts are posted there. This project is a set of Sunrise 50th anniversary short movies.
Haseo Sugoroku (Dice with Demon) is directed by Hidekazu Ohara (Sweat Punch) at Sunrise. The story takes place in Heian-era Japan at twilight, as three noblemen drink and share a chilling secret. Ki no Haseo admits he played a high-stakes game with a demon to bring back his late wife.
The tease asks if that act is a blessing or a path to ruin. A teaser PV and visual are already available.
Metafear is helmed by Shuuhei Morita (Tokyo Ghoul) at Yamato Works, with character and visual designs by Tatsuyuki Tanaka (Buki yo Saraba). It follows a girl haunted by nightmares who writes down each dream and names it, hoping to never forget her fears. One night, a nightmare she could not name becomes a monster, spreads across the world, and plunges it into chaos.
The first teaser PV and visual are also live on the site. The logline begins, “This dream… ” Only two shorts and two studios are named so far on the site.
Confirmed directors and studios from the announcement:
- Haseo Sugoroku: Director Hidekazu Ohara; Studio Sunrise.
- Metafear: Director Shuuhei Morita; Studio Yamato Works; Character and visual design Tatsuyuki Tanaka.
- Other participating studios: not yet confirmed.
Who is making Mirai e no Kouro, and who is on staff
Two shorts led the staff reveal, and the official site lists their key creatives. Haseo Sugoroku is directed by Hidekazu Ohara at Sunrise. Metafear is helmed by Shuuhei Morita at Yamato Works, with character and visual designs by Tatsuyuki Tanaka.
Each credit comes from the site’s initial staff pages. The listings include prior highlights in parentheses: Ohara (Sweat Punch), Morita (Tokyo Ghoul), and Tanaka (Buki yo Saraba). This pairing of directors with distinct visual leads signals a creator-forward approach within Mirai e no Kouro.
Bandai Namco Filmworks also states six studios are involved, including Sunrise, with teams assigned per short. Additional staff for the remaining films are not yet posted. For a look at how anniversaries spur new productions elsewhere, revisit the Mob Psycho 100 anniversary rollout and its curated creator spotlights.
- Haseo Sugoroku, directed by Hidekazu Ohara at Sunrise. Credit per official site.
- Metafear, directed by Shuuhei Morita at Yamato Works. Credit per official site.
- Tatsuyuki Tanaka provides character and visual designs on Metafear. Credit per official site.
- Director background tags on site: Ohara (Sweat Punch), Morita (Tokyo Ghoul), Tanaka (Buki yo Saraba).
- Six studios will participate, including Sunrise. Others have not been detailed in the reveal.
- Individual shorts will credit their own Sunrise staff and studio partners, as posted on each staff page.
What the Haseo Sugoroku and Metafear teasers show
Haseo Sugoroku opens on Heian-era Japan at twilight, where three nobles share a chilling secret. Ki no Haseo confesses he gambled with a demon to resurrect his late wife, raising the question of salvation or ruin. The Haseo Sugoroku teaser PV frames this Heian-era synopsis with tense, ritual atmosphere.
Metafear follows a girl who catalogues her nightmares by naming them, hoping to never forget her fears. One dream resists naming, becomes a monster, and spreads across the world, pushing it into chaos. The Metafear teaser PV leans on that nightmare monster synopsis, emphasizing dread and escalation.
Both teaser visuals and PVs are available on the project’s official site. If you enjoy milestone events and previews alongside these Sunrise 50th anniversary short movies, the One Punch Man exhibition offers another snapshot of how anniversaries are being showcased this year.
- Haseo Sugoroku: twilight pavilion, rain-slicked setting, nobles, and a confession about a demon’s game.
- Haseo Sugoroku: the core hook asks whether love-driven resurrection is grace or doom.
- Metafear: a girl documents nightmares, then faces one she cannot name.
- Metafear: the unnamed fear takes shape, becomes a monster, and spreads catastrophe.
- Teasers: each PV centers mood and concept over plot detail, matching short-form focus.
- Access: both synopses, teaser visuals, and videos are posted on the official site.
Related: Miku Ito anniversary project.
Source: MAL
