The official website for Makoto Shinkai — the auteur director behind Voices of a Distant Star, 5 Centimeters Per Second, and Children Who Chase Lost Voices — announced on Thursday that he is creating a new short anime film called 'Dareka no Manazashi' (Someone's Gaze). The Nomura Real Estate Group will screen the film during the "Proud Box Kanshasai," a home living exposition which will run from February 10 to 11 at the Tokyo International Forum. More details about the short will be announced on January 23.

Shinkai himself announced on Christmas Eve that he is creating a separate anime feature film called Kotonoha no Niwa for release in the first half of this year. He said that this is the first time he is making a "love" story — in the traditional Japanese meaning of the word. At one time, "love" was written as "lonely sadness" (koi). Moreover, according to Shinkai, the modern concept of "love" (ai) was imported from the West. While Kotonoha no Niwa is set in the modern era, it will be about koi in the original meaning — of longing for someone in solitude.

Shinkai began his career by creating his own anime titles almost singlehandedly — being responsible for the writing, directing, and even voice-acting. He now works with CoMix Wave Films and other staff members on anime projects. His titles include She and Her Cat, Voices of a Distant Star, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, 5 Centimeters Per Second, and 2011's Children Who Chase Lost Voices.