>>279985072
Lots of it.

(Officially stated by Shinkai himself)
>Next time I should go to a different place, I'm thinking outer space. Space exploration.
https://www.lmaga.jp/news/2022/11/553664/
>Aesthetically, thematically and story-wise it's completely different from my last 3 films.
>It's (was) really difficult storyboarding something so different from everything else I've made, but I have a clear vision now.
>Characters and story contents are already decided, I need to start writing the novel.
>Expecting significant changes to staff.
>I've been reading Chinese sci-fi book series "The Three-Body Problem" for inspiration.
>Toho and STORY confirmed.
https://x.com/suzume_tojimari/status/1773714325653667901
>I'm done with depicting modern-day stories centered around Tokyo. Next film will be set in a different era.
>It's by far the biggest endeavor of my entire career. Production and scale are on a completely different level from everything I've made so far.
>It's scary making something so big.
>There will be a "band-aid" scene in it.
https://x.com/echelledange/status/1814581932984049939

(Reliable info from multiple sources)
>100% confirmed full Sci-fi
>No "spiritual magic"
>No natural/magical disasters
>No romance
>Not related to any previous film
>Likely set in a very distant future
>Likely not only in Japan
>Full production started in May 2023
>Full planning concluded in August 2023
>More authorial traits
>Reveal in 2025
>Release in 2026
>Shinkai's best production schedule
https://x.com/d0nut2x/status/1798380314806432004

(Non-confirmed rumours from 2ch leaker)
>Codename: ネビュラ (NEBULA)
>Space exploration sci-fi with alien life.

(Leaked initial list of KAs)
>Hiroyuki Okiura
>Norio Matsumoto
>Ei Inoue
>Hidetsugo Ito
>Naoki Kobayashi
>Bahi JD
>Moaang
>Minoru Ohashi
>Kenichi Tsuchiya
>Masayoshi Tanaka
>Takayo Nishimura
https://x.com/KAMS110300/status/1818141958029865337
https://x.com/tokei3n/status/1890742535254851883