Someone's Gaze

Set in the future, this animated drama follows Aya Okamura, a young woman who has spent two years working and living independently in Tokyo. As she reflects on her adult life, she recalls her childhood and the emotional impact of her mother moving overseas for medical work. The story explores the bond between Aya and her father, as well as the role of their family cat, Mii, who provided comfort during difficult times. Through a narrative perspective, the film examines themes of loneliness, the passage of time, and the enduring nature of familial love.

The short film was written and directed by Makoto Shinkai and produced by CoMix Wave Films. In the chronological order of Shinkai's work, it follows his previous films Voices of a Distant Star, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, 5 Centimeters per Second, Children Who Chase Lost Voices, and The Garden of Words. The voice cast features Satomi Hanamura as Aya Okamura, Shinji Ogawa as Kouji Okamura, and Fumi Hirano as Mii. Released in 2013, the production has a runtime of seven minutes. On TMDB, the film holds a rating of 7.1/10 based on 157 votes.