Dareka no Manazashi

Dareka no Manazashi, translated as Someone's Gaze, is a 2013 short film commissioned by the Japanese real estate developer Nomura Real Estate for their Proud Box Kansha-sai event. The project was intended to promote the brand's image by focusing on themes of familial connection, aging, and the quiet transitions of domestic life. Set in the near future, the film depicts the evolving relationship between a young woman living independently and her father, anchored by the presence of a loyal pet cat.

The film was directed by Makoto Shinkai, who collaborated with the animation studio CoMix Wave Films to realize his signature aesthetic. Shinkai sought to capture the emotional weight of everyday interactions and the passage of time through his characteristic use of hyper-detailed lighting and atmospheric background art. Upon its release, the film was praised for its ability to condense profound emotional resonance into a brief runtime, effectively setting the stage for the thematic maturity seen in his later, more expansive feature films.