Makoto Shinkai took Japan by storm with the release of his award-winning hit film your name (Kimi no Na Wa) in 2016, which at the time became the highest-grossing anime film ever released. In the years since, his fame has only grown, along with the release of Weathering with you in 2019, which was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 92nd Academy Awards. Like other animation directors, Makoto Shinkai takes his time with every film, which is why latest project, Suzume no Tojimaricis eagerly anticipated by fans.
Suzume no Tojimaric again promises a coming-of-age story, but as always with an exciting twist. Shinkai’s films often contain fantastic elements in a realistic setting – whether it’s about changing bodies, controlling the weather, or in this case preventing disasters to hit Japan. With beautiful colors, stunning animations and stories that transcend the medium, we can’t wait to see what Shinkai’s latest movie has in store!
Suzume no Tojimari: The Plot
Suzume no Tojimaric follows seventeen-year-old protagonist Suzume Iwato as she embarks on a coming-of-age adventure across Japan, closing doors that, when open, cause destruction and disaster. After meeting a man searching for these doors, they discover one in the mountains of Japan that leads to a disaster that nearly hits her hometown.
A compelling story, and when told through a road movie set across Japan, we know for sure Suzume no Tojimaric will feature beautiful scenery just like Shinkai’s other films. The trailer also gives a taste of the music Shinkai’s movies are known for, and Suzume no Tojimari’s soundtrack sounds as good as your names!
The official synopsis of the film reads:
“Suzume, a 17-year-old girl living in a quiet town in Kyushu, meets a young man on a journey ‘looking for doors’. Suzume follows him to a ruined building in the mountains and finds a detached, undisturbed door as if “it” had only been saved from destruction. Suzume, attracted by an unseen force, reaches for the door – Soon the doors across Japan open one after another. The doors that opened must be closed to shut out the evil that lies on the other side. -Stars, sunset and the morning sky. The places she walks into have a sky where all the hours of the day seem to flow into one another. Lured by the mysterious doors, Suzume’s “journey of closing doors” begins.
The story of Suzume no Tojimaric is all about closure, according to a statement from Shinkai to io9. For a film full of doors that have to be closed, it’s a clear theme to distract. More than in the literal sense, however, Shinkai likes to communicate important, recognizable issues through his films. Shinkai wants viewers to walk away from the film and think about “how to close the many doors we’ve left open.” We are sure that the film’s theme will stick with viewers the way Shinkai intended, as it will for his many other highly personal stories.
Suzume no Tojimari: The Cast
Suzume no Tojimaric is a Japanese animated film with a cast of talented voice actors. Nanoka Hara, best known for her 2013 years Why don’t you play in hell? will pronounce Suzume. Hokuto Matsumura from the live action XxxHolic is cast as Sota Munakata. Eri Fukatsu (Bayside Shakedown, Parasyte), Koshiro Matsumoto (13 killers), and Shota Sometani (Belle, Parasyte) also star.
Everything else we know
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Suzume no Tojimaric is a highly anticipated film, especially after the success of Makoto Shinkai with your name and Weathering with you. There hasn’t been a new Shinkai movie since 2019 and fans are eagerly awaiting this new installment in Shinkai’s filmography. Known for his beautiful animation and attention to detail, Shinkai’s work has gained a large following in recent years.
After the retirement of Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki, a few anime directors were raised as contenders to take his place in the world of Japanese animated film. For years it was uncertain whether Mamoru Hosoda, Makoto Shinkai or another director like Naoko Yamada would become the next Hayao Miyazaki.
However, with the sensational release of Shinkai’s your name in 2016, many people flocked to him as the next great anime director. In the years that followed, Hosoda’s Belle and Mirai have both seen great success, and Shinkai’s Weathering with you received its own rave reviews. For many, no one can replace Hayao Miyazaki – and now that the famous director is retiring for the third time, it is clear that no one needs to replace him. Makoto Shinkai has become one of the greatest anime directors of his decades of incredible work, and we’re excited to see Suzume no Tojimaric when it releases internationally!
Publication date
Suzume no Tojimaric will be released in Japan on November 11, 2022. It will be released internationally in early 2023.