Suzume became a must-watch for anime fans as soon as it premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in January. With over USD 300 million in theatre collection, the fantasy-adventure quickly became one of the highest-grossing anime films in history. And, that was before it got re-released for special screenings last month. Suzume earned director Makoto Shinkai nominations at the Japanese Academy Awards, Annie Awards, and Asia Pacific Screen Awards. Finally, it’s time for wider audiences to get to know the titular character.
‘Suzume’ Portrays Post-Earthquake Japan
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Makoto Shinkai revealed that the movie reflects his view of post-2011 earthquake Japan. “I kept coming back to the northeastern area of Japan where the Great East Japan Earthquake hit the hardest. It really made me think about how the 2011 earthquake has really been on my mind throughout my entire career in recent years. So, when thinking about where the characters would reach the end of their story, I thought it would be important to take this issue — the earthquake — almost head-on to understand it better.”
Shinkai brilliantly portrays the ruin that took over the Japanese landscape post-earthquake through his distinct animation style. Anime fans witnessed the acclaimed screenwriter and director’s talent in Weathering With You and The Garden of Words. The voice casts include Nanoka Hara (Suzume Iwato), Hokuto Matsumura (Souta Munakata), Eri Fukatsu (Tamaki Iwato), Shota Sometani (Minoru Okabe), and more. The film follows 17-year-old Suzume Iwato and Souta Munakata. They team up to prevent a series of catastrophes across Japan by sealing doors from the supernatural worm that causes earthquakes after it is out.
Suzume debuts on Crunchyroll on November 16.
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