Makoto Shinkai’s ‘Suzume no Tojimari’ opened in Japan recently and has become a hot topic among otakus. Being a successor to a global superhit like ‘Your Name,’ the movie had an incredible amount of expectations tied to it.
In terms of box office success, the movie has been doing splendidly well, considering how it grabbed the #1 spot on its opening weekend. However, we’re here to tell you what you can expect from it and why we consider ‘Suzume no Tojimari’ as Shinkai’s next masterpiece.
From the very first look, the trailer makes it evident that this is a classic Shinkai movie set in a non-metropolitan area of Japan. The sea in the backdrop, Suzume riding a bicycle down a slope, and a mysterious tune in the background amplifies our curiosity.
Just like ‘Your Name,’ the movie might include various aspects of a small port town and how it’s different from a relatively modern place like Tokyo. Not to forget, Suzume gives heavy Mitsuha vibes with the local dialect and her impulsive nerve to seek trouble.
Of course, there’s the male lead Souta, but unlike other Shinkai heroes, he is not clueless about the supernatural phenomena of the film. Instead, he’s the one who informs Suzume about it and helps her make things right again.
Another new detail added in ‘Suzume no Tojimari,’ which we haven’t seen in previous Shinkai films, is a supernatural antagonist. In this movie, we are introduced to a cat-like creature called Daijin, who turns Souta into a chair and is happy about the destruction happening in Japan.
Moreover, the difficulties don’t end here as we discover that the happy-go-lucky Suzume carries a past trauma inside her. It is revealed that she’s a victim of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake in which she lost her mother.
Due to suffering a heavy loss and witnessing adversity of this size at a young age, Suzume had closed her heart to everyone. This resulted in her never making deep connections with anyone, even her aunt until Soura came into her life.
Talking about the visuals and music, they are top-notch, as usual. You can’t expect anything less than perfection and goosebumps when it’s the Shinkai-RADWIMPS duo we’re talking about.
The film focuses a lot on battling inner demons while eradicating those that threaten the existence of humanity. Suzume discovers that her childhood trauma is something she shares with many throughout Japan and learns to open up about it.
If you’re someone who deeply resonates with Suzume, never be afraid to reach out. I assure you that you’re not alone and this film will make you realize that.
Just like that, Shinkai has given us another masterpiece that can bring anyone to tears.
About Suzume no Tojimari
Suzume no Tojimari is an anime film by Makoto Shinkai. It premiered on November 11, 2022. A novel adaptation was released in August 2022, also written by Shinkai.
The film focuses on Suzume, a 17-year-old girl who meets a young man looking for a door. Suzume finds a strange door among the ruins and opens it, but due to it many doors start opening around Japan, causing disasters. Now, Suzume has to close all of them to save Japan.
Source: Suzume no Tojimari Film
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