Makoto Shinkai took Japan by storm with the release of his award-winning hit film Your Name (Kimi no Na Wa) in 2016, which went on to become the highest-grossing anime film ever released at the time. 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. Just like other animation directors, Makoto Shinkai takes his time with each film, which is why his newest project, Suzume no Tojimari, is eagerly awaited by fans.

Suzume no Tojimari promises a coming-of-age story yet again, but as always, with an exciting twist. Shinkai’s films often feature fantastical elements in a real-world setting – whether it be body swapping, controlling the weather, or in this case, preventing disasters from striking Japan. With beautiful colors, stunning animation, and stories that transcend the medium, we can’t wait to see what Shinkai’s newest film has in store!

Suzume no Tojimari: The Plot

Suzume no Tojimari follows seventeen-year-old protagonist Suzume Iwato as she takes on a coming-of-age adventure across Japan, closing doors that, when open, release destruction and disaster. After meeting a man who is looking for these doors, they discover one in the mountains of Japan that leads to a disaster nearly striking her hometown.

A compelling narrative, and when told through a road movie that takes place across Japan, we’re sure Suzume no Tojimari will feature stunning scenery just like Shinkai’s other films. The trailer also gives a taste of the music that Shinkai’s films are known for, and Suzume no Tojimari’s soundtrack sounds just as great as Your Name’s!

The film’s official synopsis reads:

The story of Suzume no Tojimari is all about closure, according to a statement from Shinkai to io9. For a film filled with doors that need to be closed, it’s a clear theme to derive. More than in the literal sense, however, Shinkai loves to communicate important, relatable issues through his films. Shinkai wants viewers to walk away from the film thinking about “how to close the many doors we left open.” We’re sure the film’s theme will stay with viewers as Shinkai intends, just as it has for his many other deeply personal stories.

“Suzume, a 17-year-old girl who lives in a quiet town in Kyushu, meets a young man on a journey “looking for doors.” Suzume follows him to a ruin to a dilapidated building in the mountains and finds a free-standing, undisturbed door t as if “it” alone were saved from devastation. Suzume feels drawn by an invisible power and reaches out to the door - Soon, doors all over Japan start opening one after another. The doors that opened must be closed to shut out calamity that lies on the other side. -Stars, sunset, and the morning sky. The places she wanders into have a sky where all hours of the day seem to blend together- Beckoned by the mysterious doors, Suzume’s “journey of closing doors” begins.”

Suzume no Tojimari: The Cast

     Toho

Suzume no Tojimari is a Japanese-animated film featuring a cast full of talented voice actors. Nanoka Hara, best known for her 2013’s Why Don’t You Play in Hell? will voice Suzume. Hokuto Matsumura from the live-action XxxHolic is cast as Sota Munakata. Eri Fukatsu (Bayside Shakedown, Parasyte), Koshiro Matsumoto (13 Assassins), and Shota Sometani (Belle, Parasyte) also star.

Everything Else We Know

Suzume no Tojimari is a highly anticipated film, especially following Makoto Shinkai’s success with Your Name and Weathering With You. There hasn’t been a new Shinkai film since 2019, and fans are excitedly waiting for this new installment in Shinkai’s filmography. Known for his beautiful animation and attention to detail, Shinkai’s work has amassed a large following in recent years.

Following the retirement of Ghibli’s Hayao Miyazaki, a few anime directors were lifted up as contenders to take his place in the world of Japanese animated cinema. For several years, it was uncertain whether Mamoru Hosoda, Makoto Shinkai, or another director like Naoko Yamada would become the next Hayao Miyazaki.

However, upon the sensational release of Shinkai’s Your Name in 2016, many people flocked to him as the next great anime director. In the years since, 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 with the famous director coming out of retirement for the third time, it’s clear no one will need 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 Tojimari when it releases internationally!

Release Date

Suzume no Tojimari will be released on November 11th, 2022, in Japan. It will release internationally in early 2023.