After an exceptional theatrical run, Makoto Shinkai's film "Suzume" concluded its journey in Japanese cinemas on Sunday, leaving a lasting impact on the all-time box office charts and Japanese film history.
By its final day of screening on May 28, "Suzume" amassed an impressive box office revenue of 14.79 billion yen, with over 11.15 million tickets sold, as reported by Kogyo Tsushin. This achievement positions "Suzume" as the 14th highest-grossing film in Japan, the 8th highest-grossing anime film in Japan, and the 17th most-watched film in Japanese theaters based on ticket sales.
Directed by Makoto Shinkai, who also co-wrote the screenplay, "Suzume" features character designs by Masayoshi Tanaka, animation direction by Kenichi Tsuchiya, and art direction by Takumi Tanji. The film is produced by CoMix Wave Films.
"Suzume" was released in Japan on November 11. In collaboration with Sony Pictures, Wild Bunch International, and Eurozoom, Crunchyroll brought the film to global audiences outside of Asia starting from April 12, 2023.
Crunchyroll provides the following description of the movie:
In a world devastated by various disasters, 17-year-old Suzume embarks on a coming-of-age journey to close the doors that bring destruction. Set in different disaster-stricken locations across Japan, Suzume's adventure begins in a quiet town in Kyushu. There, she encounters a young man who is in search of a door. Amidst the ruins, Suzume discovers a solitary weathered door standing upright, seemingly unaffected by the catastrophes that occurred. Compelled by its mysterious power, she reaches for the doorknob, triggering the opening of countless portals across Japan, unleashing chaos and devastation. Suzume must take on the task of closing these portals to prevent further disaster.
Within this realm of interconnected doors, where time merges and celestial bodies blend, Suzume faces unprecedented landscapes, encounters, and farewells. Her journey is filled with challenges, but through her resilience, she offers a glimmer of hope to those grappling with the constraints and anxieties of everyday life. As she strives to close the doors that bridge the past, present, and future, Suzume's adventure will leave an indelible mark on our hearts.
Enveloped by the enigma of these mysterious doors, Suzume's extraordinary journey is about to unfold.
By Parth Thapar
(The images used in this blog post are not owned by Anime Devta, they are just to help the readers)