Makoto Shinkai is back with another spectacular animated adventure that is full of fun, wonder and magic. Suzume no Tojimari, or simply Suzume, is a coming-of-age story following the tough and resilient Suzume, set in various disaster-stricken locations across Japan, where she must close the doors causing devastation. Anime fans across the UK and Ireland will be able to witness Shinkai’s latest visual triumph from April 14th, 2023.
Synopsis
On the other side of the door, was time in its entirety…
As the skies turn red and the earth trembles, Japan stands on the brink of disaster. But one determined teenager, Suzume, sets out on a mission to save her country. Able to see the supernatural forces that others can’t, it’s up to her to close the mysterious doors spreading chaos across the land. A perilous journey awaits as the fate of the country rests on her shoulders.
Review
Whenever you sign up to watch a film directed by Makoto Shinkai and animated by CoMix Wave Films, you know you’re in for something special. Suzume absolutely exceeded all expectations and along with Your Name and Weathering With You, Shinkai has produced the perfect trinity of anime features. All three films are unique in their own way, whether it’s based on their themes, their endeavour to explore the unknown, or purely based on the wonderful characters, they all have something that makes them shine and Suzume continues that tradition but on a much grander scale.
Special abilities and the unknown have become major influences in Shinkai’s work, and this time round Suzume presents us with a rich and more ancient mythology that carries a much larger weight. Those familiar elements are still there, but they feel incredibly new and way more intense. The stakes are much higher, and the threat is both omnipotent and forever present. That’s one of things that really separates this film, especially when compare to the likes of Your Name and Weathering With You. Suzume has a physical antagonist, as well as other obstacles. It was a remarkably refreshing change of pace, and it really opened the film up to some powerful modes of world building that hold the film together.
However, while the threat is indeed colossal, there’s something far more magical and powerful happening amongst the chaos. Suzume may be Shinkai’s biggest and most visually spectacular narratives, but it may also be his most emotional and meaninful. At its core, Suzume is a film about grief, loss, and opportunity. There is a lot of fun to be had despite those foreboding themes, but they play an integral part in building Suzume’s character and actually structuring the film’s metaphorical and phsyical meaning. Suzume’s role in this mythology is to open and close doors. With each new door, there are new negative forces that work against her, but there are also new experiences with new people. For Suzume, it almost acts as this journey of healing. She’s healing herself and the country… No pressure. It all revolves around this idea of opening new doors and closing old doors, and that manifests in a physical and emotional way.
Pain, love, loss and friendship are all keys that have the potential to open new doors to new paths.
What’s both strange and dumbfounding about Suzume is its ability to make the story flow seamlessly with a human protagonist and a chair. It really is an odd combination, but it is utter perfection. They share a kinetic bond that is charming and full of fun. Suzume, in a way, feels like a fish out of water. She’s an ordinary girl with her own life at school who is suddenly pulled into this ancient battle between the forces of good and evil. Then again, you could say the same for Souta, except his life is derailed in a completely unorthodox way. Two worlds collide and the results are hilarious and endearing. These two characters are polar opposities, yet they build each other up and eventually form a heartwarming relationship that suddenly becomes Japan’s only hope. It makes it sound like they’re two superheroes parading around Japan fighting crime, doesn’t it? It couldn’t be further from the truth…
What makes Shinkai’s main characters so compelling, and this applies to many of Shinkai’s features, is that while there are indeed elements of magic sprinkled in, the characters are incredibly grounded. They feel like real individuals that have emotions, memories, passions and goals. It also opens them up to flaws and vulnerabilities, and that’s something that Suzume excels in. Suzume and Souta are flawed characters, and that’s why you become instantly attached to them. You can relate to their own struggles and desires. We’ve felt their pain and anguish, but we’ve also felt their joy and fear. Shinkai is a master when it comes to presenting us with the weird and wonderful, but it’s impossible to ignore the heart and level of care that went into creating his characters.
As with any project created by Shinkai, Suzume is full of wonderful, charismatic and beautifully designed additional characters that add so much life to an already stunning story. This is Suzume and Souta’s story, but their journey has a bleeding effect that draws in others from all walks of life. Some characters have a fleeting presence, but despite only appearing for a short time their roles are utterly invaluable. They very much add to this concept of new doors and also ground the narrative from being a full-blown fantasy film. Those fantastical elements are imperative, but this is still a story that revolves around very real feelings and notions. These additional characters take us away from the threat and dread and provide us with some well-needed respite; and that’s something that Suzume desperately needs on her adventure.
It would be wrong to talk about a film such as Suzume without discussing the visuals. This film is absolutely magnificent. When it’s not throwing us into this ancient war against a Stranger Things-esque monster, it’s just beautiful to look at. We get to go on a journey through new environments and areas and we’re really given the opportunity to soak it all in, just as Suzume does. It has the artistic flair that helped Your Name shine and it goes that extra step further with some exhilerating and fluid sequences. If there’s anyone who could turn a chair into an expressive, fun and intense character it’s Shinkai and the magicians over at CoMix Wave Films. Suzume is a grand spectacle that has to be seen on the big screen in order to fully appreciate the scale, as well as the messages attached to it.
Verdict
Suzume is a beautiful and sweeping epic that is both action-packed and deeply emotional. Filled with enthralling animation, brilliant characters, and an outstanding soundtrack by Radwimps, Suzume is an instant hit that’ll have anime fans around the world gleaming with joy. Makoto Shinkai has delivered something truly special and unique, once again proving the power of animation.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Suzume will arrive in cinemas in the UK and Ireland from 14th April, 2023. You won’t want to miss Makoto Shinkai’s latest triumph, so be sure to book your tickets once they become available. For now, you can check out more anime news right here.
