SUZUME Press Notes and Image Gallery From Toho, Crunchyroll and Wild Bunch

Source: Toho Co., Ltd., Crunchyroll, Wild Bunch International
Official Sites: https://suzume-tojimari-movie.jp/ (Japan), https://www.suzume-movie.com// (United States)
Specia Thanks to Sarah Jarvis, Jessica Xie and Léa Renaudin

The following SUZUME (すずめの戸締まり, Suzume no Tojimari, 2022) images and text are taken from Japanese and English press materials provided by Toho, Crunchyroll and Wild Bunch International...

■ Introduction

SUZUME is the latest film from award-winning creator, writer and director Makoto Shinkai. Shinkaihas been a visionary in the animation space for decades, with the most recent films being YOUR NAME (君の名は。Kimi no Na wa, 2016) and WEATHERING WITH YOU (天気の子, Tenki no Ko, 2019), both of which have catapulted him as leading animation auteur with international viewers. The “Shinkai World” that weaves stories about youth with beautiful colors and unique music captivates many people across boundaries and generations.

SUZUME hit theaters this April on big screens globally and is distributed by Crunchyroll, in partnership with Sony Pictures Entertainment, Wild Bunch International and Eurozoom (excluding Asia). Last May during the Cannes Film Festival, Crunchyroll acquired the international distribution and marketing rights (excluding Asia) from Toho for the film produced by CoMix Wave Films and STORY inc.

“At its core, SUZUME is based on the massive disaster that occurred in Japan twelve years ago,” said Shinkai ahead of the film's international premiere this past February at the Berlin International Film Festival. “I'm eager to see how this film translates to international audiences: what makes sense, what doesn't, and what common ground we have across cultures. The film's imminent international release will hopefully give me the answer to those questions. And, I cannot thank our team members enough for their unprecedented talent and perseverance throughout the film's production. On behalf of the entire team, I would also like to give thanks to all the fans who have cheered us on, making SUZUME possible.”

■ Film Synopsis

On the other side of the door, was time in its entirety—

SUZUME is a coming-of-age story for the 17-year-old protagonist, Suzume, set in various disaster-stricken locations across Japan, where she must close the doors causing devastation.

Suzume’s journey begins in a quiet town in Kyushu (located in southwestern Japan) when she encounters a young man who tells her, “I’m looking for a door.” What Suzume finds is a single weathered door standing upright in the midst of ruins as though it was shielded from whatever catastrophe struck. Seemingly drawn by its power, Suzume reaches for the knob… Doors begin to open one after another all across Japan, unleashing destruction upon any who are near. Suzume must close these portals to prevent further disaster.

—The stars, then sunset, and the morning sky.

Within that realm, it was as though all time had melted together in the sky…

Never-before-seen scenery, encounters and farewells… A myriad of challenges await her on her journey. Despite all the obstacles in her way, Suzume’s adventure shines a ray of hope upon our own struggles against the toughest roads of anxiety and constraints that make up everyday life. This story of closing doors that connect our past to the present and future will leave a lasting impression upon all of our hearts.

Drawn in by these mysterious doors, Suzume’s journey is about to begin.

■ Original Story / Screenplay / Director: Makoto Shinkai

Born in 1973 in Nagano Prefecture. Makoto Shinkai made his commercial debut in 2002 with his self-produced short film THE VOICES OF A DISTANT STAR.

Subsequent highly acclaimed works include his first full-length feature film, THE PLACE PROMISED IN OUR EARLY DAYS (雲のむこう、約束の場所, Kumo no Mukō, Yakusoku no Basho, 2004) which won Best Animated Film at the 59th Mainichi Film Concours, 5 CENTIMETERS PER SECOND (秒速5センチメートル, Byōsoku Go-Senchimētoru, 2007) which won Best Animated Feature Film at the Asia Pacific Screen Awards, CHILDREN WHO CHASE LOST VOICES (星を追う子ども, Hoshi o Ou Kodomo, 2011) which won the Golden Monkey King Award at the 8th annual China International Cartoon and Animation Festival and THE GARDEN OF WORDS (言の葉の庭, Kotonoha no Niwa, 2013) which won the Best Animated Feature Film at the Stuttgart International Festival of Animated Film in Germany.

More recently, his 2016 film YOUR NAME became an international sensation and social phenomenon, smashing Japanese box office records, winning several awards at the 40th Japan Academy Film Prize, including Excellent Prize for Animation Film, Excellent Prize for Director (Makoto Shinkai), Excellent Prize for Screenplay (Makoto Shinkai) and Excellent Prize for Music (RADWIMPS), as well as the 42nd Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Feature.

Makoto was quick to follow up that success with his 2019 picture, WEATHERING WITH YOU, which represented Japan for the Best International Feature Film in the 92nd Academy Awards. Furthermore, in India, over 50,000 signatures collected from fans prompted WEATHERING WITH YOU to be the first original Japanese animated feature to show in theaters in India.

■ Credits

Voice Cast
Suzume Iwato: Nanoha Hara
Souta Munakata: Hokuto Matsumura
Tamaki Iwato: Eri Fukatsu
Minoru Okabe: Shota Sometani
Rumi Ninomiya: Sairi Ito
Chika Amabe: Kotone Hanase
Tsubame Iwato: Kana Hanazawa
Tomoya Serizawa: Ryunosuke Kamiki
Hitsujiro Munakata: Matsumoto Hakuo
Daijin: Ann Yamane

Original Story / Screenplay / Director: Makoto Shinkai<
Producers: Koichiro Ito, Genki Kawamura
Executive Producers: Noritaka Kawaguchi, Yoshihiro Furusawa
Co-Producers: Wakana Okamura, Kinue Ito
Character Design: Masayoshi Tanaka
Animation Director: Kenichi Tsuchiya
Art Director: Takumi Tanji
Music: Kazuma Jinnouchi, RADWIMPS

Produced by: CoMix Wave Films, STORY inc., Toho
Production Studio: CoMix Wave Films
Distribution: Toho Co., Ltd. (Japan), Crunchyroll, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Wild Bunch International and Eurozoom (International)
Release Date: November 11, 2022 (Japan), April 14, 2023 (United States)

About Crunchyroll

Crunchyroll, LLC is an independently operated joint venture between US-based Sony Pictures Entertainment, and Japan’s Aniplex, a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) Inc., both subsidiaries of Tokyo-based Sony Group.

Films distributed and marketed by Crunchyroll – domestically and internationally – have a proven track record of both box office and critical success. Crunchyroll’s theatrical team has been behind 10 of the Top 20 best-performing anime films in U.S. box office history, including JUJUTSU KAISEN 0. Not only have Crunchyroll films seen box office success, but have also been recognized with numerous awards accolades and been accepted and screened at international film festivals around the globe.

About Sony Pictures Entertainment

Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) is a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Group Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production, acquisition, and distribution; television production, acquisition, and distribution; television networks; digital content creation and distribution; operation of studio facilities; and development of new entertainment products, services and technologies. Sony Pictures Television operates dozens of wholly-owned or joint-venture production companies around the world. SPE’s Motion Picture Group production organizations include Columbia Pictures, Screen Gems, TriStar Pictures, 3000 Pictures, Sony Pictures Animation, Stage 6 Films, AFFIRM Films, Sony Pictures International Productions, and Sony Pictures Classics. For additional information, visit http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/divisions.html

About Wild Bunch International

Based in Paris, Wild Bunch International (“WBI”), is a world-renowned independent film sales company that secures distribution for over 30 films per year. Led by veteran film executive Vincent Maraval, WBI pioneered the independent foreign sales model as it exists today, cultivating relationships with the highest caliber of filmmakers and a brand that is recognized for critical and commercial success alike. Characterized by its diverse and innovative slate of films from all over the world, WBI's strength for the past decade has been investing not only in European local language box office hits such as THE ARTIST, but also in English and foreign language films which have won countless awards - SPIRITED AWAY, BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR, THE WRESTLER, SHOPLIFTERS, TITANE and HAPPENING to name a few. In 2021, WBI partnered with Gebeka, a French distribution company, to create a specialty division dedicated to animation, Gebeka International.

About Eurozoom

Based in Paris, Eurozoom is the company responsible for the theatrical rise of Japanese animation in France. Praised for its critical and commercial success by French press and professionals, Eurozoom has developed a very strong fan base among the French anime audience thanks to an extensive collaboration with major Japanese companies and studios.

About CoMix Wave Films

CoMix Wave Films (CWF), a Japanese animation studio and the production company for all of the Makoto Shinkai films. CWF began in creative contracting and currently engages in animated movie production, distribution and package sales as well as overseas sales. The company staffs each position with a small number of highly skilled people, hoping to create works that both fully display its creators' abilities and stand the test of time – its mission: to work with imaginative artists and deliver heartfelt works to the world.

About STORY inc.

STORY inc. is a film production company founded by Yoshihiro Furusawa and Genki Kawamura, the producers of the animated feature YOUR NAME.

STORY inc. develops and produces films with compelling story in association with Makoto Shinkai and CoMix Wave Films Inc., respectively the director and the production company of YOUR NAME., and other talented creators/productions. In addition to SUZUME, STORY inc. produced the Netflix series drama THE MAKANAI: COOKING FOR THE MAIKO HOUSE with director Hirokazu Kore-eda.

About TOHO Co., Ltd.

TOHO Company, Limited, is a Japanese entertainment studio focused on the development, production, exhibition, and distribution of powerful content for motion pictures, television, and theater. Founded in 1932, it remains a prominent force in bringing brands and original storytelling with versatile talents to audiences worldwide. Its subsidiaries include TOHO Cinemas, the highest grossing exhibition company in Japan.