Review: Is ‘Suzume no Tojimari’ Shinkai’s New Masterpiece?

Makoto Shinkai’s ‘Suzume no Tojimari,’ which recently premiered in Japan, has become a hot issue among otakus. As the sequel of a global smash blockbuster like ‘Your Name,’ the film was saddled with enormous expectations.

In terms of box office success, the film has done exceptionally well, taking the top spot on its debut weekend. But we’re here to tell you what to expect and why we think ‘Suzume no Tojimari’ is Shinkai’s next masterpiece.

The trailer makes it clear from the start that this is a traditional Shinkai film set in a non-metropolitan area of Japan. The water in the distance, Suzume riding her bike down a slope, and a strange melody in the background all add to our intrigue.

The film, like ‘Your Name,’ might depict numerous features of a small port town and how it differs from a relatively modern area like Tokyo. Not to mention Suzume’s local dialect and impulsive nerve to seek trouble give her strong Mitsuha vibes.

Of course, there’s Souta, the male lead, but unlike other Shinkai heroes, he’s not ignorant of the film’s magical phenomena. Instead, he is the one who informs Suzume about it and assists her in making things right.

A supernatural opponent is another new addition to ‘Suzume no Tojimari,’ something we haven’t seen in past Shinkai flicks. In this film, we meet Daijin, a cat-like entity who turns Souta into a chair and is pleased with the damage taking place in Japan.

Furthermore, we learn that the happy-go-lucky Suzume is carrying a prior trauma inside her. It is revealed that she was a victim of the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake, which took her mother’s life.

Suzume had closed her heart to everyone because she had suffered a great loss and saw such sorrow at such a young age. As a result, she never developed meaningful relationships with anyone, including her aunt, until Soura entered her life.

The images and soundtrack are excellent, as they always are. When it comes to the Shinkai-RADWIMPS duo, you can’t expect anything less than perfection and goosebumps.

The film focuses heavily on combating inner demons while removing those that threaten humanity’s survival. Suzume understands that her childhood trauma is shared by many people in Japan and learns to open up about it.

Never be hesitant to speak out to Suzume if you share her feelings. I can promise you that you are not alone, and this film will show you that.

Shinkai has created another another masterpiece that can move anyone to tears.

Never be hesitant to speak out to Suzume if you share her feelings. I can promise you that you are not alone, and this film will show you that.

Shinkai has created another another masterpiece that can move anyone to tears.

Suzume no Tojimari’s Background

Makoto Shinkai directed the anime film Suzume no Tojimari. It is scheduled to launch on November 11, 2022.

Suzume, a 17-year-old girl, meets a young man hunting for a door in the film. Suzume discovers a peculiar door among the ruins and opens it, but as a result, more doors begin to open throughout Japan, creating tragedies. Suzume must now close all of them in order to preserve Japan.

Source: Suzume no Tojimari 

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