CoMix Wave Films (Cwf), the animation studio behind such films as Your Name. (2016) and Suzume (2022), produced the short anime movie Hatsukoi no Nioi ( The Smell of First Love ), directed by up-and-coming animator Maho Takagi . Takagi has participated in many popular anime works, including Weathering With You (2019), Ssss.Dynazenon (2020), Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time (2021), and Suzume . Hatsukoi no Nioi is her directorial debut work. The sweet, but bitter tale of first love reminded by the smell of a scarf, featuring a newly-written song of the same name by singer-songwriter Sakura Fujiwara , is now streaming on her official YouTube channel . The project started with using animation to express the coquettish charm of women as portrayed by Director Takagi. Since a life-size song to accompany the girl was essential to the story, Takagi offered Sakura Fujiwara to create the song as her ideal singing voice. Takagi had always been a big fan of Fujiwara.
- 5/20/2024
- by Mikikazu Komatsu
- Crunchyroll
Tokyo, Japan – Comics Wave Film (Cwf), the acclaimed animation studio behind hits like “Your Name” and “Suzume no Tojimari,” proudly announces the release of “First Love’s Fragrance,” a short animation directed by the up-and-coming animator Asaho Takagi. This film, set to premiere on May 20th, features an original song by renowned singer-songwriter Sakura Fujiwara.
A New Talent Emerges
Asaho Takagi, known for her work on popular animations, steps into the director’s chair for the first time with “First Love’s Fragrance.” The story, woven around the bittersweet memories evoked by the scent of a scarf, is brought to life through Takagi’s unique artistic vision. The animation promises to capture the coquettish charm of its female protagonist, a theme central to Takagi’s creative direction.
A Collaboration of Visuals and Melody
The creation of “First Love’s Fragrance” was a collaborative effort between Takagi and Fujiwara, whose music...
A New Talent Emerges
Asaho Takagi, known for her work on popular animations, steps into the director’s chair for the first time with “First Love’s Fragrance.” The story, woven around the bittersweet memories evoked by the scent of a scarf, is brought to life through Takagi’s unique artistic vision. The animation promises to capture the coquettish charm of its female protagonist, a theme central to Takagi’s creative direction.
A Collaboration of Visuals and Melody
The creation of “First Love’s Fragrance” was a collaborative effort between Takagi and Fujiwara, whose music...
- 5/19/2024
- by Jun Satō
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
New York, NY (4/26/24) – Yen Audio announced the upcoming audiobook adaptations of That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime and Weathering With You. These iconic Yen On properties are a welcome addition to the Yen Audio catalog, one which has been known to feature hit anime tie-in properties, such as Solo Leveling, as well as celebrated works of Japanese fiction, such as The Miracles of the Namiya General Store.
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Story by Fuse
Lonely thirty-seven-year-old Satoru Mikami is stuck in a dead-end job, unhappy with his mundane life, but after dying at the hands of a robber, he awakens to a fresh start in a fantasy realm…as a slime monster! As he acclimates to his goopy new existence, his exploits with the other monsters set off a chain of events that will change his new world forever!
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime...
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime
Story by Fuse
Lonely thirty-seven-year-old Satoru Mikami is stuck in a dead-end job, unhappy with his mundane life, but after dying at the hands of a robber, he awakens to a fresh start in a fantasy realm…as a slime monster! As he acclimates to his goopy new existence, his exploits with the other monsters set off a chain of events that will change his new world forever!
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime...
- 4/30/2024
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Following the recent earthquakes in Japan, Shinkai’s Suzume no Tojimari anime film has managed to spark comparisons to the long-running American animated series, The Simpsons, which has gained cult following for its supposed ability to predict future events.
In the movie, Suzume, the titular character, begins her journey from Kyushu Island before visiting Ehime prefecture, as she chased a mischievous Daijin along with Souta, who had turned into a chair. Surprisingly, the 6.6 magnitude earthquake which hit Japan on April 17, 2024, stuck these two cities in same order of Suzume’s journey.
The peculiar coincidence was brought to light by a Twitter user who noticed a striking correlation between the seismic activity and the protagonist’s journey in the film. Posting two earthquake epicentral maps alongside screenshots from the movie, the user pointed out how the earthquakes occurred in the same order as the protagonist’s visit to the two cities.
In the movie, Suzume, the titular character, begins her journey from Kyushu Island before visiting Ehime prefecture, as she chased a mischievous Daijin along with Souta, who had turned into a chair. Surprisingly, the 6.6 magnitude earthquake which hit Japan on April 17, 2024, stuck these two cities in same order of Suzume’s journey.
The peculiar coincidence was brought to light by a Twitter user who noticed a striking correlation between the seismic activity and the protagonist’s journey in the film. Posting two earthquake epicentral maps alongside screenshots from the movie, the user pointed out how the earthquakes occurred in the same order as the protagonist’s visit to the two cities.
- 4/30/2024
- by Ami Nazru
- AnimeHunch
North American publisher Yen Press came through with a bunch of new license announcements today, including a fresh batch of manga, light novels and audiobooks. Some of the highlights include the Lycoris Recoil manga, the Is the Order a Rabbit? manga and audiobooks for That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime and Weathering With You . See what's on the way next in the full slate below. Weathering With You Audiobook Synopsis: Longing to escape his island home, Hodaka runs away to Tokyo, where he meets Hina, a girl who holds a mysterious power: she can control the weather. From director Makoto Shinkai comes the novel adaptation of the hit animated film! That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime Audiobook Synopsis: After dying at the hands of a robber, Satoru Mikami awakens in a fantasy realm...as a slime! As he acclimates to this new existence, his exploits set...
- 4/27/2024
- by Joseph Luster
- Crunchyroll
US outfit Gkids has partnered with the UK’s Anime Ltd. to secure international rights to The Colors Within, the highly anticipated anime feature directed by Naoko Yamada.
It was revealed today that the upcoming feature will receive its world premiere in competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 9-15).
The two companies secured the rights – which exclude Asia, the Middle East and North Africa – from Japan’s Story Inc. and have appointed Paris-based Charades to handle sales for select territories.
Gkids has rights for North America, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand. Anime Ltd. has rights for the UK,...
It was revealed today that the upcoming feature will receive its world premiere in competition at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival (June 9-15).
The two companies secured the rights – which exclude Asia, the Middle East and North Africa – from Japan’s Story Inc. and have appointed Paris-based Charades to handle sales for select territories.
Gkids has rights for North America, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand. Anime Ltd. has rights for the UK,...
- 4/25/2024
- ScreenDaily
As part of the 2025 Oscar rule changes for the 97th Academy Awards, animated movies can be simultaneously submitted for Best International Feature and Best Animated Feature. This will simplify the qualifying method for the latter and specifically help animated international films that may not have access to U.S. distribution.
“Previously, animated movies selected as a country’s international feature selection [which do not require U.S. theatrical distribution] were not qualified to enter for animated feature consideration unless they also met the qualifying standards for general entry [which require U.S. theatrical distribution],” an Academy insider told IndieWire.
“This consisted of separate submission forms. Submitters will still need to complete different forms, but now animated movies selected as a country’s international feature selection no longer need to meet general entry standards to be considered for the Animated Feature award. They would, however, still need to be ruled eligible under the Academy’s definition of ‘animation.'”
Two examples of animated international feature...
“Previously, animated movies selected as a country’s international feature selection [which do not require U.S. theatrical distribution] were not qualified to enter for animated feature consideration unless they also met the qualifying standards for general entry [which require U.S. theatrical distribution],” an Academy insider told IndieWire.
“This consisted of separate submission forms. Submitters will still need to complete different forms, but now animated movies selected as a country’s international feature selection no longer need to meet general entry standards to be considered for the Animated Feature award. They would, however, still need to be ruled eligible under the Academy’s definition of ‘animation.'”
Two examples of animated international feature...
- 4/23/2024
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
Of all the American streaming services, Netflix is the one that relies most heavily on international projects. Its most critically and popularly acclaimed films and series are regularly projects originating in Europe, K- and J-dramas streamed on Netflix receive high ratings on review aggregators, and, of course, the company is betting big on anime.
Japanese animation arrived on the service in 2014, when Knights of Sidonia was announced as Netflix's first 'original' anime series, followed by many other original and licensed, failed and successful projects, as well as live-action adaptations from Death Note to One Piece, and now, 10 years later, the Netflix series Delicious in Dungeon has a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
On that note, the huge deal was the April 5 addition to Netflix's library of the feature-length anime film Suzume by renowned Japanese filmmaker Makoto Shinkai. The film received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike during its theatrical release,...
Japanese animation arrived on the service in 2014, when Knights of Sidonia was announced as Netflix's first 'original' anime series, followed by many other original and licensed, failed and successful projects, as well as live-action adaptations from Death Note to One Piece, and now, 10 years later, the Netflix series Delicious in Dungeon has a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
On that note, the huge deal was the April 5 addition to Netflix's library of the feature-length anime film Suzume by renowned Japanese filmmaker Makoto Shinkai. The film received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike during its theatrical release,...
- 4/23/2024
- by louise.everitt@startefacts.com (Louise Everitt)
- STartefacts.com
Following a delay from its original Fall 2023 window, upcoming anime film Kimi no Iro ( Your Colors ) today announced a new premiere date of August 30, 2024 in Japan with the release of a special trailer and visual. A cast list stacked with newcomers was also revealed, including Sayu Suzukawa as Totsuko Higurashi, Akari Takaishi as Kimi Sakunaga, Taisei Kido as Louis Kagehira and Yui Aragaki as Sister Hiyoko, who are all introduced in the trailer below. 'Color' Visual Naoko Yamada helms the film as director and original creator at studio Science Saru, with a script by Reiko Yoshida ( Liz and the Blue Bird ), soundtrack by Kensuke Ushio ( The Heike Story ) and daisukerichard's original character designs adapted for animation by Takashi Kojima ( Ride Your Wave ), who also serves as animation director. Story inc., which has worked with Makoto Shinkai since Weathering With You , is planning and producing the film with Toho distributing the film in Japan.
- 3/18/2024
- by Liam Dempsey
- Crunchyroll
The Japanese media industry was surprised recently when Koichiro Ito, the producer of the fantasy adventure anime movie Suzume, was arrested in Japan for allegedly compelling a teenage girl to send him pictures that were inappropriate on social media. At the time, the girl was fifteen years old and in her first year of high school.
Suzume
He is charged with forcing a high school student who was to send him photos of herself wearing only her underwear after they met on an online social networking site (Sns). It appears that his purported involvement in the affair has surfaced in the course of the police inquiry into a related crime. The rest of the details about the case will be revealed in the future.
He worked on and contributed to a number of notable anime productions, but his most well-known works include Suzume, Your Name, and The Garden of Words.
Suzume
He is charged with forcing a high school student who was to send him photos of herself wearing only her underwear after they met on an online social networking site (Sns). It appears that his purported involvement in the affair has surfaced in the course of the police inquiry into a related crime. The rest of the details about the case will be revealed in the future.
He worked on and contributed to a number of notable anime productions, but his most well-known works include Suzume, Your Name, and The Garden of Words.
- 2/26/2024
- by Tarun Kohli
- FandomWire
A producer involved in some of Japan’s highest-grossing anime blockbusters was arrested in Tokyo this week on suspicion of creating child pornography.
Koichiro Ito, 52, stands accused of coercing a 15-year-old girl he met over social media into sending him nude selfies in September 2021, Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported Thursday. According to another report from leading Tokyo broadcaster TBS, Ito transferred 12,500 yen (about $85) to the girl in exchange for the photos, violating Japan’s Child Prostitution and Pornography Prohibition Act. He was taken into custody near his home in Tokyo’s Shibuya ward Wednesday.
Ito’s arrest has sent shock waves through Japan’s insular anime industry. The executive has anime credits dating back nearly 20 years, and he was the lead producer on anime auteur Makoto Shinkai’s globally beloved recent blockbusters, including Your Name (2016, $358 million worldwide), Weathering With You (2019, $193 million) and Suzume (2022, $323.3 million).
According to Japan’s public broadcaster Nhk,...
Koichiro Ito, 52, stands accused of coercing a 15-year-old girl he met over social media into sending him nude selfies in September 2021, Japan’s Mainichi Shimbun newspaper reported Thursday. According to another report from leading Tokyo broadcaster TBS, Ito transferred 12,500 yen (about $85) to the girl in exchange for the photos, violating Japan’s Child Prostitution and Pornography Prohibition Act. He was taken into custody near his home in Tokyo’s Shibuya ward Wednesday.
Ito’s arrest has sent shock waves through Japan’s insular anime industry. The executive has anime credits dating back nearly 20 years, and he was the lead producer on anime auteur Makoto Shinkai’s globally beloved recent blockbusters, including Your Name (2016, $358 million worldwide), Weathering With You (2019, $193 million) and Suzume (2022, $323.3 million).
According to Japan’s public broadcaster Nhk,...
- 2/23/2024
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Japanese fantasy adventure anime movie Suzume’s producer Koichiro Ito was arrested in Japan for allegedly forcing a teenage girl to send him n*ked pictures on social media.
According to Tellerreport Ito, the individual in charge of a production company in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, was arrested and charged by Wakayama Prefectural Police with allegedly facilitating child pr-stitution and p*rnography involving underage girls.
Suzume
He is accused of allegedly pressuring a high school student he met on an internet social networking site (Sns) to send him pictures of herself in her underwear. The prefectural police are looking into the potential existence of other victims.
He worked on and contributed to numerous very important anime productions, although he has become best known for Suzume (2022), Your Name (2016), and The Garden of Words (2013). It seems that his involvement came to light when the Police were looking into a different case.
SUGGESTEDDragon Ball:...
According to Tellerreport Ito, the individual in charge of a production company in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, was arrested and charged by Wakayama Prefectural Police with allegedly facilitating child pr-stitution and p*rnography involving underage girls.
Suzume
He is accused of allegedly pressuring a high school student he met on an internet social networking site (Sns) to send him pictures of herself in her underwear. The prefectural police are looking into the potential existence of other victims.
He worked on and contributed to numerous very important anime productions, although he has become best known for Suzume (2022), Your Name (2016), and The Garden of Words (2013). It seems that his involvement came to light when the Police were looking into a different case.
SUGGESTEDDragon Ball:...
- 2/22/2024
- by Tarun Kohli
- FandomWire
The Wakayama Prefectural Police arrested 52-year-old Koichiro Itou, the producer who is well known for producing Your Name (Kimi no Nawa) movie on Feb 21, 2024 on suspicion of violating the Child Prostitution & Pornography Law Japan.
According to the police, Itou coerced a 15-year-old high school girl from Nagano who he met on an Sns platform to send her nude selfies, even though he was aware that she was a minor. This incident occurred in September 2021 and the producer is even suspected of offering 12,500 yen in cash in order to get the images.
Itou’s actions came to light when the cops were looking into another child prostitution case.
Itou admitted to the charge, however he stated he “cannot remember if it was this girl” because he had similar exchanges with others.
The police are further investigating this matter to find out if there were more victims as more images & videos were found in his possession.
According to the police, Itou coerced a 15-year-old high school girl from Nagano who he met on an Sns platform to send her nude selfies, even though he was aware that she was a minor. This incident occurred in September 2021 and the producer is even suspected of offering 12,500 yen in cash in order to get the images.
Itou’s actions came to light when the cops were looking into another child prostitution case.
Itou admitted to the charge, however he stated he “cannot remember if it was this girl” because he had similar exchanges with others.
The police are further investigating this matter to find out if there were more victims as more images & videos were found in his possession.
- 2/22/2024
- by A.R. Madillo
- AnimeHunch
The renowned Japanese rock band Radwimps, known for their soundtracks in Your Name, Weathering with You, and Suzume, is all set to make their way to Latin America with their upcoming Radwimps World Tour 2024, titled “The Way You Yawn, And the Outcry of Peace“.
The tour to Latin America comes on the back of the sold-out tours in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
The tour is powered by Crunchyroll, and fans can secure their spots early with the official Crunchyroll presale, set to go live on Jan 10, 2024, at 7 a.m. Pst.
The highly anticipated Latin America tour kicks off on March 15, 2024, and is scheduled to wrap up on March 24, 2024.
Checkout the dates and cities for the Radwimps Latin America Tour 2024 below:
DateCityVenueMarch 15, 2024 Ciudad de MexicoPepsi Center WTCMarch 17, 2024MonterreyAuditorio CitibanamexMarch 21, 2024Sao PauloTerra SPMarch 24, 2024SantiagoCaupolican Theatre
Source: Radwimps’ Official Website, Crunchyroll...
The tour to Latin America comes on the back of the sold-out tours in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.
The tour is powered by Crunchyroll, and fans can secure their spots early with the official Crunchyroll presale, set to go live on Jan 10, 2024, at 7 a.m. Pst.
The highly anticipated Latin America tour kicks off on March 15, 2024, and is scheduled to wrap up on March 24, 2024.
Checkout the dates and cities for the Radwimps Latin America Tour 2024 below:
DateCityVenueMarch 15, 2024 Ciudad de MexicoPepsi Center WTCMarch 17, 2024MonterreyAuditorio CitibanamexMarch 21, 2024Sao PauloTerra SPMarch 24, 2024SantiagoCaupolican Theatre
Source: Radwimps’ Official Website, Crunchyroll...
- 1/9/2024
- by Ami Nazru
- AnimeHunch
“Seventeen-year-old Suzume lives with her aunt in a quiet port town in Kyushu. One day, on her way to school, she runs into a young man searching for something and follows him to a ruin in the hills. But inside, all she finds is a single white door among the rubble. As if pulled by an invisible force, she reaches out to open it…and begins an epic journey across Japan connecting the past, present, and future.”
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
Yen Press's continued commitment to bringing the novelizations of acclaimed filmmaker Makoto Shinkai to print in hardcover has proved to be a welcome addition to the fandom. “Suzume” adds to the already expansive catalog, including “Your Name,” ” Weathering With You,” and “5 Centimeters Per Second.” Much like all the previous novelizations, “Suzume” triumphs in expanding on the story while still carrying a...
on Amazon by clicking on the image below
Yen Press's continued commitment to bringing the novelizations of acclaimed filmmaker Makoto Shinkai to print in hardcover has proved to be a welcome addition to the fandom. “Suzume” adds to the already expansive catalog, including “Your Name,” ” Weathering With You,” and “5 Centimeters Per Second.” Much like all the previous novelizations, “Suzume” triumphs in expanding on the story while still carrying a...
- 1/5/2024
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Toho’s acclaimed blockbuster set to open in over 400 cinema, IMAX, 4Dx, Screen X and Dolby Cinema screens following record-breaking US debut and popular demand.
©2023 Toho Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.
★★★★★
Jack Bottomley, Starburst
★★★★
Neil Smith, Total Film
★★★★
Phil De Semlyen, Time Out
The movie everybody’s talking about is finally hitting the big screen this Friday! Following incredible popular demand, Anime Limited and Toho Co. Ltd. are excited to announce that the UK and Ireland theatrical release of Godzilla Minus One has expanded to over 400 cinemas, IMAX, ScreenX and 4Dx screens from 15th December 2023.
“A gargantuan and resonant epic” according to Neil Smith of Total Film, Godzilla Minus One broke box office records on release stateside – earning over $25 million in its first 10 days of release to become the all-time highest grossing Japanese live-action film in North America. The highly anticipated film has also received a rapturous response from critics,...
©2023 Toho Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.
★★★★★
Jack Bottomley, Starburst
★★★★
Neil Smith, Total Film
★★★★
Phil De Semlyen, Time Out
The movie everybody’s talking about is finally hitting the big screen this Friday! Following incredible popular demand, Anime Limited and Toho Co. Ltd. are excited to announce that the UK and Ireland theatrical release of Godzilla Minus One has expanded to over 400 cinemas, IMAX, ScreenX and 4Dx screens from 15th December 2023.
“A gargantuan and resonant epic” according to Neil Smith of Total Film, Godzilla Minus One broke box office records on release stateside – earning over $25 million in its first 10 days of release to become the all-time highest grossing Japanese live-action film in North America. The highly anticipated film has also received a rapturous response from critics,...
- 12/13/2023
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
Acclaimed filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki earned his first Golden Globe Award nomination on the strength of his semi-autobiographical fantasy film The Boy and the Heron, capping a big week for the film that this weekend opened to a record-breaking $12.8 million, becoming the first original anime title in history to top the North American box office.
The Boy and the Heron was nominated for the animated feature Golden Globe alongside Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Elemental, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Suzume and Wish. Both The Boy and the Heron and Spider-Verse received additional nominations for original motion picture score.
A year after Netflix won the animated feature Golden Globe for the first time, for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, the streamer was shut of out this year’s race despite a slate of contenders that included Nimona, the fantasy based on the graphic novel by Nd Stevenson; Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget...
The Boy and the Heron was nominated for the animated feature Golden Globe alongside Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Elemental, The Super Mario Bros. Movie, Suzume and Wish. Both The Boy and the Heron and Spider-Verse received additional nominations for original motion picture score.
A year after Netflix won the animated feature Golden Globe for the first time, for Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, the streamer was shut of out this year’s race despite a slate of contenders that included Nimona, the fantasy based on the graphic novel by Nd Stevenson; Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget...
- 12/11/2023
- by Carolyn Giardina
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Cinema’s most iconic monster returns to its post-war roots with Toho’s latest kaiju blockbuster – in cinemas, IMAX and 4Dx nationwide from 15th December 2023
©2023 Toho Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.
Almost seventy-years after the King of Monsters first towered over cinema screens and established itself as a cultural icon of Japan, Godzilla is back! Anime Limited and Toho Co., Ltd are excited to announce that Godzilla Minus One will soon be rampaging in your city, with a release exclusively in cinemas across the United Kingdom and Ireland from 15th December 2023.
The latest film in Toho’s classic series, Godzilla Minus One was crafted to be the most terrifying incarnation of the character yet, returning the franchise to its postwar roots with a Japan gripped by the helplessness of having already lost everything before this new, monstrous threat emerges. When despair is piled on top of despair, will the people be able to survive,...
©2023 Toho Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.
Almost seventy-years after the King of Monsters first towered over cinema screens and established itself as a cultural icon of Japan, Godzilla is back! Anime Limited and Toho Co., Ltd are excited to announce that Godzilla Minus One will soon be rampaging in your city, with a release exclusively in cinemas across the United Kingdom and Ireland from 15th December 2023.
The latest film in Toho’s classic series, Godzilla Minus One was crafted to be the most terrifying incarnation of the character yet, returning the franchise to its postwar roots with a Japan gripped by the helplessness of having already lost everything before this new, monstrous threat emerges. When despair is piled on top of despair, will the people be able to survive,...
- 12/9/2023
- by Peter 'Witchfinder' Hopkins
- Horror Asylum
This post contains spoilers for "Suzume."
Makoto Shinkai is one of the most popular filmmakers that some Americans may not know about. Three of the director's films — the animated fantasy-dramas "Your Name," "Weathering With You," and his latest, "Suzume" — are among the ten highest-grossing Japanese films in history, and each tell stories of young people in intensely emotional, strange situations, like switching bodies, controlling the weather, and preventing natural disasters using magic.
"Suzume," now on Crunchyroll, tells the story of a young girl who accidentally opens a door and unleashes a giant worm that only she and a college student, Souta, can see. If it escapes completely, the worm will cause a gigantic earthquake, so they have to close the door and seal it away as fast as they can. But when Daijin, the keystone that keeps the gate shut, leaves its post and takes the form of a cat,...
Makoto Shinkai is one of the most popular filmmakers that some Americans may not know about. Three of the director's films — the animated fantasy-dramas "Your Name," "Weathering With You," and his latest, "Suzume" — are among the ten highest-grossing Japanese films in history, and each tell stories of young people in intensely emotional, strange situations, like switching bodies, controlling the weather, and preventing natural disasters using magic.
"Suzume," now on Crunchyroll, tells the story of a young girl who accidentally opens a door and unleashes a giant worm that only she and a college student, Souta, can see. If it escapes completely, the worm will cause a gigantic earthquake, so they have to close the door and seal it away as fast as they can. But when Daijin, the keystone that keeps the gate shut, leaves its post and takes the form of a cat,...
- 12/2/2023
- by William Bibbiani
- Slash Film
Culver City, California, November 3, 2023 – Crunchyroll announced today a special one-day-only private pop-up installation exploring the complete works of celebrated Japanese animation filmmaker Makoto Shinkai.
Makoto Shinkai: A Journey from “Voices of a Distant Star” through “Suzume” presented by Crunchyroll, in cooperation with CoMix Wave Film, Story, inc, and Toho Co., Ltd., will be held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Sunday, November 19, and will feature a special appearance by the award-winning auteur director.
Makoto Shinkai: A Journey from “Voices of a Distant Star” through “Suzume” is organized by Crunchyroll, in cooperation with CoMix Wave Film, Story, inc, and Toho Co., Ltd., and will present artwork and materials from eight of Makoto Shinkai's cinematic masterpieces, starting with “Voices of a Distant Star” (2002) through his latest critically acclaimed film “Suzume” (2023). Guests of the event will be treated to not only his creative process – from initial proposals and early sketches to design,...
Makoto Shinkai: A Journey from “Voices of a Distant Star” through “Suzume” presented by Crunchyroll, in cooperation with CoMix Wave Film, Story, inc, and Toho Co., Ltd., will be held at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Sunday, November 19, and will feature a special appearance by the award-winning auteur director.
Makoto Shinkai: A Journey from “Voices of a Distant Star” through “Suzume” is organized by Crunchyroll, in cooperation with CoMix Wave Film, Story, inc, and Toho Co., Ltd., and will present artwork and materials from eight of Makoto Shinkai's cinematic masterpieces, starting with “Voices of a Distant Star” (2002) through his latest critically acclaimed film “Suzume” (2023). Guests of the event will be treated to not only his creative process – from initial proposals and early sketches to design,...
- 11/5/2023
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Exclusive: Crunchyroll is rolling out a one-day-only private pop-up installation “Makoto Shinkai: A Journey from Voices of a Distant Star through Suzume,” which will explore the complete works of Japanese animation filmmaker Makoto Shinkai.
The event from Crunchyroll in cooperation with CoMix Wave Film, Story Inc and Toho Co. will be held November 19 at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and will feature a special appearance by the award-winning auteur director.
The installation will present artwork and materials from eight of Shinkai’s films starting with Voices of a Distant Star (2002) through to his latest critically acclaimed film Suzume. His recent full-length animated films Your Name (2016) and Weathering with You (2019) will also be included.
Shinkai’s films examine themes of loneliness, distance, loss and longing, and humanity’s complex relationship with the natural world. His conceived real and science fiction worlds are filled with characters whose journeys and emotions resonate within us all.
The event from Crunchyroll in cooperation with CoMix Wave Film, Story Inc and Toho Co. will be held November 19 at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and will feature a special appearance by the award-winning auteur director.
The installation will present artwork and materials from eight of Shinkai’s films starting with Voices of a Distant Star (2002) through to his latest critically acclaimed film Suzume. His recent full-length animated films Your Name (2016) and Weathering with You (2019) will also be included.
Shinkai’s films examine themes of loneliness, distance, loss and longing, and humanity’s complex relationship with the natural world. His conceived real and science fiction worlds are filled with characters whose journeys and emotions resonate within us all.
- 11/3/2023
- by Valerie Complex
- Deadline Film + TV
A Tiffcom seminar on Thursday demonstrated both a sense of incredulity that Japanese animation “Suzume” could have enjoyed such wide international success and conveyed the depth of passionate behind-the-scenes strategizing that made it happen.
Since its release in Japan at the end of 2022 and international expansion in spring of 2023, following a Berlin festival competition slot, “Suzume,” a fantasy drama about a girl who helps avert natural disasters, sold more than 47 million tickets worldwide.
“And most of those people don’t even speak Japanese,” said the session’s moderator Sudo Tadashi, journalist and professor at the Japan University of Economics.
Sunami Kazuki, MD of producer CoMix Wave Films and the Takeda Akihiro, an executive attached to the president’s office at the film’s worldwide distributor Toho, said that “Suzumi’s” success was not a foregone conclusion.
Its success was years in the making and based on the growing performance of...
Since its release in Japan at the end of 2022 and international expansion in spring of 2023, following a Berlin festival competition slot, “Suzume,” a fantasy drama about a girl who helps avert natural disasters, sold more than 47 million tickets worldwide.
“And most of those people don’t even speak Japanese,” said the session’s moderator Sudo Tadashi, journalist and professor at the Japan University of Economics.
Sunami Kazuki, MD of producer CoMix Wave Films and the Takeda Akihiro, an executive attached to the president’s office at the film’s worldwide distributor Toho, said that “Suzumi’s” success was not a foregone conclusion.
Its success was years in the making and based on the growing performance of...
- 10/26/2023
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: There’s been much celebratory talk here at the Tokyo Film Festival about a new dawn of internationally-minded Japanese artists led by directors such as Hirokazu Kore-eda, Makoto Shinkai, and Ryusuke Hamaguchi.
One of the key creative voices often mentioned amongst this new Japanese set is Genki Kawamura, known internationally by audiences as the writer of If Cats Disappeared from the World, one of Japanese literature’s most successful contemporary novels, and the filmmaker who brought that book and titles such as Suzume, Weathering with You, and, most recently, Kore-eda’s Cannes prize-winning Monster to the big screen.
Born in Yokohama in 1979, Kawamura began his career at entertainment juggernaut Toho, where he was identified early as a promising talent. He cut his teeth on pics like Tetsuya Nakashima’s 2010 feature Confessions, which was shortlisted for the Best International Feature Oscar, and Mamoru Hosoda’s The Boy and the Beast.
One of the key creative voices often mentioned amongst this new Japanese set is Genki Kawamura, known internationally by audiences as the writer of If Cats Disappeared from the World, one of Japanese literature’s most successful contemporary novels, and the filmmaker who brought that book and titles such as Suzume, Weathering with You, and, most recently, Kore-eda’s Cannes prize-winning Monster to the big screen.
Born in Yokohama in 1979, Kawamura began his career at entertainment juggernaut Toho, where he was identified early as a promising talent. He cut his teeth on pics like Tetsuya Nakashima’s 2010 feature Confessions, which was shortlisted for the Best International Feature Oscar, and Mamoru Hosoda’s The Boy and the Beast.
- 10/26/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
Shout! Studios is thrilled to announce its return to the convention center this summer for San Diego Comic-Con 2023! Showcasing fan favorites and the best of pop culture, this year’s highlights include Alf, a photo opportunity and giveaways in celebration of the studio’s new partnership with Aardman Animations, Shout! TV’s Always a Sword: A Sword & Sorcery Adventure marathon, Sdcc exclusive giveaways, and more! Visit the Shout! Studios booth at #4118 to check out this year’s activities.
This year, Shout! will be giving away a number of exclusive items at its booth. Everyone’s favorite alien is back—in milk cap form—with the Sdcc exclusive Alf Milk Cap toy, promoting the series’ latest home on Shout! TV. Fans of animation classics from Aardman Animations won’t want to miss Shaun the Sheep headbands or the Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers photo opportunity commemorating the 30th anniversary of beloved film.
This year, Shout! will be giving away a number of exclusive items at its booth. Everyone’s favorite alien is back—in milk cap form—with the Sdcc exclusive Alf Milk Cap toy, promoting the series’ latest home on Shout! TV. Fans of animation classics from Aardman Animations won’t want to miss Shaun the Sheep headbands or the Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers photo opportunity commemorating the 30th anniversary of beloved film.
- 7/14/2023
- by Kristyn Clarke
- Age of the Nerd
Partnership
Entertainment One (eOne) has solidified its collaboration with U.K. independent production company Hardcash Productions through an exclusive first-look agreement. Under the deal, brokered by Kate Cundall, eOne’s VP of acquisitions, and Robin Barty-King, Hardcash’s business affairs consultant, the partnership aims to develop and produce investigative factual content for the global market. eOne will handle international rights for all projects resulting from this collaboration.
Previously, eOne and Hardcash worked together on the distribution of award-winning documentaries such as “Inside China,” “Fearless: The Women Fighting Putin” and “Outbreak: The Virus that Shook the World,” which have been sold to over 160 territories worldwide.
Cundall said: “Through this collaboration, we’ve secured a unique access to one of the most prestigious documentary makers in the world of factual and documentary programming, and we look forward to continuing to provide award-winning unscripted storytelling to audiences worldwide.”
Esella Hawkey, creative director at Hardcash Productions,...
Entertainment One (eOne) has solidified its collaboration with U.K. independent production company Hardcash Productions through an exclusive first-look agreement. Under the deal, brokered by Kate Cundall, eOne’s VP of acquisitions, and Robin Barty-King, Hardcash’s business affairs consultant, the partnership aims to develop and produce investigative factual content for the global market. eOne will handle international rights for all projects resulting from this collaboration.
Previously, eOne and Hardcash worked together on the distribution of award-winning documentaries such as “Inside China,” “Fearless: The Women Fighting Putin” and “Outbreak: The Virus that Shook the World,” which have been sold to over 160 territories worldwide.
Cundall said: “Through this collaboration, we’ve secured a unique access to one of the most prestigious documentary makers in the world of factual and documentary programming, and we look forward to continuing to provide award-winning unscripted storytelling to audiences worldwide.”
Esella Hawkey, creative director at Hardcash Productions,...
- 5/18/2023
- by Naman Ramachandran
- Variety Film + TV
Spoiler Alert: This interview includes details about Crunchyroll’s Suzume.
Writer-director Makoto Shinkai continues to reap the rewards of building his ecological cinematic universe. Following the recent success of his domestic, international, and record-breaking hits Your Name and Weathering With You comes his latest light romance adventure film Suzume. The film follows a 17-year-old girl named Suzume (Nanoka Hara)who joins forces with a young man named Sōta (Hokuto Matsumura) to track down and close a series of mysterious and supernatural portals that have the potential, once opened, to release devastating natural disasters all over Japan. Since its release in Japan last year, Suzume has earned the designation of becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film of all time in Japan and globally; it also garnered especially attention at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year, as it was the first Japanese animated film to play in competition in two decades. With such...
Writer-director Makoto Shinkai continues to reap the rewards of building his ecological cinematic universe. Following the recent success of his domestic, international, and record-breaking hits Your Name and Weathering With You comes his latest light romance adventure film Suzume. The film follows a 17-year-old girl named Suzume (Nanoka Hara)who joins forces with a young man named Sōta (Hokuto Matsumura) to track down and close a series of mysterious and supernatural portals that have the potential, once opened, to release devastating natural disasters all over Japan. Since its release in Japan last year, Suzume has earned the designation of becoming the fourth-highest-grossing film of all time in Japan and globally; it also garnered especially attention at the Berlin Film Festival earlier this year, as it was the first Japanese animated film to play in competition in two decades. With such...
- 4/15/2023
- by Destiny Jackson
- Deadline Film + TV
Also out this weekend: Sony has anime fantasy ’Suzume’ and Paramount action thriller ‘Assassin Club’.
After a lively weekend for new releases at the UK-Ireland box office over the Easter bank holiday, this session is looking a little calmer, with Universal’s Super Mario Bros: The Movie likely to keep its spot at the top.
The widest new release to take the plunge this weekend is Universal’s Renfield, playing at 605 sites. Chris McKay’s action-comedy take on Bram Stoker’s Dracula is set in modern day New Orleans, with Nicolas Cage as the famous bloodsucker, and Nicholas Hault as his long-suffering familiar,...
After a lively weekend for new releases at the UK-Ireland box office over the Easter bank holiday, this session is looking a little calmer, with Universal’s Super Mario Bros: The Movie likely to keep its spot at the top.
The widest new release to take the plunge this weekend is Universal’s Renfield, playing at 605 sites. Chris McKay’s action-comedy take on Bram Stoker’s Dracula is set in modern day New Orleans, with Nicolas Cage as the famous bloodsucker, and Nicholas Hault as his long-suffering familiar,...
- 4/14/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Suzume tells a distressing story about environmental awareness through a wildly fantastical lens that makes it feel like the culmination of Makoto Shinkai’s filmography and a stunning synthesis of the ideas and themes that he’s explored for more than a decade. There’s a moment early on in Suzume where the titular character exclaims, “What is even happening right now?” which essentially becomes the movie’s mantra during this road trip rom-com and coming of age story that combines natural disasters with a supernatural apocalypse. Suzume may be terrified and confused, but the audience will be delighted over this animated masterpiece that’s the crowning achievement of Makoto Shinkai’s acclaimed career.
Suzume isn’t a short movie, but it wastes absolutely no time with its grandiose story. The film opens up its initial door and triggers cataclysmic chaos within the first ten minutes and is officially off to the races.
Suzume isn’t a short movie, but it wastes absolutely no time with its grandiose story. The film opens up its initial door and triggers cataclysmic chaos within the first ten minutes and is officially off to the races.
- 4/14/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
Although anime master Makoto Shinkai has been consumed by cataclysmic disasters in his last three Japanese blockbusters — “Your Name,” “Weathering With You,” and “Suzume” (opening April 14 domestically through Crunchyroll) — the latest marks his most personal and ambitious film to date. That’s because “Suzume” was more directly inspired by the massive earthquake that hit the Tōhoku region of Japan in 2011, causing a nuclear meltdown. It’s about the titular teenager attempting to close supernatural doors throughout Japan to stop a chain of earthquakes from spreading.
“With that earthquake, that peaceful daily life ended suddenly, and it made me realize that we live side by side with something very phenomenal,” Shinkai told IndieWire through an interpreter. “Even in Tokyo, the ground shook quite a bit, so everyone was evacuated to a nearby gymnasium at an elementary school. I was fortunately close enough to be able to walk home. I remember just going home,...
“With that earthquake, that peaceful daily life ended suddenly, and it made me realize that we live side by side with something very phenomenal,” Shinkai told IndieWire through an interpreter. “Even in Tokyo, the ground shook quite a bit, so everyone was evacuated to a nearby gymnasium at an elementary school. I was fortunately close enough to be able to walk home. I remember just going home,...
- 4/13/2023
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
With “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” exceeding all expectations over Easter weekend, it’s likely to be the #1 movie this weekend and maybe one or two more after that. Undaunted, four studios studios are releasing movies that will try to bring in business despite the overwhelming success and popularity of Universal’s animated movie.
In fact, Universal will be making a play for the top two spots this weekend with its latest horror-comedy “Renfield,” which comes from “The Walking Dead” creator Robert Kirkman‘s Skybound Entertainment with Chris McKay (“The Lego Batman Movie”) at the helm. It stars Nicholas Hoult (“The Favourite”) as the title character, henchman to the legendary vampire Count Dracula, as played by Nicolas Cage. Akwafina, Ben Schwartz and Oscar nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo all have key roles, as well.
See Box office: ‘Scream VI’ crosses $100 million on its way to a franchise best
Although Hoult has been...
In fact, Universal will be making a play for the top two spots this weekend with its latest horror-comedy “Renfield,” which comes from “The Walking Dead” creator Robert Kirkman‘s Skybound Entertainment with Chris McKay (“The Lego Batman Movie”) at the helm. It stars Nicholas Hoult (“The Favourite”) as the title character, henchman to the legendary vampire Count Dracula, as played by Nicolas Cage. Akwafina, Ben Schwartz and Oscar nominee Shohreh Aghdashloo all have key roles, as well.
See Box office: ‘Scream VI’ crosses $100 million on its way to a franchise best
Although Hoult has been...
- 4/12/2023
- by Edward Douglas
- Gold Derby
The box office headlines for the rest of April will likely be written by “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” as it makes a bid for a $1 billion global gross total, but several niche films like Universal’s “Renfield” and Sony/Screen Gems’ “The Pope’s Exorcist” will try to find success in Mario’s shadow.
“Renfield” stars Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult as Dracula and his beleaguered assistant Renfield, the latter of whom decides to stand up to his abusive vampiric master for the first time in centuries. “The Pope’s Exorcist” stars Russell Crowe in a horror film based on the writings of Gabriele Amorth, a Catholic priest who claimed to have performed tens of thousands of exorcisms in his lifetime.
Neither R-rated film is expected to take No. 1 from “Super Mario Bros.,” with independent tracking for both films maxing out in the low teens. Sony is projecting a $10 million opening for “Pope’s Exorcist,...
“Renfield” stars Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult as Dracula and his beleaguered assistant Renfield, the latter of whom decides to stand up to his abusive vampiric master for the first time in centuries. “The Pope’s Exorcist” stars Russell Crowe in a horror film based on the writings of Gabriele Amorth, a Catholic priest who claimed to have performed tens of thousands of exorcisms in his lifetime.
Neither R-rated film is expected to take No. 1 from “Super Mario Bros.,” with independent tracking for both films maxing out in the low teens. Sony is projecting a $10 million opening for “Pope’s Exorcist,...
- 4/12/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Makoto Shinkai, one of Japan’s biggest animators, filmmaker and author is all set to visit India for the release of his latest movie – ‘Suzume’. The acclaimed Japanese director is known for his visually stunning and emotionally powerful anime films that touch upon themes such as love, loss and the impact of technology on society.
Some of his most well-known works include ‘Your Name.’ ‘Weathering With You’, and ‘5 Centimeters Per Second’. The film, brought to India by PVR Pictures, the motion picture arm of PVR Inox is set to hit theaters across India on April 21st, 2023.
PVR Pictures has been instrumental in bringing Makoto Shinkai’s films to Indian audiences. Their previous collaboration included the release of ‘Weathering with You’, which was a box office success in India.
The company has recognized the gap in the anime market and has taken steps to bring anime content to Indian audiences in a more accessible way.
Some of his most well-known works include ‘Your Name.’ ‘Weathering With You’, and ‘5 Centimeters Per Second’. The film, brought to India by PVR Pictures, the motion picture arm of PVR Inox is set to hit theaters across India on April 21st, 2023.
PVR Pictures has been instrumental in bringing Makoto Shinkai’s films to Indian audiences. Their previous collaboration included the release of ‘Weathering with You’, which was a box office success in India.
The company has recognized the gap in the anime market and has taken steps to bring anime content to Indian audiences in a more accessible way.
- 4/11/2023
- by Editorial Desk
- GlamSham
Further new releases to make the top five include ‘Air’ and ’The Pope’s Exorcist’.
Rank Film (distributor) Three-day gross (Apr 7-9) Total gross to date Week 1. Super Mario Bros: The Movie (Universal) £8.7m £19.8m 1 2. Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves (eOne) £1.6m £8.2m 2 3. John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate) £1.3m £13.4m 3 4. Air (Warner Bros) £807,693 £1.6m 1 5. The Pope’s Exorcist (Sony) £689,666 £921,015 1
Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.24
Super Mario Bros: The Movie blasted the competition at the UK-Ireland box office during the Easter bank holiday weekend, taking £8.7m from 720 locations for Universal –the biggest wide release for an animation in the territory.
This gives...
Rank Film (distributor) Three-day gross (Apr 7-9) Total gross to date Week 1. Super Mario Bros: The Movie (Universal) £8.7m £19.8m 1 2. Dungeons & Dragons: Honour Among Thieves (eOne) £1.6m £8.2m 2 3. John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate) £1.3m £13.4m 3 4. Air (Warner Bros) £807,693 £1.6m 1 5. The Pope’s Exorcist (Sony) £689,666 £921,015 1
Gbp to Usd conversion rate: 1.24
Super Mario Bros: The Movie blasted the competition at the UK-Ireland box office during the Easter bank holiday weekend, taking £8.7m from 720 locations for Universal –the biggest wide release for an animation in the territory.
This gives...
- 4/11/2023
- by Mona Tabbara
- ScreenDaily
Makoto Shinkai is a revered name in animation who’s emerged as someone who expertly combines melodramatic love stories with fantastical explorations of nature and what it means to be human. Garden of Words, Your Name, and Weathering With You are some of Shinkai’s most celebrated feature films that helped establish the writer/director as a force to be reckoned with and must-see cinematic events. Shinkai’s latest feature, Suzume, has been more than four years in the making and it looks at a listless 17-year-old who finds herself on an unexpected mission to protect Japan from paranormally-influenced natural disasters alongside a very unconventional guide.
Suzume has found heavy critical acclaim and it’s already become the eighth-highest-grossing anime film of all time in Japan as well as the country’s 14th highest-grossing film, period. In honor of Suzume’s wide theatrical release, Makoto Shinkai (via an interpreter) opens...
Suzume has found heavy critical acclaim and it’s already become the eighth-highest-grossing anime film of all time in Japan as well as the country’s 14th highest-grossing film, period. In honor of Suzume’s wide theatrical release, Makoto Shinkai (via an interpreter) opens...
- 4/10/2023
- by Alec Bojalad
- Den of Geek
The film has already outgrossed the lifetime total of 2014’s ’John Wick’ ($86.1m)
Global box office March 24-26 Rank Film (distributor) 3-day (world) Cume (world) 3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l) Territories 1. John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate) $137.5m $137.4m $64m $64m 72 2. Suzume (various) $57.7m $183.4m $57.7m $182.4m 7 3. Shazam! Fury Of The Gods (Warner Bros) $21.8m $102.4m $12.1m $56.1m 78 4. Scream VI (Paramount)
$14.3m $139.3m $5.9m $49.4m 54 5. Creed III (Warner Bros) $13.8m $245.9m $5.4m $105m 76 6. Post Truth (various) $12.7m $72.1m $12.7m $72.1m 1 7. 65 (Sony) $6.2m $49m $2.9m $21.2m 55 8. Best Is Yet To Come (various) $4.5m $5.7m $4.5m $5.7m 1 9. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish...
Global box office March 24-26 Rank Film (distributor) 3-day (world) Cume (world) 3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l) Territories 1. John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate) $137.5m $137.4m $64m $64m 72 2. Suzume (various) $57.7m $183.4m $57.7m $182.4m 7 3. Shazam! Fury Of The Gods (Warner Bros) $21.8m $102.4m $12.1m $56.1m 78 4. Scream VI (Paramount)
$14.3m $139.3m $5.9m $49.4m 54 5. Creed III (Warner Bros) $13.8m $245.9m $5.4m $105m 76 6. Post Truth (various) $12.7m $72.1m $12.7m $72.1m 1 7. 65 (Sony) $6.2m $49m $2.9m $21.2m 55 8. Best Is Yet To Come (various) $4.5m $5.7m $4.5m $5.7m 1 9. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish...
- 3/27/2023
- by Charles Gant
- ScreenDaily
The film has already outgrossed the lifetime total of 2014’s ’John Wick’ ($86.1m)
Global box office March 24-26 Rank Film (distributor) 3-day (world) Cume (world) 3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l) Territories 1. John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate) $137.5m $137.4m $64m $64m 72 2. Suzume (various) $57.7m $183.4m $57.7m $182.4m 7 3. Shazam! Fury Of The Gods (Warner Bros) $21.8m $102.4m $12.1m $56.1m 78 4. Scream VI (Paramount)
$14.3m $139.3m $5.9m $49.4m 54 5. Creed III (Warner Bros) $13.8m $245.9m $5.4m $105m 76 6. Post Truth (various) $12.7m $72.1m $12.7m $72.1m 1 7. 65 (Sony) $6.2m $49m $2.9m $21.2m 55 8. Best Is Yet To Come (various) $4.5m $5.7m $4.5m $5.7m 1 9. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish...
Global box office March 24-26 Rank Film (distributor) 3-day (world) Cume (world) 3-day (int’l) Cume (int’l) Territories 1. John Wick: Chapter 4 (Lionsgate) $137.5m $137.4m $64m $64m 72 2. Suzume (various) $57.7m $183.4m $57.7m $182.4m 7 3. Shazam! Fury Of The Gods (Warner Bros) $21.8m $102.4m $12.1m $56.1m 78 4. Scream VI (Paramount)
$14.3m $139.3m $5.9m $49.4m 54 5. Creed III (Warner Bros) $13.8m $245.9m $5.4m $105m 76 6. Post Truth (various) $12.7m $72.1m $12.7m $72.1m 1 7. 65 (Sony) $6.2m $49m $2.9m $21.2m 55 8. Best Is Yet To Come (various) $4.5m $5.7m $4.5m $5.7m 1 9. Puss In Boots: The Last Wish...
- 3/27/2023
- by Charles Gant
- ScreenDaily
Japanese anime maestro Makoto Shinkai’s latest feature Suzume shot to the top of China’s theatrical box office over the weekend, earning a strong $50 million, the biggest start for a non-Chinese film this year. The performance underscores the growing potency of Japanese anime in China’s huge movie market at a time when Hollywood superhero fare has been fizzling.
Suzume is currently projected to finish its run at around $90 million, according to projections from local ticketing service Maoyan. That would be the biggest performance ever by a Japanese animated feature.
The Hollywood studios, meanwhile, have stumbled in China in 2023. Disney/Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever earned just $15.6 million (compared to the first Black Panther‘s $105 million haul) and Ant-Man 3 took only $39 million (Ant-man 2 had $121 million). Warner Bros’ Shazam! 2 has brought in a disappointing $5.6 million (versus $44 million for the original Shazam!), while Unversal’s horror hit M3GAN...
Suzume is currently projected to finish its run at around $90 million, according to projections from local ticketing service Maoyan. That would be the biggest performance ever by a Japanese animated feature.
The Hollywood studios, meanwhile, have stumbled in China in 2023. Disney/Marvel’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever earned just $15.6 million (compared to the first Black Panther‘s $105 million haul) and Ant-Man 3 took only $39 million (Ant-man 2 had $121 million). Warner Bros’ Shazam! 2 has brought in a disappointing $5.6 million (versus $44 million for the original Shazam!), while Unversal’s horror hit M3GAN...
- 3/27/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Exclusive: Crunchyroll has tapped Nichole Sakura (Superstore) for the title role in the English-language dub of their acclaimed animated feature Suzume, which in addition to the original subtitled version, debuts in theaters in Australia and New Zealand on April 13, coming to the U.S., Canada, the UK and Ireland the following day.
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Others cast in the pic from decorated Japanese filmmaker Makoto Shinkai (Weathering with You), which bowed in Japan in November, include Josh Keaton, Jennifer Sun Bell, Joe Zieja, Rosalie Chang, Amanda C. Miller, Mela Lee and Cam Clarke. Bill Millsap...
Related Story New DreamWorks Film ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’ Casts Lana Condor, Toni Collette, Jane Fonda, Colman Domingo, Annie Murphy & More Related Story MGM's 'Creed III' $58M+ Franchise Record Opening A Gamechanger For Amazon Studios – Sunday Box Office Related Story Anime Awards: 'Cyberpunk: Edgerunners' Scores Top Prize; Three Others Lead With Six Wins Each – Full List
Others cast in the pic from decorated Japanese filmmaker Makoto Shinkai (Weathering with You), which bowed in Japan in November, include Josh Keaton, Jennifer Sun Bell, Joe Zieja, Rosalie Chang, Amanda C. Miller, Mela Lee and Cam Clarke. Bill Millsap...
- 3/21/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Tapping into the Japanese national zeitgeist once again with “Suzume,” writer-director Makoto Shinkai surpasses his peers in making films for and about teenagers. Now 50 years old, the anime master christened his latest blockbuster after its heroine, Suzume Iwato (voiced by Nanoka Hara), a 17-year-old orphan on the southwestern island of Kyushu swept up in a cross-country trip to prevent a series of natural disasters. That such a responsibility should fall to someone so young is typical of his oeuvre (see “Weathering With You”), but also an apt way of illustrating the lingering trauma and vulnerability that adolescents feel in many parts of Japan.
Funnier and more streamlined than Shinkai’s earlier hypercharged toon epics, “Suzume” is a massive hit in its home country, where it has earned more than $100 million since opening last November — his third film to pass that milestone. The film made its international premiere at the Berlinale,...
Funnier and more streamlined than Shinkai’s earlier hypercharged toon epics, “Suzume” is a massive hit in its home country, where it has earned more than $100 million since opening last November — his third film to pass that milestone. The film made its international premiere at the Berlinale,...
- 2/24/2023
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Although one might feel weary in advance to hear Suzume is yet another anime in which a young person is enlisted into a struggle to save their family/hometown/Japan/the world, this one’s a keeper.
A hefty hit locally in the wake of its November 2022 release — where it’s grossed over $100m — this latest feature by multi-hyphenate talent Makoto Shinkai (the force of nature behind hits Your Name and Weathering With You) offers his signature blend of fantasy, quotidian realism and idealistic young lovers. Although often funny, a deep sense of loss is baked into the bones of the film by the fact that its title character (voiced in the original Japanese version by Nanoka Hara) lost her mother in the 2011 tsunami-earthquake that killed nearly 20,000 people and caused the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster.
Not unlike the way Weathering With You sought to link the climate crisis with magical thinking,...
A hefty hit locally in the wake of its November 2022 release — where it’s grossed over $100m — this latest feature by multi-hyphenate talent Makoto Shinkai (the force of nature behind hits Your Name and Weathering With You) offers his signature blend of fantasy, quotidian realism and idealistic young lovers. Although often funny, a deep sense of loss is baked into the bones of the film by the fact that its title character (voiced in the original Japanese version by Nanoka Hara) lost her mother in the 2011 tsunami-earthquake that killed nearly 20,000 people and caused the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster.
Not unlike the way Weathering With You sought to link the climate crisis with magical thinking,...
- 2/23/2023
- by Leslie Felperin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Ken Watanabe is a Japanese actor who has established himself in both the Japanese and international movie scenes. Born on October 21, 1959, he made his debut in television dramas in 1983 and soon after that started to appear in films. He quickly developed an impressive resume of leading roles in films such as The Last Samurai, Batman Begins, Inception and Letters from Iwo Jima.
Ken Watanabe. Depositphotos
Watanabe has earned numerous awards for his performances over the years, including four Japan Academy Prize for Best Actor nominations, two Golden Globe Award for Best Actor nominations and one BAFTA nomination for Best Actor. He also won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of the King of Siam in The King and I at the Lincoln Center Theater production on Broadway.
Furthermore, Watanabe is regarded as one of the most successful actors who have...
Ken Watanabe. Depositphotos
Watanabe has earned numerous awards for his performances over the years, including four Japan Academy Prize for Best Actor nominations, two Golden Globe Award for Best Actor nominations and one BAFTA nomination for Best Actor. He also won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of the King of Siam in The King and I at the Lincoln Center Theater production on Broadway.
Furthermore, Watanabe is regarded as one of the most successful actors who have...
- 2/23/2023
- by Movies Martin Cid Magazine
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
One of Japan’s most commercially successful and highly acclaimed animators, Shinkai Makoto has been called a successor to anime titan Miyazaki Hayao. Known for his mix of photo-realistic visuals and gorgeously realized fantasies, Shinkai surpassed the master when his 2016 smash “Your Name” became the highest-earning Japanese film of all time worldwide, beating Miyazaki’s 2001 “Spirited Away.” (That record was later broken by the 2020 anime sensation “Demon Slayer.”)
His latest film, “Suzume,” about a teen girl’s quest to halt an apocalypse triggered by the opening of magical doors all over Japan, is also the first Japanese animated feature to screen in the Berlin competition since “Spirited Away” in 2002. Variety sat down with Shinkai to hear his views on his own work and the state of the anime industry.
“Suzume” features the so-called haikyo(“ruins”), the abandoned buildings that can be found everywhere in Japan, many of which are the...
His latest film, “Suzume,” about a teen girl’s quest to halt an apocalypse triggered by the opening of magical doors all over Japan, is also the first Japanese animated feature to screen in the Berlin competition since “Spirited Away” in 2002. Variety sat down with Shinkai to hear his views on his own work and the state of the anime industry.
“Suzume” features the so-called haikyo(“ruins”), the abandoned buildings that can be found everywhere in Japan, many of which are the...
- 2/20/2023
- by Mark Schilling
- Variety Film + TV
One of Japan’s most commercially successful and highly acclaimed animators, Shinkai Makoto has been called a successor to anime titan Miyazaki Hayao. Known for his mix of photo-realistic visuals and gorgeously realized fantasies, Shinkai surpassed the master when his 2016 smash “Your Name” became the highest-earning Japanese film of all time worldwide, beating Miyazaki’s 2001 “Spirited Away.” (That record was later broken by the 2020 anime sensation “Demon Slayer.”)
His latest film, “Suzume,” about a teen girl’s quest to halt an apocalypse triggered by the opening of magical doors all over Japan, is also the first Japanese animated feature to screen in the Berlin competition since “Spirited Away” in 2002. Variety sat down with Shinkai to hear his views on his own work and the state of the anime industry.
“Suzume” features the so-called haikyo(“ruins”), the abandoned buildings that can be found everywhere in Japan, many of which are the...
His latest film, “Suzume,” about a teen girl’s quest to halt an apocalypse triggered by the opening of magical doors all over Japan, is also the first Japanese animated feature to screen in the Berlin competition since “Spirited Away” in 2002. Variety sat down with Shinkai to hear his views on his own work and the state of the anime industry.
“Suzume” features the so-called haikyo(“ruins”), the abandoned buildings that can be found everywhere in Japan, many of which are the...
- 2/20/2023
- by Mark Schilling
- Variety Film + TV
The 2023 Berlin International Film Festival is screening its first Japanese anime film in competition in over two decades. The previous occasion was the international premiere of Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away in 2002, so it’s perhaps fitting that the latest selection is Suzume, the newest release from Makoto Shinkai, the director most often hailed as Miyaki’s heir as Japan’s next historic anime talent.
Like his past two anime blockbusters Your Name (which earned 357 million worldwide in 2017) and Weathering With You (193 million, 2020), Suzume tells a YA story of fantasy, adventure and romance, involving characters coping with a sense of loss and cataclysmic disaster. The new film follows a high-school girl named Suzume who meets a mysterious young man named Sōta and becomes involved in his mission to track down and close a sequence of mysterious metaphysical doors that are opening in abandoned areas of Japan and threatening the entire country with disaster.
Like his past two anime blockbusters Your Name (which earned 357 million worldwide in 2017) and Weathering With You (193 million, 2020), Suzume tells a YA story of fantasy, adventure and romance, involving characters coping with a sense of loss and cataclysmic disaster. The new film follows a high-school girl named Suzume who meets a mysterious young man named Sōta and becomes involved in his mission to track down and close a sequence of mysterious metaphysical doors that are opening in abandoned areas of Japan and threatening the entire country with disaster.
- 2/19/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Japanese anime maestro Makoto Shinkai’s latest blockbuster Suzume has been approved for release in China, another encouraging sign that the world’s second-biggest theatrical market is reopening its doors to international film content. The exact release date has yet to be set, but specialty distributor Road Pictures is expected to give the film a large nationwide launch sometime near the end of the first quarter of 2023.
The green light for the Japanese anime hit follows the Chinese Film Bureau’s recent decision to lift a two year-long de facto ban on Marvel releases. Last month, Marvel and Disney’s superhero tentpoles Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania were given February release dates, ending a China dry spell for the franchise that began in 2020.
Shinkai’s Suzume could have Hollywood-scale earning potential in China. The Japanese auteur’s 2016 anime hit Your Name earned 84 million of its 358 million worldwide haul in China,...
The green light for the Japanese anime hit follows the Chinese Film Bureau’s recent decision to lift a two year-long de facto ban on Marvel releases. Last month, Marvel and Disney’s superhero tentpoles Black Panther: Wakanda Forever and Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania were given February release dates, ending a China dry spell for the franchise that began in 2020.
Shinkai’s Suzume could have Hollywood-scale earning potential in China. The Japanese auteur’s 2016 anime hit Your Name earned 84 million of its 358 million worldwide haul in China,...
- 2/1/2023
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
New York, NY (1/13/23) – Yen Press, LLC announced the acquisition of Suzume, the most recent novel from the renowned creator, Makoto Shinkai. The 2022 anime film of the same name has since exceeded 12 billion yen (about US90.7 million) in box office revenue. The film dominated the Japanese box office for several weeks and is highly regarded as one of the top films of 2022. Suzume is Makoto Shinkai’s thirteenth directorial work, following Weathering with You’s release in 2019. Crunchyroll has teamed up with Sony Pictures Entertainment, Wild Bunch International, and Eurozoom to release the film globally in theaters April 2023.
Suzume
By Makoto Shinkai
Suzume Iwato lives with her aunt in a quiet port town in Kyushu, Japan. One day, on her way to school, she runs into a young man looking for a door and follows him to a ruin in the mountains. Standing alone amid the collapsed walls is a single old white door,...
Suzume
By Makoto Shinkai
Suzume Iwato lives with her aunt in a quiet port town in Kyushu, Japan. One day, on her way to school, she runs into a young man looking for a door and follows him to a ruin in the mountains. Standing alone amid the collapsed walls is a single old white door,...
- 1/16/2023
- by Adam Symchuk
- AsianMoviePulse
Click here to read the full article.
Anime maestro Makoto Shinkai’s latest feature Suzume has locked down its much anticipated theatrical release dates in North America, Europe, Latin America and Australia. The film will hit North American cinemas on April 14, courtesy of distribution partners Crunchyroll, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Wild Bunch International and Eurozoom.
Other territories set for release include France and Malta on April 12; Australia, Brazil, Germany, Mexico and New Zealand on April 13; and Austria, Belgium, Gibraltar, Ireland, Luxembourg and the U.K. on April 14, day and date with North America.
Suzume is Shinkai’s follow-up to Weathering With You (2019), which earned 193 million worldwide and was Japan’s official submission to the Oscars in the best international film category last year. His 2016 creative and commercial breakthrough Your Name set a new standard for the global potential of Japanese anime, earning 358 million worldwide from a production budget of just 6 million.
Anime maestro Makoto Shinkai’s latest feature Suzume has locked down its much anticipated theatrical release dates in North America, Europe, Latin America and Australia. The film will hit North American cinemas on April 14, courtesy of distribution partners Crunchyroll, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Wild Bunch International and Eurozoom.
Other territories set for release include France and Malta on April 12; Australia, Brazil, Germany, Mexico and New Zealand on April 13; and Austria, Belgium, Gibraltar, Ireland, Luxembourg and the U.K. on April 14, day and date with North America.
Suzume is Shinkai’s follow-up to Weathering With You (2019), which earned 193 million worldwide and was Japan’s official submission to the Oscars in the best international film category last year. His 2016 creative and commercial breakthrough Your Name set a new standard for the global potential of Japanese anime, earning 358 million worldwide from a production budget of just 6 million.
- 12/6/2022
- by Patrick Brzeski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Mystery feature to be jointly distributed by Gaga and Toho.
Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-Eda, who won the Palme d’Or at Cannes with Shoplifters in 2018, is working on a new feature titled Monster ahead of a planned release in 2023.
Japan’s Gaga Corporation revealed that the film is in post-production and is set for a theatrical release in Japan on June 2, 2023, co-distributed with Toho.
It marks Kore-eda’s first film to be made in Japan since Shoplifters, having directed 2019 French feature The Truth and 2022 Korean film Broker in the interim.
The cast and story for Monster remains under wraps but was scripted by Yuji Sakamoto,...
Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-Eda, who won the Palme d’Or at Cannes with Shoplifters in 2018, is working on a new feature titled Monster ahead of a planned release in 2023.
Japan’s Gaga Corporation revealed that the film is in post-production and is set for a theatrical release in Japan on June 2, 2023, co-distributed with Toho.
It marks Kore-eda’s first film to be made in Japan since Shoplifters, having directed 2019 French feature The Truth and 2022 Korean film Broker in the interim.
The cast and story for Monster remains under wraps but was scripted by Yuji Sakamoto,...
- 11/18/2022
- by Michael Rosser
- ScreenDaily
Back in 2018, Hirokazu Koreeda won the Palme d’Or with his film “Shoplifters’ and the film world was excited to see what the Japanese auteur did next. Not one to rest on his laurels, Koreeda always is up for a challenge and he went on to make French and Korean features straight after, with his latest “Broker” winning Song Kang-ho the Best Actor at Cannes this year. Less than six months since the Korean production’s debut at Cannes, news has broken that Koreeda’s latest film “Monster” has already wrapped up shooting and is readying for a release in 2023.
Noting is known about the cast or the synopsis yet, but this will be Koreeda’s first Japanese feature film since “Shoplifters”. Interestingly, this will be the first feature Koreeda directs that has not been written by himself. Instead, he has worked off a script by Yuji Sakamoto,...
Noting is known about the cast or the synopsis yet, but this will be Koreeda’s first Japanese feature film since “Shoplifters”. Interestingly, this will be the first feature Koreeda directs that has not been written by himself. Instead, he has worked off a script by Yuji Sakamoto,...
- 11/18/2022
- by Rhythm Zaveri
- AsianMoviePulse
Hirokazu Kore-eda, the Palme d'Or-winning director of "Shoplifters," has already shot his next Japanese-language film in secret, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The title is "Monster," and while plot details are scarce at the moment, the film is currently in post-production and has set a release date for next summer in Japan.
Kore-eda is known as a writer-director, but for "Monster," he'll be handing off the screenwriting duties for the first time to Yuji Sakamoto, who has a background mainly in television. In addition, the movie pairs Kore-eda with producer Genki Kawamura, who has helped finance a number of anime hits, such as Mamoru Hosada's "The Boy and the Beast," "Mirai," and "Belle," and Makoto Shinkai's "Your Name," "Weathering with You," and "Suzume no Tojimari," the latter of which is currently playing in theaters in Japan.
Kawamura also produced the live-action adaptation of Shûichi Yoshida's novel "Villain," and he...
Kore-eda is known as a writer-director, but for "Monster," he'll be handing off the screenwriting duties for the first time to Yuji Sakamoto, who has a background mainly in television. In addition, the movie pairs Kore-eda with producer Genki Kawamura, who has helped finance a number of anime hits, such as Mamoru Hosada's "The Boy and the Beast," "Mirai," and "Belle," and Makoto Shinkai's "Your Name," "Weathering with You," and "Suzume no Tojimari," the latter of which is currently playing in theaters in Japan.
Kawamura also produced the live-action adaptation of Shûichi Yoshida's novel "Villain," and he...
- 11/18/2022
- by Joshua Meyer
- Slash Film
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