Suzume is the latest animated film by director Makoto Shinkai, known for his powerful and moving stories about human connections. Unlike some of his previous works, Suzume takes a more direct approach to its metaphors, creating a potent impact. The film follows high schooler Suzume Iwato, who discovers the mystical causes behind earthquakes in Japan and gets involved in a race to save her country from a cataclysmic event.
Suzume, being an orphan and experiencing the devastation caused by earthquakes, understands their impact on people's lives. However, most adults focus on the future, while her peers ignore the ruins left by landslides. Suzume's encounter with the enigmatic Sōta leads her to a door to another dimension and a trickster cat deity named Daijin. Together, they work to prevent a worm-like creature from crossing over and causing calamities.
Shinkai's admiration for Hayao Miyazaki and his fantastical adventure storytelling is evident in Suzume. The film's narrative shines through the encounter between Suzume and Sōta, where they face a door to another dimension and the mischievous Daijin. The animation by CoMix Wave Films brings Shinkai's ideas to life in a wondrous way. As in Weathering With You, Shinkai explores the Great East Japan earthquake of 2011 and its devastating effects. Suzume highlights the risk of calamities and emphasizes the importance of holding space and revering the past to keep the darkness at bay.
Suzume has a charming and somewhat whimsical energy as it follows Sōta's transformation into a talking chair and his journey with Suzume to track Daijin across Japan's islands. The film skillfully uses this journey to explore themes of the past, memory, and growing up. Shinkai's use of oversaturated colors and playing with light creates a visually stunning depiction of ordinary places, reminding viewers of the beauty found in everyday life. While Suzume occasionally takes detours into the lives of other characters, it never feels off course but rather adds to the overall experience. The film's pacing leads to a moving finale that solidifies Suzume as one of Shinkai's strongest works.
Although Suzume may not showcase an entirely new side of Shinkai, it is a testament to his passion as a filmmaker. The film encapsulates his signature style and thematic elements, making it a likely future classic. Suzume's wide release in US theaters is scheduled for April 14th.