Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume Anime Film Passes US$300 Million Worldwide

 

Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume anime film made history over this past weekend by being the fourth anime film ever to pass US$300 million. While this keeps it as the fourth highest-grossing anime film of all time, the latest Shinkai feature is inching ever closer to the director’s highest-grossing film, Your Name.

 

As of April 30 in Japan, Suzume has grossed 14.54 billion yen (US$108.09 million), making its home country the second biggest region for the film, with China in the number one spot at an ever-increasing US$117.33 million. 

 

South Korea comes in third place with US$39.48 million and North America in fourth place at US$9.75 million, overtaking Taiwan’s US$9.32 million. Along with 15 other regions around the world, Suzume’s worldwide box office gross is US$313.29 million.

 

Just a little over US$40 million sits between Suzume and Your Name. in the worldwide box office race. While highly unlikely at this stage of Suzume’s run, it isn’t out of the question to see the film overtake Shinkai’s highest-grossing. The next few weeks will solidify where Suzume will settle.

 

 

RELATED: Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume Ends Its Japanese Theatrical Run on May 27

 

Suzume is directed by Makoto Shinkai, who also penned the screenplay for the film alongside Masayoshi Tanaka as the character designer, Kenichi Tsuchiya as the animation director and Takumi Tanji as the art director with animation production at CoMix Wave Films. 

 

Suzume was released in Japan on November 11. Crunchyroll teamed up with Sony Pictures and Wild Bunch International to bring the feature to global audiences outside of Asia starting April 12, 2023.

 

Synopsis:

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

 

“Suzume no Tojimari” 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. 

 

Sources: Kogyo Tsushin, ENT Group, KOBIZ, The Numbers

 

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Daryl Harding is a Senior Japan Correspondent for Crunchyroll News. He also runs a YouTube channel about Japan stuff called TheDoctorDazza, tweets at @DoctorDazza, and posts photos of his travels on Instagram.