Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume Anime Film to Have International Premiere at 73rd Berlinale Festival

 

Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume anime film has big plans overseas, as it will be making its international premiere at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival, also known as Berlinale. The event runs from February 16-26, 2023, and Suzume will screen as part of its Competition section, making it the first anime film to compete at the festival in two decades.

 

Makoto Shinkai will be in attendance at Berlinale along with actor Nanoka Hara and producer Genki Kawamura.

 

A new visual was released to celebrate the news:

 

 

第73回 #ベルリン国際映画祭
「コンペティション部門」
映画『#すずめの戸締まり』が
㊗️正式出品決定????

そして！
大ヒットを記念し
すずめ・草太が描かれた
最新ビジュアルも公開✨#新海誠 監督 #原菜乃華 さんから
コメントも到着????https://t.co/EbnjpNOXwR

すずめ、世界に
「行ってきます！」???? pic.twitter.com/n0k0Prmjb2

— 映画『すずめの戸締まり』公式 (@suzume_tojimari) January 23, 2023

 

RELATED: Crunchyroll Reveals Global Theatrical Dates for Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume Anime Film

 

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. 

 

Crunchyroll is teaming up with Sony Pictures Entertainment, Wild Bunch International and Eurozoom to release the film, which just opened in Japan on November 11. Mark your calendars with the dates lined up so far:

 

• April 12 in France and Malta
• April 13 in Australia, Brazil, Germany, Mexico and New Zealand
• April 14 in Austria, Belgium, Canada, Gibraltar, Ireland, Luxembourg, United Kingdom and United States
• Additional 2023 dates to be announced for additional Latin America and EMEA territories

 

 

Crunchyroll describes the film:

 

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. 

 

Source: Press release

 

 

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Joseph Luster is the Games and Web editor at Otaku USA Magazine. You can read his comics at subhumanzoids. Follow him on Twitter @Moldilox.