Suzume Anime Film Increases Its Record Breaking Pre-Sales in China

 

This month has seen Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume anime film travel overseas, starting with Asian markets in March and then western markets in April. In two days Suzume opens in one of the biggest markets in the world–China–and is already breaking records in the country.

 

On March 19, Shinkai revealed on Twitter that Suzume had sold 17 million yuan (US$2.46 million) in pre-sale tickets ahead of its March 24 release in the country, making it the highest amount of pre-sales for an animated film in China ever and yet now, that pre-sale number has increased to 70 million yuan (US$10.17 million) and continues to climb.

 

 

中国での『すずめの戸締まり』の前売りチケット販売が、伸び続けています。昨日までは5000万元だったのに、あっという間に7000万元に。作品を愛していただける嬉しさと、中国という国の巨大さをあらためて感じます。感謝です！ pic.twitter.com/gNUTWGo8m2

— 新海誠 (@shinkaimakoto) March 21, 2023

 

 

Suzume opened in Japan on November 11 to 1.88 billion yen (US$13.51 million) in its first three day but it’s looking like pre-sales in China may surpass Suzume’s opening weekend gross in Japan. It will be interesting to see if the film can surpass its 14.22 billion yen (US$106.38 million) Japanese gross in China.

 

RELATED: Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume Anime Film Has Sold Over 2 Million Tickets Outside Japan

 

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 with Crunchyroll teaming 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. 

 

Source: Makoto Shinkai on Twitter

 

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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.