Suzume Anime Film Makes More in Box Office Pre-Sales in China Than Japan’s 1st Weekend

 

Ever since the record-breaking run of Your Name. in China, where the anime film made US$81.3 million over its run there, Makoto Shinkai films have been highly anticipated and Suzume is no different. The anime director went to Twitter ahead of Suzume’s premiere today and revealed that it has already made 100 million yuan (US$14.66 million) in pre-sales and may even make more in the first weekend than Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away run in 2019.

 

 

『すずめの戸締まり/铃芽之旅』、中国での前売り券が公開日前日にして1億元（約19億円）を超えました！　信じられないような数字で、このように作品にご期待いただけて本当に光栄です。明日からのすずめの上映、どうか楽しんでくださいね！ pic.twitter.com/myNHs2SqjW

— 新海誠 (@shinkaimakoto) March 23, 2023

 

 

Compared to Japan’s first weekend for Suzume, 100 million yuan converts to roughly 1.9 million yen and more than the three-day takings of 1.88 billion yen (US$13.51 million). Your Name. and Weathering with You opened to US$41 million and 154 million yuan (US$21.88 million) respectively, but Suzume is looking like it may be crowned the champion of the three.

 

China was Your Name. and Weathering With You’s second biggest market so it’ll be an interesting run for the anime film in the current environment. 

 

RELATED: Suzume Has Best Japanese Box Office Opening for Makoto Shinkai Anime Film Ever

 

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.