‘Suzume’ review: Makoto Shinkai’s latest anime masterpiece is a jaw-dropping epic
If you follow Makato Shinkai’s career, you know that he is known worldwide for his anime films. your name And weathering with you to be the most remarkable. his latest, Suzume, is a stirring fantasy epic that is emotionally gripping and captivating from start to finish.
Suzume (Nanoka Hara) is a normal 17-year-old high school girl who lives with her aunt in southern Japan. Suzume is kind and shy, but has severe trauma that threatens to destroy her. Everything changes when she is approached by a mysterious man named Souta (Hokuto Matsumura) on her way to school. Intrigued by the stranger’s mission to find a unique door nearby, Suzume accidentally unleashes an enormous threat that could destroy all of Japan.
Souta arrives too late, as Suzume has already opened the door of her town, which turns out to be the gateway to a mystical plane of existence aptly named the Never After. Across Japan, doors are beginning to open and unleash the same unbridled power of otherworldly nature. Only a “closer” like Souta can lock away the supernatural worm-like creature with the help of a capstone. But Souta’s mission is stopped when he is magically transformed into a three-legged chair (you heard that right) after meeting the Keystone’s physical form, which is a talking cat named Daijin (Ann Yamane). Suzume decides to lead the now helpless Souta on a nationwide chase to shut down all the doors, remove Souta’s spell and stop Daijin.
Japanese anime is celebrated for its cinematic, comic book-like details. Shinkai’s latest film lives up to other distinctive anime epics like TV movies attack on Titanwhen it comes to dynamic camera movements, visual effects and inserts. Each frame is an absolute beauty, the optics are literally out of this world. The anime filmmaker has an eye for the cinematic, particularly in relation to his rich world building. Everything feels so real but with an added enchanting touch that goes beyond reality and into the realm of anime. The perfect emulation of camera lenses and their special qualities finds its resonance suzume‘s animation style, which is only one factor, but no less important for the stunning graphics. When it comes to action, Shinkai doesn’t hold back suzume, quite casually, goes from cute and quirky to seismic intense and compelling battles. The fiery whirlwinds of energy that suzume holds back. Who knew closing doors and turning keys could be so epic?
suzume is a spiritual journey full of emotions and heartbreak. After taking on the great responsibility of preventing the unseen evil from being unleashed, Suzume grows up quickly when she realizes what is at stake. This isn’t your typical coming-of-age movie, as there’s no time for high school and flirting. And while Suzume has a primary motivation to stop the destruction of Japan, she also has an apparent and unwavering crush on her now three-legged partner, which is another driving factor that drives her on. Here Shinkai finds the heart of the film, which is packed with humor, awkward moments, and romance. It’s all about human nature, both the pleasant (love) and the ugly (abandonment and sadness). Through her journey, Suzume is able to face the trauma and fears that have unknowingly plagued her life.
The final aspect of Suzume to discuss is the sound design and music by the Radwimps and composer Kazume Jinnouchi, adding to the epicness of Shinkai’s film. Sometimes the music is captivating and fun as Suzume and her talking chair, Daijin, chase the cat through the city streets while being filmed by passers-by. But in the most crucial and earth-shattering moments, the film’s soundscape twists into thousands to mimic and complement the dynamic and grandiose visuals.
suzume is truly a defining anime in Shinkai’s impressive filmography.
Class: A
This review is from the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. suzume will be released in US theaters on April 14, 2023 by Crunchroll.