Japanese anime and movies have been gaining popularity throughout the world for many years, and have contributed to a growing interest in Japan and Japanese culture among youth in particular. The recent movie trend in Japan has been a mix of anime and live-action adaptations of anime or the manga comics on which many anime are based. These works showcase Japan’s unique storytelling style, themes, and visual aesthetics. One such movie that has received attention recently is Suzume (すずめの戸締まり), which I watched at the movie theatre last month.
Suzume is the latest anime film by acclaimed animator and filmmaker Makoto Shinkai (新海 誠). The story follows a teenage girl named Suzume, who unwittingly discovers supernatural forces that cause disasters in Japan and sets out on a mission to save her country. These forces exist below the surface of the land. Suzume takes on the task of “closing the doors” on these forces in order to keep them safely underground. In the process, she learns to adjust to a new environment, make new friends, and find love. In writing the story, Shinkai was inspired by the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami disaster from 2011. The movie has received critical acclaim and has become one of the highest grossing films in Japan.
The environmental concerns, veneration of nature, and female empowerment brings to mind the anime films of the world famous Hayao Miyazaki and his Studio Ghibli. In fact, Shinkai has been compared to Miyazaki by many. The popularity of Miyazaki’s films such as Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and My Neighbor Totoro have paved the way for expanding the possibilities of animated films by exploring more complex and emotional themes. I remember as a child watching my first Miyazaki film, Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind, and being totally captivated as it was nothing like any other cartoon I had ever seen. These anime films have not only had a huge impact in Japan, but indeed throughout the rest of world as they have been enjoyed by audiences internationally.
In addition to their storytelling and themes, Japanese anime and cinema are also characterized by their distinctive visual aesthetics. The use of color, light and shadow, and visual angles are noteworthy as are the characters’ smooth and exaggerated movements. We can see a strong Japanese influence in many recent Hollywood movies such as Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill as well as in Western animated series and graphic novels.
I encourage you to watch Suzume. If you enjoy its story, themes, and visual style, you should also check out some of Shinkai’s other anime films such as 5 Centimeters per Second (秒速5センチメートル), Your Name (君の名は) and Weathering with You (天気の子). Hopefully, we will continue to see the growing influence and impact of Japanese culture worldwide through the enjoyment of anime films and other forms of popular culture.
Kiyukai Director Yuji Matson