Suzume

Suzume (Japanese: すずめの戸締まり) is a 2022 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film written and directed by Makoto Shinkai. The film follows 17-year-old high school girl Suzume Iwato and a mysterious young man, Souta Munakata, as they team up to prevent a series of disasters across Japan. They do so by sealing doors in abandoned places that lead to the 'Ever-After,' preventing the emergence of a supernatural 'worm' that causes earthquakes. Produced by CoMix Wave Films, the film stars Nanoka Hara and Hokuto Matsumura and features character designs by Masayoshi Tanaka, animation direction by Kenichi Tsuchiya, art direction by Takumi Tanji, and a musical score composed by Radwimps and Kazuma Jinnouchi. Its themes were inspired by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. A novel adaptation, also written by Shinkai, and a manga series illustrated by Denki Amashima, were released prior to the film. Suzume first premiered in IMAX in Japan on November 7, 2022, followed by a theatrical release on November 11. It received largely positive reviews and grossed over US$318 million worldwide, making it the fourth highest-grossing Japanese film of all time. The film was also nominated for Best Animated Feature at the 81st Golden Globe Awards.