It is the first anime film to enter the competition in 21 years.
Makoto Shinkai’s animated film Suzume no Tojimari has been nominated at the 73rd Berlin International Film Festival. Following the nomination, it was announced that the animated film would premiere internationally as part of the competition. The film festival will run from February 16-26.
Shinkai will be attending the festival along with the voice actress who played the lead role, Suzume Iwato, Nanoka Hara, and film producer Genki Kawamura. The film Suzume will be the first Japanese animated film to enter the competition in 21 years. The last time Japan had entered the festival was in 2002, when director Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece Spirited Away was nominated and eventually won the Golden Bear award. The winners for this year’s festival will be announced on February 26.
Suzume no Tojimari is about a young girl named Suzume who travels across Kyushu to close doors that are causing disasters and calamities. A string of challenges await the young girl, but despite the obstacles coming her way, she exudes a ray of hope on her struggles. While on the mission, she accidentally opens a door that unleashes massive destruction across the country, and she must close the door of doom to prevent more disasters from happening.
The animated film hit Japanese theaters last year on November 11. It has earned $99 million in its 10-week run. The film is packed with elements of Shinkai’s magic with the combination of meet-cute encounter while trying to save the country from doom.
Prior to the international screening of the film for the festival, it was previously announced that Crunchyroll will be screening and distributing the film globally. Crunchyroll acquired obtained the distribution and marketing rights for international release from TOHO.
This is Shinkai’s second film since Your Name, which broke several box office records when it was released in 2016. The critically acclaimed film received praises for its animation, visuals, music and the overall emotional impact on the audience. It became the third-highest-grossing anime film of all time, with earnings of $380.1 million worldwide.
