Suzume Gets New Visual, Set To Screen at Berlinale This February

Makoto Shinkai’s latest movie, Suzume, revealed a new visual ahead for its international premiere at this year’s Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale) this February. The festival runs from February 16-26, 2023, and Suzume is the first anime movie to compete in two decades. Makoto Shinkai, along with actor Nanoka Hara and producer Genki Kawamura, will attend the event.

Suzume - Berlinale Visual — *Suzume* – Berlinale Visual

“At its core, ‘Suzume’ is based on the massive disaster that occurred in Japan twelve years ago,” said Shinkai. “I’m eager to see how this film translates to international audiences: what makes sense, what doesn’t, and what common ground we have across cultures. The film’s imminent international release will hopefully give me the answer to those questions. And, I cannot thank our team members enough for their unprecedented talent and perseverance throughout the film’s production. On behalf of the entire team, I would also like to give thanks to all the fans who have cheered us on, making ‘Suzume’ possible.”

Suzume premiered in Japan in November. The international release dates for the movie are as follows:

Austria: 4/14/2023 (Fri)
Australia: 4/13/2023 (Thurs)
Belgium: 4/14/2023 (Fri)
Brazil: 4/13/2023 (Thurs)
Canada: 4/14/2023 (Fri)
France: 4/12/2023 (Wed)
Germany: 4/13/2023 (Thurs)
Gibraltar: 4/14/2023 (Fri)
Luxembourg: 4/14/2023 (Fri)
Malta: 4/12/2023 (Wed)
Mexico: 4/13/2023 (Thurs)
New Zealand: 4/13/2023 (Thurs)
United Kingdom/Ireland: 4/14/2023 (Fri)
United States: 4/14/2023 (Fri)

Suzume (Suzume no Tojimari) plot is described as:
17-year-old Suzume’s journey begins in a quiet town in Kyushu 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. Souta is known as a “Closer” who travels across Japan locking these doors shut.
As the door opens, however, the mysterious white cat nicknamed “AristoCat” appears before them. “I love Suzume, but you [Souta] are in the way” as it uttered those words, Souta becomes Suzume’s childhood chair, she has cherished since she was little.
Souta chases the cat as a 3-legged chair, and Suzume sprints after Souta in a panic. Eventually, they will travel together from Kyushu to Shikoku, Kansai and Tokyo on their journey to close doors.
On her travels, Suzume encounters several people who help her as she helps them. But what awaited her at the end of her journey was a certain truth that has been long forgotten.
Guided by these mysterious doors, Suzume’s journey is about to begin.

Makoto Shinkai directed the movie and wrote the screenplay. The main cast for the movie includes: