Who doesn’t love a good road trip? Nothing beats the excitement of travelling to far and exotic places, bonding with friends, having new experiences – and fighting terrifying monsters that threaten to destroy everything you love. So much fun!
Such is the tale told in writer-director Makoto Shinkai’s recently released animated adventure “Suzume”, which premiered in Japan last November. It rapidly rose to become last year’s fourth-highest grossing film there, and is also the country’s first animated feature since 2002 to compete for the coveted Golden Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival.
It’s taken a while, but the film has finally reached Malaysian shores. And it was certainly worth the wait. “Suzume” proves a fun watch, thanks to its strong and relatable characters, gorgeous animation, and well-balanced blend of humour and pathos.
The title character, voiced by Nanoka Hara, is a 17-year-old who finds herself embarking on a truly one-of-a-kind road trip across Japan. This is thanks to a mysterious, rugged stranger named Sota (Hokuto Matsumura), whom she meets one day in her quiet town in Kyushu.
Suzume learns there are magical doors all over the country, which Sota must close to prevent the escape of monstrous mythical “worms”, or great devastation will occur.
When Sota is unexpectedly transformed into a chair – yes, you read that right! – it is up to Suzume to help him. This is made complicated, however, by the fact that she is still affected by emotional scars from a past traumatic event.
If the plot sounds bizarre (to put it mildly), remember that many great anime premises sound insane upon first mention. But sit through this wacky setup and you’ll be rewarded with an entertaining, high-stakes adventure that builds to a terrific climax before concluding in a manner both lovely and emotionally resonant.
Shinkai’s films are renowned for their seamless and breathtaking animation, and this one is no different. Whether it is the ethereal skies in otherworldly realms, or mountain towns with their serene dignity, every scene is rich in detail. Its scenes in busy Tokyo feel so true to life, you can almost smell the sushi!
Another important component in anime is the use of music, and in this regard, the soundtrack by Kazuma Jinnouchi and Japanese rock band Radwimps – Makoto’s go-to soundsmiths who also worked on his previous two films – is solid.
Forget monsters attacking Japan: the most dangerous worm here is the demon earworm of a title theme song, which will bury itself deep into your subconscious and never let go. Expect to be humming the chorus at the most inopportune times.
If you’re a Shinkai fan, then you’re probably wondering how “Suzume” compares with his previous works. In truth, it doesn’t quite reach the heights of his previous blockbuster phenomenon “Your Name”, but it does feel more put together than “Weathering Than You”.
The director seems to truly love a good plot involving star-crossed young lovers who must overcome catastrophic mystical forces to be together, and admittedly goes down very well-trodden story paths here. Fortunately, while parts of “Suzume” will seem familiar to his fans, the film contains just enough to distinguish itself from its predecessors.
If there are any complaints, it’s that the monstrous worms appear overtly CGI and stick out from the rest of the charming and nuanced visuals. The origin of these mythical creatures is also never satisfactorily explained, and parts of it can cause major head-scratching, especially to those unfamiliar with Japanese folklore.
And then there’s the relationship between Suzume and Sota, which feels a bit rushed, and (spoiler alert) the romantic subplot tacked-on.
Still, despite these minor gripes, “Suzume” is a wonderfully entertaining watch. And, with its story resembling a series of stitched-together vignettes, it makes you wonder if viewers will be greeting a television series based on this a-door-able film sooner rather than later.
As of press time, ‘Suzume’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.