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Suzume

Suzume is a 2022 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film written and directed by Makoto Shinkai.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Suzume is a 2022 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film written and directed by Makoto Shinkai. The film follows 17-year-old Suzume Iwato and a young stranger, Sōta Munakata, as they travel across Japan to close supernatural doors that unleash disasters. It is the third film in Shinkai's Disaster trilogy, following Your Name and Weathering with You.

Premise

The film follows Suzume Iwato as she becomes involved in closing mysterious doors that are causing destructive events across Japan. The journey takes the characters across multiple regions of the country as they try to contain the disasters.

Production

Suzume was written and directed by Makoto Shinkai and produced by CoMix Wave Films. It is positioned as the third film in Shinkai's Disaster trilogy, following Your Name and Weathering with You.

Release

The film premiered in Japan in November 2022 and was later released in international markets during 2023. Sources list a 122-minute running time and identify Toho as the distributor.

Reception and classification

Coverage and listings describe Suzume as a fantasy, adventure, and drama film, with themes of coming of age and travel. It has been presented with a PG rating in some markets.

Key facts

  • Suzume is an original animated feature film, not an adaptation, created by Makoto Shinkai.
  • The story centres on Suzume Iwato, a high school student from southern Japan, and Sōta Munakata, a mysterious young man.
  • The film’s plot involves sealing supernatural doors to prevent disasters linked to a colossal worm-like force.
  • It is commonly described as a coming-of-age fantasy adventure film.
  • Suzume was released in Japan in 2022 and later received international releases in 2023.
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Canadian context

Suzume was released internationally in 2023 and is part of the wider popularity of Japanese anime films among Canadian audiences; Canadian releases and availability varied by distributor and platform.

Frequently asked questions

What is Suzume?
Suzume is a 2022 Japanese animated fantasy adventure film written and directed by Makoto Shinkai.
What is the Japanese title of Suzume?
The Japanese title is すずめの戸締まり, romanized as Suzume no Tojimari.
What is Suzume about?
It follows Suzume Iwato and Sōta Munakata as they close supernatural doors across Japan to stop disasters.
Who directed Suzume?
Suzume was written and directed by Makoto Shinkai.
When was Suzume released?
It was released in Japan in 2022, with international releases beginning in 2023.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzume
    Supports: Title, original Japanese name, year, director, premise, and Disaster trilogy context.
  2. Anime News Network — https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=25057
    Supports: Alternative title, genres, plot summary, runtime, and release information.
  3. Wikipedia — https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzume
    Supports: Film identification, director, production company, runtime, and release year.
  4. Common Sense Media — https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/suzume
    Supports: Runtime, rating, English dub casting, and theatrical/streaming release timing.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/suzume
    Supports: Genre classification, MPAA rating, and home media release information.