Toho Co., Ltd. held a press conference to introduce Makoto Shinkai’s next film “Suzume no Tojimari,” which will be released in Fall 2022. Many people across boundaries and decades are captivated by the “Shinkai World,” which blends stories about youth with gorgeous colors and unusual music, and the films that depict it have received great praise. Following “your name.” (2016) and “Weathering with You” (2019), his next feature “Suzume no Tojimari” (his first in three years) will now begin production.

Suzume no Tojimari Tentative English Title “Suzume’s Door-Locking”

TOKYO, 15 DECEMBER 2021 – Makoto Shinkai, an animation filmmaker with all eyes on his next moves, held a press conference alongside CoMix Wave Films, STORY Inc., and Toho Co., Ltd. to announce the production of his long-awaited new film. In the fall of 2022, the film will be released. On Wednesday, December 15 at 6:00 a.m., Toho’s official YouTube channel “Toho Movie Channel” debuted the press conference. The following day, English subtitles will be added.

Story Synopsis:

Suzume, a 17-year-old girl from a sleepy Kyushu town, encounters a young guy who is on his way “searching for doors.” Suzume pursues him to a ruin in the highlands, where she discovers a free-standing, undamaged door, as if “it” alone had been rescued from destruction. Suzume is attracted by an unseen force and grabs towards the door… Soon, doors all around Japan begin to open one by one. To keep the tragedy on the other side at bay, the doors that opened must be closed.

—Stars, sunset, and the sky in the morning. The locations she walks into have a sky where all hours of the day appear to mix— Suzume’s “adventure of closing doors” begins when she is beckoned by the mysterious doors.

Staff & Credits

Original Title of Work: “Suzume no Tojimari”

Original Story / Screenplay / Director: Makoto Shinkai

Character Design: Masayoshi Tanaka

Animation Director: Kenichi Tsuchiya

Art Director: Takumi Tanji

Produced by: STORY inc.

Production: CoMix Wave Films

Distribution: Toho Co., Ltd.