Suzume ( すずめの戸締まり)

I will say it here first: there is a high chance that Makoto Shinkai's latest animated film will get into next year's Oscar race, pending if Hayao Miyazaki's new film will get released in time too. 

However, as the first film, since Miyazki's Spirited Away to compete in the Berlin International Film Festival, it will not be a stretch to imagine that non-Japanese viewers will embrace this fantastical yet surprisingly grounded animation that was not only laugh out loud funny, but also achingly emotional and tender. However, Japanese viewers - or even those who had suffered some sort of natural disaster - may find the subject matter a bit too close to heart. The emotional trauma to losing a loved one to earthquakes and tsunamis may be still too raw.

Suzume could be Shinkai's most matured work and definitely a step up from Weathering with You. It may not be as saccharine and emotional as your name., but it was more emotionally complex, dealing with grief and love, self-identity and purpose, and generational/emotional trauma. 

Story-wise, Shinkai's writing and directing was also more assured and surprising. On paper, the plot would be nonsensical and beyond fantastical, but yet in the execution it was not only believable (as all good fantasy ought to be within its realm of mystery and world-building) but also relatable and grounded. The first act was different from the second, which in turn, was also different from the third. However, they were all tied together coherently by Shinkai and his protagonist - Suzume - as we followed her on a journey from the west to east of Japan visiting not only multiple significant sites in Japan's storied history of natural calamities, but also in Suzume's journey of self-discovery and reconciliation with her past. 

The animation was top-notch with perhaps one or two moments of computer CGI that seemed a little out of place. However, it was the little touches of normalcy and reality that really helped the animation to feel seamless in its fantasy storytelling. Everybody, please give it up for the stool and the cat(s)! 

The music was by Shinkai's frequent collaborator Radwimps and composer Kazuma Jinnouchi, and as usual was a significant part of the storytelling. It pumped up the action and moved the emotions but never excessively or manipulatively. 

As with almost all Japanese animations, repeated viewings would surely bring more details and nuances to the fore, and I can't wait to re-watch this soon!