Makoto Shinkai has been one of the most celebrated anime directors of the 21st century. From the naturalistic navigations of modern life explored in films like 5 Centimeters Per Second and The Garden of Words to the fantasy romance of Weathering With You and the international sensation of Your Name, Shinkai’s films are major events for both fans of anime and Asian cinema in general.
With his upcoming film, Suzume, set to release in Japan this November and internationally in early 2023, new details have emerged regarding the music and artists to be featured on the film’s original soundtrack. From returning collaborators to a major Japanese composer, the new soundtrack is set to be one of Shinkai’s most ambitious.
According to the distributor Crunchyroll, Suzume will be the third collaboration between Shinkai and musical artist RADWIMPS, who previously contributed to the scores of both Your Name and Weathering With You. A Japanese rock band headed by multi-instrumentalist Yojiro Noda, RADWIMPS is known for its intense, raw emotional feeling.
With their contributions for Your Name driving them to international acclaim, their new collaboration with Shinkai for Suzume is am ambitious collaboration for the film’s vision of being a major event; a film that the director has described as “a movie that brings people into theaters” and “maximize the audience’s ability to immerse themselves in a story with the ultimate visual and music compositions.”
In addition to this returning collaboration, the soundtrack for Suzume is also set to include some exciting new partnerships as well. The film is going to also include musical material composed by famous America-based Japanese composer Kazuma Jinnouchi, whose past credits include everything from music for the Metal Gear Solid and Halo game franchises, to Rooster Teeth’s RWBY and Netflix’s 2019 Ultraman anime adaptation.
The acclaimed composer is said to be working directly with RADWIMPS as part of the soundtrack, to which Yojiro Noda has expressed, “A partnership with someone of Kazuma’s caliber, having worked on both films and video games, has given me an experience I cannot describe in words. It has broadened my horizons.” Finally, the female vocalist for the film’s title song has been officially revealed as Toaka, a singer who has become a fan sensation on TikTok. “I’m ecstatic to be part of RADWIMPS’ intricate melody and Director Shinkai’s beautiful world that will touch audiences' hearts,” said Toaka, whose selection for the part was personally overseen by Shinkai and Noda.
All of the specific plot details for Suzume are being kept under-wraps, but we know that it involves a titular protagonist living on the Kyushu island of Southern Japan, who becomes entangled in a man’s search for an otherworldly door that holds untold capabilities. The film looks to possibly infuse a more adventurous twist into Shinkai’s carefully-crafted fantasy-drama oeuvre, and the film is set for a national release in Japan this November.
Source: Press Release