National, 21st April 2023: Finally! Ever since the release of the Suzume trailer, anime lovers in India have been buzzing with anticipation, and at last, it has hit the big screen today. Anime has always been a part of the lives of 90s and 2000s kids, who still fondly recall watching shows like Shinchan and Doraemon during their childhood. But the genre has much more to offer. In recent years, anime has gained a lot of popularity worldwide, including in India, with shows like Naruto, Dragon Ball Z, Jujutsu Kaisen 0, Death Note, and many others being widely watched. The iconic Studio Ghibli, well-known for its aesthetic and thought-provoking films like Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle, has introduced the world to the delight of anime movies. The biggest factor in anime’s rise to popularity is the vibrant and highly detailed animation, aesthetic visuals, and stunning fight sequences. Based on the global and domestic audience reaction and critic reviews, Suzume lives up to the hype. The film is being praised for its spectacular visuals, soulful music, and catchy storyline.
As a pre-release celebration of the film, PVR INOX hosted a fan meet and greet with the famed Director Makoto Shinkai at their multiplex in Citi Mall, Andheri in Mumbai. Guests were stoked for the opportunity to meet Makoto, who also created the highly acclaimed anime films Your Name and Weathering with You. The lucky guests also received free signed copies of Makoto’s novel Suzume!
At the event, Director Makoto Shinkai said, “One day I want to make a film like RRR, watching it was a very unique experience and I loved it. I want to make films that will make Japanese viewers become Indian viewers, and where they will be able to come with friends and cheer out loud for the movie,”
Speaking about the film’s opening day performance, box office expectations and the audience reaction, Gautam Dutta – Co-CEO of PVR INOX Ltd. said, “People of all ages enjoy anime, and it has gained immense popularity in India in recent years, with successful films like Jujutsu Kaisen 0 and Demon Slayer: Kimetsu No Yaiba – To the Swordsmith Village at the Indian box-office. We are excited to present yet another masterpiece, Suzume, to our audiences, and judging by their reactions, it is likely to be a box office hit. The meet and greet with the film’s director, Makoto Shinkai, was also a delightful experience for the anime fans, and we were grateful for the opportunity. With its fantastic opening and the audience’s awe-inspiring reactions, Suzume is expected to keep the door to entertainment open for a long time.”
Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume tells the story of a determined teenager, Suzume, who is tasked with saving her country. With the rare ability to see the supernatural, it is up to her to close the mysterious doors that are causing chaos across the land. A perilous journey awaits her as the fate of Japan rests on her shoulders. The film is presented in India by PVR Pictures, a subsidiary of PVR Ltd.
