Shinkai Makoto: The Game Designer Who Became a Renowned Anime Director
Shinkai Makoto has long been famous for his roles as a novelist, director, and now a renowned game designer, crafting beloved anime masterpieces. However, few know that he did not come from a manga or anime background but rather from game design. When searching for a job, he was uncertain about his career path, which led him to explore various opportunities, ultimately finding his niche in a game company.
With a passion for manga, anime, literature, and especially video games, Makoto decided to become a game designer and video game developer at Nihon Falcom. This role allowed him to immerse himself more deeply in his love for filmmaking, and he began creating works unique to himself after leaving the company.
In 1999, while still working at the game company, this Japanese director released two short films using web-based technology, one of which was Kanojo to Kanojo no Neko (She and Her Cat). This animated short, lasting only five minutes, was created within five months, showcasing his skills as a director and producer. She and Her Cat won him his first award at the Grand Prix during the 12th CG Animation Contest organized by Project Team DoGA. This success marked a pivotal shift from video games to the realm of animated filmmaking for Shinkai Makoto.
In 2000, while sketching a girl holding a phone in a public bus, he pressed on with a 20-minute animated film titled Hoshi no Koe (Voices of a Distant Star). During this period, he realized he had to make the most crucial decision of his life: to continue as a game designer or to transition into filmmaking. After receiving funding for Voices of a Distant Star, Makoto decided to leave Falcom and took his first steps into the world of professional animation as a director, producer, and screenwriter.
Films that Define Shinkai Makoto’s Career
With the success of the short film Voices of a Distant Star, he continued to challenge himself with longer works, such as the feature-length film Kumo no Muko, Yakusoku no Basho (The Place Promised in Our Early Days), released in November 2004. This work was well-received for its strong narrative and high-quality animation.
Success continued with Shinkai Makoto through the work 5 Centimeters Per Second, which explores the themes of distance and longing. The film’s outstanding quality earned it recognition as one of the best animated films at the 2007 Asian Film Awards. Director Makoto also released light novel and manga adaptations, receiving positive feedback from audiences.
After this success, he took a break and spent time in London, which influenced his creative process significantly. In 2010, he released Children Who Chase Lost Voices, followed by The Garden of Words in 2013. Both films explore themes of love, loss, and deep humanity. Notably, The Garden of Words was screened in Vietnam during the event “The Wind Rises! Japanese Animation and Film 2013”. During this period, Shinkai Makoto began developing ideas for his next project, Your Name.
By 2016, the anime phenomenon Your Name was released in Japan and broke box office records, becoming a cultural phenomenon with the highest earnings in Japan, as well as in other markets like China, Taiwan, and South Korea. Your Name captivated audiences with its emotional depth, blending humor, body-swapping elements, and the bittersweet nuances of young love.
Fans often say that every three years, Shinkai Makoto will deliver another masterpiece to the audience. Indeed, in 2019, Weathering With You was released after a three-year hiatus. The film received widespread acclaim and love from audiences, creating a new milestone as it ranked 14th among Japan’s highest-grossing films.
The Anticipation for the Next Anime Sensation: Suzume
In December 2021, director Shinkai Makoto announced the first details of his new animated work on Twitter, instantly creating a buzz on Japanese social media. The film was written during a time when the director was working around the globe, not only on his own but also alongside those who were facing struggles. Additionally, while developing the script for his new work, he reflected on the consequences of the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami. Makoto felt this was a significant opportunity to create a film about overcoming adversity, aiming to share sorrow with viewers and his crew. The phrase “We will overcome” became the latest theme in Shinkai Makoto’s work—Suzume (translated: Suzume’s Lock).
The film is set to be released to Japanese audiences on November 11, and fans in Vietnam will have the chance to see it in theaters this March. Continuing the previous themes of Makoto’s works like Your Name and Weathering With You, Suzume continues to explore the journey of the human experience, but this time with a brighter theme, bringing positive messages through the protagonist’s journey of self-discovery and personal freedom.
The film’s content revolves around Suzume, a 17-year-old girl living in Kyushu. She encounters Sota, a college student who aspires to become a teacher, and is on a journey to find mysterious doors. Following Sota to a tourist area, Suzume discovers a door that resembles those found in devastated areas. After Suzume opens the door, soon after, doors begin to open throughout Japan, bringing disasters from the other side. She decides to embark on a journey across Japan to close all the doors, protecting the world from chaos.
Suzume is expected to be a heartwarming film, and the buzz around it is building as its release date approaches. Suzume – Suzume’s Lock will hit theaters on March 10.
