The anime platform teams up with Sony Pictures Entertainment and Wild Bunch to secure distribution rights for the ‘Your Name’ director’s upcoming film; slated for November 11 release in Japan, the film rolls out in major territories in early 2023.
Crunchyroll has picked up the global distribution and marketing rights (excluding Asia) from TOHO, for Makoto Shinkai’s upcoming film, Suzume no Tojimari (working title). The deal was finalized at this year’s Cannes Film Festival and was negotiated by Crunchyroll’s chief content officer Asa Suehira, Wild Bunch International’s CEO Vincent Maraval, and TOHO’s Akihiro Takeda. Rights are handled worldwide by TOHO (excluding South Korea and India).
Slated to debut in Japan on November 11, Suzume no Tojimari’s global distribution will begin in all major territories in early 2023. Crunchyroll is the sole North American distributor and will team up with Sony Pictures Entertainment for distribution in Latin America, Australia/New Zealand, the Middle East and portions of Europe. In French- and German-speaking Europe, the film will be co-distributed by Crunchyroll, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Wild Bunch International.
“It’s with humility and honor that CoMix Wave Films, Makoto Shinkai, and TOHO have decided to partner with Crunchyroll on the next masterpiece,” said Crunchyroll, LLC president Rahul Purini. “It’s also an incredible opportunity to work with our partners at Sony Pictures Entertainment and Wild Bunch International to co-distribute this film across a wide swatch of territories. We know both animation fans and general audiences will fall in love with this prestigious film, and we can’t wait to see the world’s reaction and reception to it in cinemas, festivals and for awards consideration.”
“We are excited to work with Makoto Shinkai, CoMix Wave Films, TOHO and Crunchyroll,” added Wild Bunch International president Vincent Maraval. “We consider Makoto Shinkai as a major artist with whom we wanted to work for a long time. He is a talented director that we welcome in our family of cinema masters, and we feel proud to be able to bring his vision to the cinema world all around the globe.”
Shinkai, an award-winning creator, writer, and director, gained international notoriety from the release of his most recent films Your Name (2016) and Weathering With You (2019). Weathering With You was selected as Japan’s entry for the best international feature film category of the 2020 Academy Awards and nominated in four categories in the 47th annual Annie Awards including best animated independent feature.
Watch the trailer:
The film’s synopsis:
On the other side of the door, was time in its entirety -
A coming-of-age story for the 17-year-old protagonist, Suzume, set in various disaster-stricken locations across Japan, where she must close the doors causing devastation. Her journey begins in a quiet town in Kyushu (located in southwestern Japan) when she encounters a young man who tells her, “I’m looking for a door.” What she finds is a single weathered door standing upright in the midst of ruins as though it was shielded from whatever catastrophe struck. Seemingly drawn by its power, Suzume reaches for the knob… Doors begin to open one after another all across Japan, unleashing destruction upon any who are nearby. Suzume must close these portals to prevent further disaster.
Source: Crunchyroll
Debbie Diamond Sarto is news editor at Animation World Network.
