Kouichirou Itou, an anime producer best-known for working on a number of Makoto Shinkai’s movies, is back in the news because of updates in his criminal trial. Itou was originally arrested in February 2024, almost a year ago, after authorities working on prostitution cases stumbled …Read more »
5 Centimeters Per Second, the Makoto Shinkai anime from 2007, is getting a live-action film adaptation in Japan. The film will be released in fall 2025. The movie will star Hokuto Matsumura, a member of the group SixTONES, who played Sota in Shinkai’s film Suzume. …Read more »
New accusations have risen against anime producer Kouichirou Itou, who has produced multiple films with award-winning director Makoto Shinkai. Itou was originally arrested last month after allegations he paid an underage girl for nude photos. Now Wakayama Prefectural Police say he paid money to a …Read more »
Anime producer Kouichirou Itou, whose credits include your name., Weathering With You and Suzume, was recently arrested after being accused of trying to get a 15-year-old girl to give him nude photos. Director Makoto Shinkai, who has worked with Itou for years, put out a …Read more »
It’s been a full 10 years since director Makoto Shinkai released The Garden of Words anime film, preceding smash hits like Your Name., Weathering With You and Suzume. Now, with the anniversary on the minds of fans, a stage play adaptation is on the way …Read more »
Makoto Shinkai’s anime movie Suzume will be hitting international theaters on April 14, but it turns out the film’s North American debut will occur before that. The New York International Children’s Film Festival (a.k.a. NYICFF), which will take place March 3-19, is now set to …Read more »
Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume anime film keeps making waves at the box office in Japan, and now it’s hit another milestone. Suzume has officially sold over 10 million tickets in Japan, and it’s the third Makoto Shinkai film to do so after your name. and Weathering …Read more »
Suzume is headed to Berlin. Makoto Shinkai’s film, released in Japan last year, will play in the competition lineup at the Berlin International Film Festival, which kicks off in late February. It’ll be the first anime film to be in competition in Berlin since Spirited …Read more »
It’s time once again to see what Google has deemed to be the most-searched topics of the year, and 2022 has certainly proven to be the year of Chainsaw Man. Denji leads the pack in the list of most-searched TV anime in Japan, while Makoto …Read more »
The US theatrical release for Makoto Shinkai’s latest film has been announced. Crunchyroll will release Suzume in US theaters starting April 14. The film will also be shown around that same timeframe in a buncha other countries (but this is Otaku USA, darn it!). Suzume was …Read more »
Makoto Shinkai, the director of your name. and Weathering With You, appears to have another hit on his hands. His latest film, Suzume, which opened in Japan on November 11, was #1 at the box office over its debut weekend. The film earned 1.88 billion …Read more »
Fans of Makoto Shinkai’s work who buy Happy Meals in Japan have an extra reason to be happy. Starting this Friday, November 4, the toy in the Happy Meal set will be a new picture book written by Makoto Shinkai himself! The picture book is …Read more »
If you’re looking forward to the next film from director Makoto Shinkai, Suzume, a second full trailer is here along with a new visual and cast additions. Check out the new preview below and read on to see who’s getting in on more of the …Read more »
The latest update has arrived for Suzume no Tojimari, the upcoming anime film by acclaimed director Makoto Shinkai (your name., Weathering with You). According to the official website, 18-year-old actress Nanoko Hara has been cast as the movie’s lead, Suzume Iwato, as selected by Shinkai …Read more »
As tends to be the case with his projects, director Makoto Shinkai isn’t content leaving his new anime film, Suzume no Tojimari, on the screen. Shinkai is also working on a novel adaptation of the feature, and the book will go on sale in Japan …Read more »
Danica Davidson
Matt Schley
Joseph Luster
