Makoto Shinkai has brought in yet another tide of anticipation as he decides to hit the theatres with Suzume no Tojimari(2022). The veteran animator after having spent more than two decades in the industry has understood the fantasy genre of anime and adventure anime better than anyone else.
As Suzume (2022) makes it to the big screens, we will revisit Shinkai’s work on fantasy and adventure and how he has redefined the fantasy genre in some of his best works. As we trace his legacy into the remaking and redefining of the fantasy genre, let us take two steps back to admire Makoto Shinkai’s legendary creative construction.
From ‘Your Name’ to ‘Suzume’ and beyondÂ
The way Makoto Shinkai creates magic is truly admirable in the sense that he weaves more than the story itself. The striking animation and the grasping storyline together create a narrative of fine melodrama.
This puts the viewer into a trance with all the surreal effects and emotional shifts at play. Shinkai’s original legacy might have just started with 5 Centimeters per Second (2007)Â when he decided to cripple the audience with striking emotional shifts and a deliberate attempt at creating a base for such future endeavors.
We are familiar with the profound tragedy of Your Name (2013) and its element of fantasy engrained in the magical weaving of fate through threads. It is a work that examines human emotional contentment and connections while revolving around love as its central theme. The tragedy takes us back to how Shinkai initially started his narrative with elements of tragedy, which became his defining themes for future works.
With Weathering with You (2019) came in the final wave of Makoto Shinkai’s epic tragicomedy which put him at the forefront of animators experimenting with this genre. Although he had already gained much recognition with She and Her Cat (1999), his notable works for the audience of today still remain his recent creations.
Why Makoto Shinkai in an Age of Shonen?
The basic experimentation of Shinkai with his traditional form and modern manifestations of animation brings together a new sub-culture of anime that not only transfers the conventional ideas of romance into a surreal reality but also creates a different perspective for the audience to look into fantasy genre of anime as more than its repetitive narratives.
While Shonen creates this mirage of a visually satisfying series of action-packed adventures, it mostly lacks the intense emotional appeal that defines Makoto Shinkai. He sticks to his definitive trait of creating a narrative that is balanced in terms of its fictional chronicle and emotional voyage.
Can Suzume no Tojimari uphold Shinkai’s legacy of the Fantasy genre of Anime?
Suzume no Tojimari (2022)Â became an instant sensation with its release of the trailer. The feverish excitement of the audience became proof of their anticipation. With this, the question arises if Shinkai can uphold his reputation and will his new venture fit into his fans’ expectations of his fantasy genre of anime.
http://https://youtu.be/5pTcio2hTSw
Makoto Shinkai’s legacy is a proof of the work that puts his audience at the forefront of his adventures. It is the constant appeal and zest of the audience that puts his metanarrative into action.
Therefore, the audience already imagines a set of constructs that define any Makoto Shinkai anime, even before the original thing hits the screens. It is the ability of anime to give such an experience of visual storytelling and immersive reality that differentiates it from any other genre.
Conclusion
The fantasy genre of anime is a space that fits different dimensions of reality into one and Makoto Shinkai is more acquainted with this than anyone else. He never fails to converge elements of adventure and romance into his fantastical narrative and, therefore, the viewer is so much invested as the story progresses.
The retelling of his style in his recent project would not only enhance his reputation as a skilled storyteller but also provide critical views into his style. With this, we hope that Suzume no Tojimari brings forth a plethora of emotional waterslides and we fall in love again with the creation and the world of Makoto Shinkai.
To read more on the captivating visuals of Shinkai click here.
