Top 8 Best Anime by the Renowned Director Shinkai Makoto

Suzume (Suzume's Locked Doors) is the latest cinematic masterpiece by director Shinkai Makoto, released at the end of 2022. The film falls under the genres of science fiction action and comedy, a collaboration between CoMix Wave Films and Toho.

The story revolves around a high school girl and a young man named Souta, who attempt to shut down various disasters across Japan, impressing audiences with its captivating plot and adept portrayal of earthquake and tsunami themes.

Suzume marks Shinkai Makoto's first anime feature film produced as a road movie, and his third collaboration with Kawamura Genki - a renowned Japanese filmmaker, novelist, screenwriter, and director, following Your Name and Weathering With You.

The allure of the 'Sad Wizard' Shinkai Makoto's name is well-deserved; Suzume quickly garnered prestigious nominations and entered the competition at the Berlin International Film Festival, becoming the second animated film to achieve this feat since the iconic Spirited Away in 2001.

Some Information About the Film:

• Japanese Title: Suzume no Tojimari
• Release Year: 2022
• Duration: 122 minutes
• IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

Your Name (What's Your Name?) is a Japanese animated film produced in 2016, directed by Shinkai Makoto. It is one of the most beloved and highly acclaimed animated films of Japan in recent years, with an IMDb rating of 8.4/10 based on 278,058 votes.

The story begins with the fateful encounter between Taki and Mitsuha - the two main characters of the film. Taki is a boy living in the bustling city of Tokyo, while Mitsuha is a young girl residing in a rural village, longing to live in the big city. Although they have never met, through a mysterious twist of fate, they suddenly start switching bodies on certain days of the week. Shinkai Makoto ingeniously weaves profound lessons into each frame of the film. In this segment, both Mitsuha and Taki seem to learn many things they had never known before. For Taki, he learns respect and love for everyone around him. Meanwhile, our heroine Mitsuha learns how to forgive herself.

However, one day, Mitsuha wakes up to find that she and Taki are no longer switching bodies. Mitsuha tries to uncover the truth behind this and discovers a shocking secret related to her life, her future, and the villagers in her hometown.

Your Name leaves a strong impression on the audience thanks to its touching storyline, stunning visuals, impressive soundtrack, and the excellent combination of mythological elements and romance, intertwined with a touch of surreal adventure. The film has won numerous prestigious awards and is considered a box office phenomenon of 2016, elevating the name of the talented director Shinkai Makoto to one of the leading figures in the anime industry.

Some information about the film:

• Japanese Title: Kimi no Na wa
• Year of Release: 2016
• Duration: 107 minutes
• IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Weathering With You (Child of Weather) is a film directed by Shinkai Makoto following the blockbuster success of Your Name. The story follows a young boy named Hodaka Morishima on a journey away from his hometown in search of a better life in Tokyo. Here, he encounters a girl named Hina Amano, who possesses the ability to control the weather through some mysterious power. Hodaka and Hina together establish a small company to help the city's residents combat heavy rains and seek sunshine on gloomy days.

Weathering With You is not only a touching love story but also contains a profound message about the strong connection between humans and nature. The characters in the film all have a deep appreciation for the value of nature and are concerned about environmental protection. Thus, the film conveys to the audience a message of respect for Mother Nature and awareness in environmental conservation. The stunning scenes of Tokyo's landscapes along with realistic weather sequences have contributed to the success of the film. With its compelling storyline, captivating plot, and profound human values, Weathering With You has attracted widespread attention from audiences and received much praise from critics.

Some information about the film:

• Japanese Title: Tenki no Ko
  
• Year of Release: 2019
  
• Duration: 111 minutes
  
• IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Children Who Chase Lost Voices (Those Kids Chasing After Lost Spirits) is an adventure-action-themed anime with elements of romance by Shinkai Makoto, released in 2011.

The film follows the adventurous journey of a young girl named Asuna, who inadvertently discovers a world full of mystery and the supernatural. She meets a boy named Shun, who leads her on a dramatic adventure to search for Shun's father's soul. Throughout the journey, Asuna and Shun must face numerous challenges and dangers from wicked enemies seeking to use souls to gain ultimate power. Both must overcome harsh trials to find answers to questions revolving around love, friendship, family, loss, and life.

Children Who Chase Lost Voices delivers beautiful visuals, fantastic music, along with a captivating and emotional storyline. The film has received praise from audiences and critics alike, being considered one of Makoto Shinkai's must-watch works.

Some information about the film:

• Japanese Title: Hoshi wo Ou Kodomo
  
• Year of Release: 2011
  
• Duration: 116 minutes
  
• IMDb Rating: 7.1/10

The Promise Beyond the Clouds tells the story of three childhood friends: Hiroki, Takuya, and Sayuri in a small town in Japan during the 1990s.

The story begins when Hiroki and Takuya, two 9th graders, decide to build an airplane in an ancient temple to reach a distant land visible through a tall tower in the sky. They name it 'The Tower' and believe it can take them where no one else can go. Meanwhile, Sayuri, their close friend, is hospitalized due to illness and has to stay behind.

A year later, Takuya and Hiroki drop out of school to continue their research and complete their airplane. When Sayuri is discharged from the hospital, she also joins their project, and all three embark on a journey to reach the place they've dreamed of.

The Promise Beyond the Clouds has a captivating storyline and conveys profound messages about friendship, hope, and the values of life. The symbolic imagery of 'The Tower' represents an unattainable land for humanity, posing the question of whether humans can transcend their limits and reach distant places in the universe or not.

Some information about the film:

• Japanese Title: Kumo no Mukō, Yakusoku no Basho
• Year Released: 2004
• Duration: 90 minutes
• IMDb Rating: 6.9/10

5 Centimeters per Second is a poignant artistic masterpiece by director Shinkai Makoto, released in 2007. The film narrates the love story between two main characters, Takaki and Akari, starting from their childhood and spanning over several years. The 65-minute film is divided into three parts, each depicting a different period in Takaki and Akari's lives. Through this, the film portrays the evolution of their relationship over time and their own personal changes: from childhood friends who are always together, protecting each other from the pranks of classmates, to adulthood, where each has their own life.

The distinctive aspect of 5 Centimeters per Second is its portrayal of distance and the longing to reunite between the two main characters. Despite the geographical separation, they always yearn to meet again. However, in the end, they must accept the reality that no matter how hard they try, they cannot stay together forever. Akari and Takaki were deeply in love, but that love couldn't overcome the geographical distance. The scene of the two main characters passing by each other and a train passing by has become iconic among fans. The film evokes the poignant sadness of people in love but unable to be together, yet it also instills in us the belief in love, in life, that even though not together, love endures and life goes on.

Alongside the deeply emotional scenes typical of Shinkai Makoto, the film's soundtrack, 'One more time, one more chance,' seems to elevate the film further, contributing significantly to the reputation of 5 Centimeters per Second.

Some information about the film:

• Japanese Title: Byōsoku Go Senchimētoru
• Year Released: 2007
• Duration: 65 minutes
• IMDb Rating: 7.5/10