Suzume Soars to Top 8 Highest Grossing Anime Films of All Time

Makoto Shinkai's latest anime film, Suzume no Tajimari, also known as Suzume, has completed its Japanese theatrical run after 29 weeks, raking in an impressive estimated domestic revenue of 14.79 billion yen (approximately US$105.3 million) and selling 11.5 million tickets. This astounding achievement has cemented Suzume's position as the 8th highest-earning anime film in Japanese history and the 14th highest-earning film of all time in Japan. It also marks a new milestone for Makoto Shinkai, with Suzume surpassing the lifetime earning of his previous film, Weathering With You, to become his highest-earning film to date.

Suzume's success in the global market is undeniable, having grossed over $321.5 million worldwide and reaching the number 1 box office ranking in multiple countries. It holds the record for being the highest earning film in India, South Korea, and China. Moreover, it has earned the title of the highest-earning Japanese film of all time in both South Korea and China, a remarkable feat for any film.

Makoto Shinkai, the creator of Suzume, has followed his usual practice of writing the story himself, as he has done with all his previous films. The story has been adapted into a novel and a manga series, both of which have already been released in Japan. The novel hit the shelves in August 2022, while the manga started serialization in October 2022, with the first volume released in March 2023. For fans outside of Japan, the novel adaptation has been licensed by Yen Press, and the official English translation will be available in both digital and hardback formats on July 18, 2023. Although there is no official news yet about the English release of the manga, it is likely that Kodansha USA, the subsidiary of the publisher Kodansha Japan, will publish it for the global market in the near future.

Makoto Shinkai is a renowned anime film producer who has created numerous fan-favorite and critically acclaimed works over the years. His global hit, Your Name, broke records in 2016, and each subsequent work has surpassed the success of the last. Today, it's safe to say that Makoto Shinkai is among the most successful directors in Japan's history.