Makoto Niitsu (新津 誠, Niitsu Makoto, born February 9, 1973), known as Makoto Shinkai (新海 誠, Shinkai Makoto), is a Japanese filmmaker and novelist. He is known for his anime feature films produced with studio CoMix Wave Films.
Makoto Shinkai | |||||
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新海 誠 | |||||
Shinkai at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival | |||||
Born | Makoto Niitsu February 9, 1973 Koumi, Japan | ||||
Education | Chuo University | ||||
Occupations |
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Years active | 1996–present | ||||
Known for | Your Name Weathering with You Suzume | ||||
Spouse | Chieko Misaka | ||||
Children | Chise Niitsu | ||||
Japanese name | |||||
Kanji | 新海 誠 | ||||
Kana | しんかい まこと | ||||
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Website | shinkaimakoto shinkaiworks | ||||
Signature | |||||
Shinkai began his career as a video game animator with Nihon Falcom in 1996, and gained recognition as a filmmaker with the release of the original video animation (OVA) She and Her Cat (1999). Shinkai then released the science-fiction OVA Voices of a Distant Star in 2002 as his first feature with CoMix Wave, and followed this with his debut feature film The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004).
Shinkai's films have consistently received highly positive reviews from both critics and audiences, and he is considered to be one of Japan's most commercially successful filmmakers.[1] His three most recent films Your Name (2016), Weathering with You (2019), and Suzume (2022) are all among the highest-grossing Japanese films of all time both in Japan and worldwide at the time of their release.[2][3][4]
Early life
editA native of Nagano Prefecture, Shinkai studied Japanese literature at Chuo University, where he was a member of the juvenile literature club and drew picture books. He traces his passion for creation to the manga, anime and novels he was exposed to in middle school. His favorite anime films are Laputa: Castle in the Sky, Nausicaä and The Castle of Cagliostro by Hayao Miyazaki, The End of Evangelion by Hideaki Anno and Patlabor 2 by Mamoru Oshii.
Career
editAfter graduating from Chuo University Faculty of Literature in March 1996,[5] he got a job at Falcom, a video game company. He worked there for 5 years, making video clips for games and graphic design including web content.[6] During this time he met musician Tenmon, who later scored many of his movies.
In 1999, Shinkai released She and Her Cat, a five-minute short piece done in monochrome. It won several awards, including the grand prize at the 12th DoGA CG Animation contest (2000). DoGA is an independent nonprofit company set up to encourage entry-level animators with software and advice.[7] The short details the life of a cat, entirely from the cat's perspective, as it passes time with its owner, a young woman.
After winning the grand prize, Shinkai began thinking about a follow-up while he continued working for Falcom. In June 2000, Shinkai was inspired to begin Voices of a Distant Star by drawing a picture of a girl in a cockpit grasping a cell phone. Some time later, he was contacted by Manga Zoo (today a smartphone app), which offered to work with him, giving him a grant to turn his idea into an anime they could sell. In May 2001, he quit his job at Falcom and began to work on Voices. In an interview, Shinkai noted that production took around seven months of "real work".[6]
Voices of a Distant Star was followed by the 90-minute The Place Promised in Our Early Days, which was released nationwide in Japan on November 20, 2004. It was critically acclaimed, winning many honors.[8][9] Shinkai's next project was 5 Centimeters per Second and premiered on 3 March 2007. It consists of three short films: Cherry Blossom, Cosmonaut, and 5 Centimeters per Second.[10] In September 2007, Nagano's leading newspaper, Shinano Mainichi Shinbun, released a TV commercial animated by Shinkai.
Shinkai spent 2008 in London, resting since the completion of 5 Centimeters per Second[citation needed]. He returned to Japan in 2009 to start work on his next project. He released two concept drawings for this film in December 2009. Shinkai noted that it would be his longest animation film to date and described the story as a "lively" animated film with adventure, action, and romance centered on a cheerful and spirited girl on a journey to say "farewell".[11] In November 2010, he revealed that his next work would be titled Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below. A teaser trailer was released on November 9, and the film was released on May 7, 2011.[12][13]
His next feature, The Garden of Words, was released on May 31, 2013.[14]
On August 26, 2016, Shinkai released Your Name. The film received widespread acclaim from audiences and critics,[15] praising the film for its narrative, imagery, animation, music, emotional weight, and skillful use of post-postmodernist themes. The film was also a commercial success, becoming the fifth-highest-grossing film of all time in Japan. Then by 2019, the film became the highest-grossing anime film of all time worldwide, overtaking Miyazaki's Spirited Away.[2][16]
Shinkai's next project Weathering with You was released on July 19, 2019 in Japan.[17][18] The film was also a commercial success, grossing $192.9 million worldwide and making it the tenth highest grossing Japanese film of all time.[19][20]
Suzume, Shinkai's seventh feature-length film, was released in Japan on November 11, 2022.[21][22] The film was a further critical and commercial success, grossing over $300 million worldwide.[23]
Personal life
editShinkai has been called "The New Miyazaki" in several reviews,[24][25] including those by Anime Advocates and ActiveAnime—comparisons that Shinkai brushed off as "overestimation".[26]
Shinkai is married to retired actress and producer Misaka Chieko who is best known for starring in Versus by Ryuhei Kitamura; the couple has a daughter, child actress Chise Niitsu (born 2010).[27][28]
An asteroid, 55222 Makotoshinkai, is named after him.[29]
Works
editFilm
editTitle | Year | Credited as | Notes | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Writer | Producer | Actor | Other | ||||
The World Be Enclosed (囲まれた世界 Kakomareta Sekai) |
1998 | Yes | Animator | Short film | |||
Other Worlds (遠い世界 Tōi Sekai) |
1998 | Yes | Animator | Short film | |||
She and Her Cat (彼女と彼女の猫 Kanojo to Kanojo no Neko) |
1999 | Yes | Yes | Animator | Her cat (Voice over) | Short film | |
Voices of a Distant Star (ほしのこえ Hoshi no Koe) |
2002 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Animator | Noboru Terao (Voice over) | Short film |
Minna no Uta: "Egao" (みんなのうた「笑顔」) |
2003 | Yes | Short film | ||||
The Place Promised in Our Early Days (雲のむこう、約束の場所 Kumo no Mukō, Yakusoku no Basho) |
2004 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
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5 Centimeters per Second (秒速5センチメートル Byōsoku Go-Senchimētoru) |
2007 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Children Who Chase Lost Voices[A] (星を追う子ども Hoshi o Ou Kodomo) |
2011 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
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Someone's Gaze (だれかのまなざし Dareka no Manazashi) |
2013 | Yes | Yes | Short film | |||
The Garden of Words (言の葉の庭 Kotonoha no Niwa) |
2013 | Yes | Yes |
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Your Name (君の名は。 Kimi no Na wa) |
2016 | Yes | Yes |
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Weathering with You (天気の子 Tenki no Ko)[31] |
2019 | Yes | Yes |
|
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Suzume (すずめの戸締まり Suzume no Tojimari) |
2022 | Yes | Yes |
|
Video games
editTitle | Year | Credited as | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Director | Animator | Other | |||
The Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean | 1999 | Yes (Opening) |
As Makoto Niitsu | ||
Ys II Eternal | 2000 | Yes (Opening) |
As Makoto Niitsu | ||
Bittersweet Fools | 2001 | Yes (Trailer & Opening) |
|||
Wind: A Breath of Heart | 2002 | Yes (Trailer & Opening) |
Yes | ||
Haru no Ashioto | 2004 | Yes (Trailer & Opening) |
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Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two | 2006 2008 |
Yes (Trailer & Opening) |
Commercials
editTitle | Year | Credited as | Notes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Director | Editor | Other | |||
Bosphorus Tunnel (ボスポラス海峡トンネル, Bosuporasu Kaikyō Ton'neru) | 2011 | Yes |
|
TV commercial released by Taisei Corporation[32] | |
Sri Lanka Highway (スリランカ高速道路, Suriranka Kōzokudōro) | 2013 | Yes | Yes |
|
TV commercial released by Taisei Corporation, featuring the theme song "Fight" (ファイト, Faito) by Anri Kumaki[33] |
Vietnam Noi Bai Airport (ベトナム・ノイバイ空港, Betonamu Noibai Kūkō) | 2014 | Yes | Yes |
|
TV commercial released by Taisei Corporation[34] |
Z-Kai: Cross Road (Z会 「クロスロード」, Z-Kai Kurosu Rodo) | 2014 | Yes |
|
TV commercial released by Z-Kai[35] | |
Thomson–East Coast MRT Line (MRTトムソン・イーストコースト線, MRT Tomuson īsuto Kōsuto-sen) | 2018 | Yes | Yes |
|
TV commercial released by Taisei Corporation[36] |
New Yangon Specialist Hospital (ヤンゴン新専門病院, Yangon Shin Senmon Byōin) | 2020 | Yes | Yes |
|
TV commercial released by Taisei Corporation[37] |
Literary works
editTitle | Year | Publisher | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Slug | 1994 | — | Picture-book |
5 Centimeters per Second | 2007 | Media Factory | Novel |
The Garden of Words | 2014 | Kadokawa Shoten | Novel |
Your Name | 2016 | Kadokawa | Novel |
Your Name. Another Side: Earthbound | 2016 | Kadokawa | Light novel; co-written with Arato Kanou. |
Weathering with You | 2019 | Kadokawa | Novel |
Suzume | 2022 | Kadokawa | Novel |
Manga
editTitle | Year | Publisher(s) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Beyond the Tower | 2002 | — | |
Voices of a Distant Star | 2004 | Kodansha | Illustrated by Mizu Sahara |
The Place Promised in Our Early Days | 2006 | Kodansha | Illustrated by Mizu Sahara |
5 Centimeters per Second | 2010–11 | Kodansha Vertical, Inc. (English) |
Illustrated by Yukiko Seike |
Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below | 2011 | Media Factory | |
The Garden of Words | 2013 | Kodansha Vertical, Inc. (English) |
Illustrated by Midori Motohashi |
Your Name | 2016 | Media Factory | Illustrated by Ranmaru Kotone |
Weathering with You | 2019 | — | Illustrated by Watari Kubota |
Illustrations
edit- I Dream to Protect You (きみを守るためにぼくは夢をみる, Kimi o Mamoru Tame ni Boku wa Yume o Miru) — Illustrator (2003–2011)
Accolades
editNotes
editReferences
edit- ^ Schilling, Mark (February 20, 2023). "'Suzume' Director Shinkai Makoto on Hand-Drawn Animation and the Importance of Original Stories". Variety. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Shepherd, Jack (January 17, 2017). "'Your Name' beats 'Spirited Away' to become highest-grossing anime ever". The Independent. Archived from the original on December 10, 2017. Retrieved May 10, 2017.
- ^ "Makoto Shinkai – 'Distant Star' creator now in view". Variety. May 5, 2016. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
- ^ Brzeski, Patrick (March 27, 2023). "China Box Office: Makoto Shinkai's Anime Hit 'Suzume' Soars With $50M Opening". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
- ^ "新海誠監督×川田十夢氏、母校で対談 | 中央大学グローバル人材育成推進事業". globalization.chuo-u.ac.jp. Retrieved May 2, 2020.
- ^ a b Manry, Gia (August 17, 2011). "Interview: Makoto Shinkai". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on February 17, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ "Project Team DoGA". DoGA. Archived from the original on August 7, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
- ^ "Makoto Shinkai". Japan Speaker Bureau. Archived from the original on August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ Shannon, Jeff (June 17, 2005). "Glowing visuals, sweetly emotional tale mark strong anime feature debut". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ Scheib, Ronnie (March 6, 2008). "Five Centimeters Per Second". Variety. Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ Loo, Egan (December 24, 2009). "Distant Star's Shinkai Posts Images for Next Anime". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 19, 2010. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
- ^ Loo, Egan (November 2, 2010). "Paradise Kiss, Mardock Scramble, Gon Promos Streamed (Makoto Shinkai's latest work, Hoshi o Ou Kodomo, to have teaser on November 9)". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 4, 2010. Retrieved November 4, 2010.
- ^ Loo, Egan (November 9, 2010). "Makoto Shinkai's Hoshi o Ou Kodomo Teaser Posted in HD". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on November 10, 2010. Retrieved November 9, 2010.
- ^ "Video: Japanese anime movie 'Garden of Words' 5-min preview". Digital Journal. May 12, 2013. Archived from the original on November 4, 2014. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
- ^ "'Your Name.' Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ Blair, Gavin J. (January 27, 2017). "How Anime 'Your Name' Became an Unlikely Phenomenon". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on October 20, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
- ^ Bayle, Alfred (May 18, 2017). "Anime directors Mamoru Hosoda, Makoto Shinkai working on new films". Inquirer.net. Archived from the original on November 26, 2017. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
- ^ Schilling, Mark (December 18, 2018). "'Your Name' Director Makoto Shinkai Readies 'Weathering'". Variety. Archived from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
- ^ "Weathering with You (天気の子) (2019) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ "Weathering with You". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ "新海誠監督の最新作「すずめの戸締まり」2022年秋に全国公開! 主人公は災いの元となる"扉"を閉めていく少女" (in Japanese). Eiga.com. December 15, 2021. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
- ^ Malhotra, Rahul (December 15, 2021). "'Your Name' Director Makoto Shinkai Announces New Film". Collider. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
- ^ "Suzume (すずめの戸締まり) (2022) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
- ^ Rose, Steve (November 9, 2016). "Makoto Shinkai: Could the anime director be cinema's 'new Miyazaki'?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on August 11, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ Rich, Motoko (December 4, 2016). "The Anime Master of Missed Connections Makes Strong Contact in Japan". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 11, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ "Makoto Shinkai - 'The Place Promised in Our Early Days' Director". Active Anime. September 27, 2005. Archived from the original on December 20, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
- ^ "君の名は。」新海誠監督の妻は女優・三坂知絵子だった" ['Your Name' director Makoto Shinkai's wife, Misaka Chieko, was an actress]. Nikkan Gendai (in Japanese). October 15, 2016. Archived from the original on March 8, 2018. Retrieved November 25, 2017.
- ^ Sherman, Jennifer (June 24, 2018). "Anime Director Makoto Shinkai's Daughter Chise Niitsu Gets 1st Starring Film Role". Anime News Network. Archived from the original on August 11, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
- ^ "JPL Small-Body Database Browser — 55222 Makotoshinkai (2001 RP63)". NASA. September 12, 2001. Archived from the original on April 12, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
- ^ Osmond, Andrew (May 26, 2012). "'Children Who Chase Lose Voices' Renamed 'Journey to Agartha'". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
- ^ Blair, Gavin J. (December 14, 2018). "'Your Name' Director Makoto Shinkai Announces New Anime Feature". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 27, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
- ^ "Other voices-遠い声- » 大成建設テレビCM" [Other voices - Taisei TV CM] (in Japanese). Makoto Shinkai / CoMix Wave Films. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
- ^ "Other voices-遠い声- » 大成建設テレビCM「スリランカ高速道路」篇" [Other voices - Taisei TV CM "Sri Lanka highway"] (in Japanese). Makoto Shinkai / CoMix Wave Films. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
- ^ "Other voices-遠い声- » 大成建設テレビCM「ベトナム・ノイバイ空港」篇" [Other voices - Taisei TV CM "Vietnam Noi Bai Airport"] (in Japanese). Makoto Shinkai / CoMix Wave Films. Archived from the original on October 10, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
- ^ "Other voices-遠い声- » Z会「クロスロード」" [Other voices - Z-Kai: Cross Road] (in Japanese). Makoto Shinkai / CoMix Wave Films. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
- ^ Lam, Lydia (May 7, 2018). "Acclaimed 'Your Name' director Makoto Shinkai directs TV ad on Thomson-East Coast Line". The Straits Times. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ Freakpool (March 21, 2020). "Makoto Shinkai highlights Myanmar in new ad for Taisei Corporation". So Japan. Anime Festival Asia. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
- ^ "Digital Contents of the Year '02/第8回 AMD アワード" [Digital Contents of the Year '02 / 8th AMD Award]. Amd.or.jp (in Japanese). February 5, 2003. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- ^ Schilling, Mark (November 3, 2016). "'Yesterday' Takes Top Prize at Tokyo Film Festival". Variety. Archived from the original on June 29, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- ^ "報知映画賞ノミネート歴代受賞結果まとめ" (in Japanese). Pick Scene. Archived from the original on February 26, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- ^ Coggan, Devan (February 7, 2016). "Annie Awards 2016 winners list: 'Inside Out' takes top prizes". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- ^ "Blue Ribbon Awards Crowns "Shin Godzilla" Best Japanese Film of 2016". Crunchyroll. January 26, 2017. Archived from the original on August 26, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- ^ "11th Asian Film Awards – Nominees 2017". Asian Film Festivals. January 12, 2017. Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- ^ Schilling, Mark (January 18, 2016). "Kore'eda's 'Our Little Sister' Scores Record Nominations For Japanese Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- ^ Loo, Egan (February 23, 2017). "Yuri!!! on Ice, A Silent Voice Win Tokyo Anime Award Festival's Top Prizes". Anime News Network. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ^ 第26回受賞作品 [The 26th Winning Work]. Japan Movie Critics Awards Official Website (in Japanese). May 16, 2017. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved August 12, 2018.
- ^ "2020 Annie Award Winners | Complete List". The Hollywood Reporter. January 25, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
- ^ Harding, Daryl (February 5, 2020). "Weathering With You, Demon Slayer Win Anime of the Year at Tokyo Anime Awards Festival 2020". Crunchyroll. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- ^ Thompson, Jaden (November 13, 2023). "America Ferrera, Colman Domingo and Greta Lee Among Critics Choice Association Honorees for Black, Latino and AAPI Achievements". Variety. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
- ^ Flores, Terry (January 11, 2024). "Netflix's Nimona Leads Annie Awards 2024 Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
External links
edit- Makoto Shinkai's Website Archived February 10, 2021, at the Wayback Machine (in Japanese)
- Makoto Shinkai's Official Portal
- Makoto Shinkai at IMDb
- Makoto Shinkai at AllMovie
- Makoto Shinkai at Rotten Tomatoes
- Makoto Shinkai at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
- Entry in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction