Suzume (Suzume no Tojimari / Suzume’s Locking Up the Doors) revolves around the story of a 17-year-old girl whose journey begins in a quiet town in Kyushu when she encounters a young man looking for a door. What Suzume finds is a single weathered door standing upright amid ruins as though it was shielded from whatever catastrophe struck.

Doors begin to open one after another across Japan, unleashing destruction upon any who are nearby. Suzume must close these portals to prevent further disaster. Within that realm, it was as though all time had melted together in the sky–guided by these mysterious doors, Suzume’s journey to close doors is about to begin.

The film brings in a masterful road trip story of Suzume while maintaining the cosmic and mythical elements from the previous films made by writer-director Makoto Shinkai. It invites audiences on a tour of Japan, bypassing familiar landmarks, like Mount Fuji, to concentrate on places that represent the country’s endangered heritage. Each scenario that was lovingly rendered delivers a soul-nourishing charge of a real-world sunset.

This one is yet another fan-pleaser that thoroughly blends supernatural threats with love, grief, and tales about human relationships. You’ll really feel the emotion of every character presented. Suzume and Souta’s (in chair form) chemistry are undeniably great. It was quite an adventure for them to travel within the past, present, and future. Suzume is all about the importance of healing than preventing a disaster. An epic personal journey that viewers would enjoy.

For the two-hour screening time, Suzume never has a dull moment for it delivers a perfect anime film that ties up new themes and emotions in one exciting story. The film thoroughly balances human encounters, breathtaking adventure, and thrilling action sequences. A total bliss to both ears and eyes. It is an absorbing, intriguing, spectacular and beautiful masterpiece made with a heart.

Building an entertaining storyline around heavyweight topics is one of Shinkai’s strongest points (as in ‘Your Name’ and ‘Weathering with You’), that’s why Suzume wins in its sci-fi supernatural disaster movie shot through with an emotion and a distinctive element of whimsical comedy.

Makoto Shinkai is the undisputed visual champion of the anime form for Suzume provides the final punch. Enjoy the view and stay for the feels — it’s worth your time.

Suzume could be a masterpiece and an upcoming anime sensation, for many, across the world for as it delivers a unique visual, relatable characters, and an amazing storytelling. It’s a must-see for anime fans!

Distributed by Encore Films Philippines via Warner Bros. Philippines, ‘Suzume’ opens March 8 in Philippine cinemas.