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Makoto Shinkai

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The native form of this personal name is Shinkai Makoto. This article uses Western name order when mentioning individuals.

Makoto Shinkai
新海 誠
Shinkai at the 2023 Berlin International Film Festival
Born
Makoto Niitsu

(1973-02-09) February 9, 1973 (age 51)
Koumi, Japan
EducationChuo University
Occupations
Years active1996–present
Known forYour Name
Weathering with You
Suzume
SpouseChieko Misaka [ja]
ChildrenChise Niitsu [ja]
Japanese name
Kanji新海 誠
Kanaしんかい まこと
Transcriptions
RomanizationShinkai Makoto
Websiteshinkaimakoto.jp[dead link]
shinkaiworks.com
Signature

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.

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

[edit]

A 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

[edit]

After 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 at the Otakon Anime Convention in 2011

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]

Shinkai in 2013

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

[edit]

Shinkai 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

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Title 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
  • Storyboards
  • Background art
  • Design
  • Theme song lyrics
5 Centimeters per Second
(秒速5センチメートル Byōsoku Go-Senchimētoru) 		2007 Yes Yes Yes
  • Storyboard
  • Art director
  • Color design
Children Who Chase Lost Voices[A]
(星を追う子ども Hoshi o Ou Kodomo) 		2011 Yes Yes Yes
  • Cinematography
  • Editing
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
  • Photography
  • Color design
  • Editing
Your Name
(君の名は。 Kimi no Na wa) 		2016 Yes Yes
  • Photography
  • Color design
  • Editing
Weathering with You
(天気の子 Tenki no Ko)[31] 		2019 Yes Yes
  • Photography
  • Color design
  • Editing
Suzume
(すずめの戸締まり Suzume no Tojimari) 		2022 Yes Yes
  • Editing

Video games

[edit]
Title 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)
Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two 2006
2008 		Yes
(Trailer & Opening)

Commercials

[edit]
Title 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
  • Background art
 TV commercial released by Taisei Corporation[32]
Sri Lanka Highway (スリランカ高速道路, Suriranka Kōzokudōro) 2013 Yes Yes
  • Storyboards
  • Photography
 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
  • Storyboards
  • Shooting
 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
  • Storyboards
  • Screenplay
  • Production
  • Supervision
 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
  • Storyboards
 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
  • Storyboards
 TV commercial released by Taisei Corporation[37]

Literary works

[edit]
Title 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

[edit]
Title 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

[edit]
Year Award Category Work/Nominee Result Ref.
2003 8th AMD Award Best Director Voices of a Distant Star Won [38]
2016 29th Tokyo International Film Festival Arigatō Award Your Name [39]
41st Hochi Film Award Best Director Nominated [40]
29th Nikkan Sports Film Award Best Director Won [citation needed]
2017 44th Annie Awards Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production Nominated [41]
59th Blue Ribbon Awards Best Director [42]
11th Asian Film Awards Best Screenplay [43]
40th Japan Academy Prize Director of the Year [44]
Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2017 Best Director Won [45]
26th Japan Movie Critics Awards Best Animation Director [46]
2020 47th Annie Awards Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production Weathering with You Nominated [47]
Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production
Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2020 Best Director Won [48]
2023 Celebration of Cinema and Television International Animation Award Suzume [49]
2024 51st Annie Awards Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in a Feature Production Nominated [50]
Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Also known as Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below or Journey to Agartha.[30]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Schilling, Mark (February 20, 2023). "'Suzume' Director Shinkai Makoto on Hand-Drawn Animation and the Importance of Original Stories". Variety. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ "Makoto Shinkai – 'Distant Star' creator now in view". Variety. May 5, 2016. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved May 10, 2016.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ "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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "Project Team DoGA". DoGA. Archived from the original on August 7, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2011.
  8. ^ "Makoto Shinkai". Japan Speaker Bureau. Archived from the original on August 10, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Scheib, Ronnie (March 6, 2008). "Five Centimeters Per Second". Variety. Archived from the original on December 24, 2014. Retrieved August 28, 2010.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "'Your Name.' Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on June 25, 2018. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ "Weathering with You (天気の子) (2019) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  20. ^ "Weathering with You". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  21. ^ "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.
  22. ^ Malhotra, Rahul (December 15, 2021). "'Your Name' Director Makoto Shinkai Announces New Film". Collider. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  23. ^ "Suzume (すずめの戸締まり) (2022) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ "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.
  27. ^ "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.
  28. ^ 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.
  29. ^ "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.
  30. ^ Osmond, Andrew (May 26, 2012). "'Children Who Chase Lose Voices' Renamed 'Journey to Agartha'". Anime News Network. Retrieved October 15, 2012.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ "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.
  33. ^ "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.
  34. ^ "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.
  35. ^ "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.
  36. ^ 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.
  37. ^ Freakpool (March 21, 2020). "Makoto Shinkai highlights Myanmar in new ad for Taisei Corporation". So Japan. Anime Festival Asia. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  38. ^ "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.
  39. ^ 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.
  40. ^ "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.
  41. ^ 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.
  42. ^ "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.
  43. ^ "11th Asian Film Awards – Nominees 2017". Asian Film Festivals. January 12, 2017. Archived from the original on August 19, 2017. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
  44. ^ 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.
  45. ^ 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.
  46. ^ 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.
  47. ^ "2020 Annie Award Winners | Complete List". The Hollywood Reporter. January 25, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  48. ^ 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.
  49. ^ 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.
  50. ^ Flores, Terry (January 11, 2024). "Netflix's Nimona Leads Annie Awards 2024 Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
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