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The master filmmaker behind films likeYour Name,Weathering With You, andGarden of Words, Makoto Shinkai has once again caught the attention of the whole world with his latest movie,Suzume no Tojimari, released in 2022. The success of this film is enough proof that cemented Makoto Shinkai’s status as a modern anime legend.
As a consequence of his popularity, Shinkai also receives comparisons to the legendary Hayao Miyazaki. Although this might sound like a great honor, it actually is. Aside from his respect for Miyazaki, Makoto Shinkai does not like being compared to him. Despite that, Shinkai unexpectedly paid homage to Miyazaki films in Suzume which only true Miyazaki fans would be able to notice.
SuzumeHas a Wild Easter Egg, Connecting to One of The Most Popular Hayao Miyazaki Films
That scene inSuzume no Tojimari, with Suzume and the others in a car and a truck in the background displaying the image of a black cat, can seem insignificant; but in reality, it has a deeper meaning. If one really pays attention, then it becomes an important scene.
Makoto Shinkai is Not the Next Hayao Miyazaki, He’s Even Better Where it Truly Matters: ‘We had a massage therapist come into the studio’
The scene is actually an Easter egg that connects withHayao Miyazaki’sone of the most popular films,Kiki’s Delivery Service, which is especially dear to the Japanese audiences. The scene includes the song “Rūju no Dengon” (A Message Left in Rouge), a catchy tune for the people in Japan, which is originally a song from that Miyazaki film. This is truly a huge Easter egg only for the die-hard Ghibli fans.
So when they’re in the car with Serizawa, he goes to the next track, which is in the Japanese title, “Rūju no Dengon” — “A Message Left in Rouge,” or “Lipstick” in this case. And it’s a song that almost the entire Japanese population has heard of, and it’s a movie, “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” that almost the entire population has seen.
The black cat logo on the truck also connects to Kuroneko Yamato, the logo of the FedEx of Japan, which has backed theKiki’s Delivery Servicefilm. Such multi-layered references clearly denote an absolute appreciation of the Hayao Miyazaki films. The complexity of this scene certainly rewards the true anime enthusiasts and fans of the iconic Ghibli films.
However, Makoto Shinkai Does Not Like His Comparisons With Hayao Miyazaki
Shinkaihas been long regarded as the heir to Hayao Miyazaki’s throne. However, according to Shinkai, this cannot really be said, because there are fundamental differences in their storytelling approaches.
Shinkai reflected in a 2016 interview, that Miyazaki has this tendency to speak in a paternally wise way, always teaching the new generation about the morals of his stories. However, Shinkai said his films relate deeply with his protagonists who are often young and deal with issues related to adolescence and discovery, just like any other normal kid.
I don’t know if that’s a generation thing or a personal thing, but I can’t tell teenagers what they should do, or how to live their lives. Because I remember those emotions I had when I was a teenager – I remember failure, I remember how great it was to talk with a girl I had a crush on – and I still have them. So our messages are very different.
Makoto Shinkai Beats Hayao Miyazaki in 1 Aspect That Would Even Leave Him Impressed: ‘I do all the characters and all the voices’
Shinkai explains that he does not pretend to give a message to the teenagers on how to live, instead, he bases most of his stories on his own experiences and learnings during his youth. Such a unique perspective makes his story a more sympathetic and relatable experience for his audience. From these points, Shinkai established his voice to be heard in anime with differences from the iconic style of Miyazaki.
Suzumeis available to watch onNetflixandCrunchyroll.
Diganta Mondal
Anime Content Writer
Articles Published :742
Diganta Mondal is an avid Content Writer at Fandomwire, specializing in anime and pop culture-related stuff. With over 600 published articles, he boasts his knowledge on this beloved media and strives to connect with fellow anime enthusiasts all across the globe.Despite having a non-journalism educational background, his love for shows like Vinland Saga, Violet Evergarden, and other Naoki Urasawa works constantly inspires him to share informative news, theories, and recommendations on almost all anime genres, aiming to create a shared platform for nerdy discussions.
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Hayao MiyazakiMakoto ShinkaiSuzume
