Makoto Shinkai

Template:Short description Template:Eastern name order Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Template:Nihongo, known as Template:Nihongo, is a Japanese filmmaker and novelist. He is known for his anime feature films produced with 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, followed by 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> His three most recent films Your Name (2016), Weathering with You (2019), and Suzume (2022), collectively known as the "Disaster trilogy",<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> are all among the highest-grossing Japanese films of all time, both in Japan and worldwide at the time of their release.<ref name="Independent.co.uk">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early life

Makoto Shinkai was born in Koumi, Nagano. His family runs a construction company.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Shinkai studied Japanese literature at Chuo University, where he was a member of the juvenile literature club and drew picture books. Shinkai traces his passion for creation to the manga, anime and novels he was exposed to in middle school.

Career

1996–2000: Early career

After graduating from Chuo University Faculty of Literature in March 1996,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Shinkai got a job at Nihon Falcom, a video game company. He worked there for 5 years, making video clips for games and graphic design, including web content.<ref name="ANN Interview 2011">Template:Cite news</ref> During this time Shinkai 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).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The short details the life of a cat, entirely from the cat's perspective, as it passes time with its owner, a young woman.

2000–2016: Rise

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 working on Voices of a Distant Star by drawing a picture of a girl in a cockpit grasping a mobile phone. Sometime 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, Shinkai quit his job at Falcom and began to work on Voices of a Distant Star. In an interview, Shinkai noted that production took around seven months of "real work".<ref name="ANN Interview 2011"/>

Voices of a Distant Star was followed by the 90-minute The Place Promised in Our Early Days, which was released in Japan on November 20, 2004. It was critically acclaimed, winning many honors.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Shinkai's next project was 5 Centimeters per Second, which premiered on March 3, 2007 and consists of three short films: Cherry Blossom, Cosmonaut, and 5 Centimeters per Second.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In September 2007, Nagano's leading newspaper, Shinano Mainichi Shinbun, released a TV commercial animated by Shinkai.

File:Makoto Shinkai at Otakon 2011.jpg

Shinkai at the Otakon Anime Convention in 2011

Shinkai spent 2008 in London, resting after the completion of 5 Centimeters per Second.Template: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".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Makoto Shinkhai in Moscow (cropped).JPG

Shinkai in 2013

His next feature, The Garden of Words, was released on May 31, 2013.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2016–2022: "Disaster trilogy"

On August 26, 2016, Shinkai released Your Name. The film received widespread acclaim from audiences and critics,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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. By 2019, the film became the highest-grossing anime film of all time, overtaking Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away.<ref name="Independent.co.uk"/><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Shinkai's next film, Weathering with You, was released in Japan on July 19, 2019.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The film was also a commercial success, grossing Template:US$ worldwide and becoming the tenth-highest-grossing Japanese film of all time.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Suzume, Shinkai's seventh feature-length film, was released in Japan on November 11, 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The film was a further critical and commercial success, grossing over Template:US$ worldwide.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Personal life

Shinkai is married to retired actress and producer Template:Ill, who is best known for starring in Versus; the couple has a daughter, child actress Template:Ill, who was born in 2010.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

His favorite anime films are Castle in the Sky, Nausicaä and The Castle of Cagliostro by Hayao Miyazaki, The End of Evangelion by Hideaki Anno, and Patlabor 2: The Movie by Mamoru Oshii.

An asteroid, 55222 Makotoshinkai, is named after him.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Works

Films

Title	Year	Credited as
		Writer	Producer	Actor	Other
The Place Promised in Our Early Days (雲のむこう、約束の場所 Kumo no Mukō, Yakusoku no Basho)	2004	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes
5 Centimeters per Second (秒速5センチメートル Byōsoku Go-Senchimētoru)	2007	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes
Children Who Chase Lost VoicesTemplate:Efn (星を追う子ども Hoshi o Ou Kodomo)	2011	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes
The Garden of Words (言の葉の庭 Kotonoha no Niwa)	2013	Template:Yes	Template:Yes		Template:Yes
Your Name (君の名は。 Kimi no Na wa)	2016	Template:Yes	Template:Yes		Template:Yes
Weathering with You (天気の子 Tenki no Ko)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	2019	Template:Yes	Template:Yes		Template:Yes
Suzume (すずめの戸締まり Suzume no Tojimari)	2022	Template:Yes	Template:Yes		Template:Yes

Short films

Title	Year	Credited as				Notes
		Writer	Producer	Actor	Other
The World Be Enclosed (囲まれた世界 Kakomareta Sekai)	1998	Template:Yes			Template:Yes
Other Worlds (遠い世界 Tōi Sekai)	1998	Template:Yes			Template:Yes
She and Her Cat (彼女と彼女の猫 Kanojo to Kanojo no Neko)	1999	Template:Yes	Template:Yes		Template:Yes	Her cat (Voice over)
Voices of a Distant Star (ほしのこえ Hoshi no Koe)	2002	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Noboru Terao (Voice over)
Minna no Uta: "Egao" (みんなのうた「笑顔」)	2003	Template:Yes
Someone's Gaze (だれかのまなざし Dareka no Manazashi)	2013	Template:Yes	Template:Yes

Video games

Title	Year	Credited as		Notes
		Director	Animator
The Legend of Heroes III: Song of the Ocean	1999	Template:Yes		As Makoto Niitsu
Ys II Eternal	2000	Template:Yes		As Makoto Niitsu
Bittersweet Fools	2001	Template:Yes
Wind: A Breath of Heart	2002	Template:Yes	Template:Yes
Haru no Ashioto	2004	Template:Yes
Ef: A Fairy Tale of the Two	2006 2008	Template:Yes

Commercials

Title	Year	Credited as			Notes
		Director	Editor	Other
Template:Nihongo	2011	Template:Yes		Template:Yes	TV commercial released by Taisei Corporation<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Nihongo	2013	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	TV commercial released by Taisei Corporation, featuring the theme song Template:Nihongo by Anri Kumaki<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Nihongo	2014	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Nihongo	2014	Template:Yes		Template:Yes	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Nihongo	2018	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Template:Nihongo	2020	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	Template:Yes	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Literary works

Title	Year	Publisher	Notes
Slug	1994	Template:N/A	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

Title	Year	Publisher(s)	Notes
Beyond the Tower	2002	Template:N/A
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. Template:Small	Illustrated by Yukiko Seike
Children Who Chase Lost Voices from Deep Below	2011	Media Factory
The Garden of Words	2013	Kodansha Vertical, Inc. Template:Small	Illustrated by Midori Motohashi
Your Name	2016	Media Factory	Illustrated by Ranmaru Kotone
Weathering with You	2019	Template:N/A	Illustrated by Watari Kubota

Illustrations

• Template:Nihongo — Illustrator (2003–2011)

Accolades

Shinkai has been called "The New Miyazaki" in several reviews,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> including those by Anime Advocates and ActiveAnime—comparisons that Shinkai brushed off as "overestimation".<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Year	Award	Category	Work/Nominee	Result	Template:Abbr
2003	8th AMD Award	Best Director	Voices of a Distant Star	rowspan="2" Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2016	29th Tokyo International Film Festival	Arigatō Award	Your Name	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	41st Hochi Film Award	Best Director		Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	29th Nikkan Sports Film Award	Best Director		Template:Won	Template:Cite needed
2017	44th Annie Awards	Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production		rowspan="4" Template:Nom	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	59th Blue Ribbon Awards	Best Director		<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	11th Asian Film Awards	Best Screenplay		<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	40th Japan Academy Prize	Director of the Year		<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
	Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2017	Best Director		rowspan="2" Template:Won	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
	26th Japan Movie Critics Awards	Best Animation Director		<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2020	47th Annie Awards	Outstanding Achievement for Directing in an Animated Feature Production	Weathering with You	rowspan="2" Template:Nom	<ref name="Annie 2020">Template:Cite news</ref>
		Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production
	Tokyo Anime Award Festival 2020	Best Director		rowspan="2" Template:Won	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
2023	Celebration of Cinema and Television	International Animation Award	Suzume	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
2024	51st Annie Awards	Outstanding Achievement for Storyboarding in a Feature Production		rowspan="2" Template:Nom	<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
		Outstanding Achievement for Writing in an Animated Feature Production

External links

• Makoto Shinkai's Website Template:Webarchive Template:In lang
• Makoto Shinkai's Official Portal
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• Template:Rotten-tomatoes-person
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• Entry in The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction