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Makoto Shinkai Has Not Drafted Next Work Yet as Deadline Approaches

During a talk event at the "Huawei Presents Starry Sky Illuminations" display in Roppongi, Tokyo on Tuesday, anime film director Makoto Shinkai discussed his next planned work: "Though the deadline for the proposal is approaching, I still haven't written a single word." He added, with a laugh, "It's getting bad." He said that he is reading novels, manga, and books on folklore, as well as watching movies to look for something that will link to his emotions.

Regarding his recent your name. anime film, Shinkai had always intended the ending to be [Spoilers: please highlight the white space to read] a happy ending. He said that he wanted the film to be different from his previous films, and have the work be about not giving up and breaking through some obstacle. He also commented on the film's structure, mentioning that he made the film work in a three-act structure, and noting the traditional Japanese johakyū (beginning, break, rapid) concept of storytelling. He plotted the course of the film's story in a graph, and "thought about what kind of roller-coaster ride I wanted to put the audience through." He also stated that he wanted every part to be interesting, and that popular works such as Disney's Frozen all attempt to do the same thing.

Shinkai said at the Busan International Film Festival in October that he would like to make his next work at TOHO within three years. He added that his next work will be about young boys and girls in adolescence.

Also at Busan, he addressed remarks by critics and fans that he is a "post-Hayao Miyazaki " director, by saying that it is an "overestimation." He added that "Miyazaki's movies have a worth and power as a single brand. I will just continue to make movies that a lot of people can enjoy." Later in October, Shinkai denied rumors that he might work at Studio Ghibli. "No and I don't think they'd even ask me," he told UK-based website Express. Shinkai elaborated that his style and Studio Ghibli's are really nothing alike. He said that Ghibli's films are about "craftsmanship" that bring characters to life while his are "a series of stop-motions."

Shinkai's your name. film recently returned to the top of the Japanese box office in its 22nd weekend, after nine weeks off the spot. The film had topped the Japanese charts for nine straight weekends since it opened on August 26 last year, and in its 10th weekend dropped to #2 to Death Note Light up the NEW world, before regaining the top spot in its 11th weekend, and it stayed at the top spot in its 12th and 13th weekends.

The film is now the fourth highest-grossing film of all time in Japan, the second highest-grossing Japanese film, and the second highest-grossing anime film. As of January 15, the film has earned 23.23 billion yen (about US$204 million) in Japan. The only Japanese film to gross higher is Spirited Away (30.8 billion yen). The film has earned US$281 million worldwide and topped Spirited Away in its worldwide box office total. While Spirited Away is still the highest grossing anime film domestically, your name. is the highest-grossing anime film worldwide.

Source: The Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web