‘Suzume’ Director Makoto Shinkai On Structuring A Comedic Film Before Adding “Disaster Elements”

In many of his recent films, directorMakoto Shinkaihas been influenced by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami.

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Can you talk about using that as the center of the film?

Suzume

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For example, she constantly says that shes not afraid to die.

DEADLINE: Can you talk about balancing comedy and tragedy in the film?

The idea of comedy is embedded in the entire structure of the story.

Suzume closing a door to prevent another disaster from occurring in Japan

So, I was able to achieve that constant comic relief using Souta as a chair.

DEADLINE: The 2011 Tohoku earthquake has influencedSuzumeand your past work.

Are you planning on using that in your work going forward?

SHINKAI: The effects of March 11th, 2011 I think will always linger in some way.

Its definitely not over within the Japanese population or their minds.

Ill always carry those ideas that it taught me, but I wont reference the disaster directly.