Review of Suzume

Movie is perfectly OK at a popcorn-level, but despite touching on a lot of themes does not develop any of them with the kind of depth needed to be more emotionally resonant than it is. Despite enjoying it overall, was the first time I've finished a Shinkai movie and had no lingering feeling afterwards, even Weathering With You left me with some after-watch feeling - although mainly as the main guy was such an annoying character. It's all following what has now become the 'Shinkai blockbuster formula', and while he does push at the edges of the formula (the chair), very few risks are being takencreatively.

Character animation is down a couple of notches from previous efforts with very generic character designs, Your Name in particular, although backgrounds remain as gorgeous as ever - although the CG was patchy and design of the 'worms' was very generic and made it look like a lower-end marvel movie at times. Music was also not bad, not great, but timing just seemed a little 'off' at times.