Makoto Shinkai’s next movie after 2019’s Weathering With You has received its first teaser trailer. The working title for his new movie is Suzume No Tojimari (literally translated in English as Suzume’s Door-Locking).

The Suzume No Tojimari synopsis reads:

On the other side of the door, was time in its entirety—
17-year-old Suzume’s journey begins in a quiet town in Kyushu when she encounters a young man who tells her, “I’m looking for a door.” What Suzume finds is a single weathered door standing upright in the midst of ruins as though it was shielded from whatever catastrophe struck. Seemingly mesmerized by its power, Suzume reaches for the knob…

Doors begin to open one after another all across Japan, unleashing destruction upon any who are near. Suzume must close these portals to prevent further disaster.

The stars
The sunset
The morning sky
Within that realm, it was as though all time had melted together in the sky—

Drawn in by this mysterious door, Suzume’s journey is about to begin.

Shinkai stated (via Anime News Network) that three important points about the film are that:

• it is a road movie around Japan.
• A story about “closing doors” rather than opening them. He elaborated that closing doors can refer to tying loose ends or finishing something.
• A reason to visit the movie theater.

Makoto Shinkai is directing the film and writing the screenplay, while Masayoshi Tanaka (Your Name, Weathering With You) is designing the characters. Kenichi Tsuchiya (Your Name, Garden Of Words) is the animation director, while Takumi Tanji (Children Who Chase Lost Voices) is the art director. CoMix Wave Films and Story Inc. are producing the movie. TOHO is distributing the film.

Shinkai is best known for other anime movies like 5 Centimeters Per Second, Voices Of A Distant Star, The Garden Of Words, Your Name and Weathering With You.

In the meantime, check out my spoiler-free review of Weathering With You here, or head on over here for my spoiler-filled discussion of the movie’s problems. There’s also a live-action adaptation of Weathering With You (sort of), which you can check out here.

Suzume No Tojimari is slated to premiere in Japanese cinemas on 11 November 2022. Check out the Suzume No Tojimari teaser trailer below: