As of this month, Makoto Shinkai's your name. (Kimi no Na wa.) film surpassed Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli's Spirited Away as the highest grossing anime film worldwide. Miyazaki is known for his harsh criticism of certain types of animation, but he had remained silent about Shinkai's hit film since it opened in Japan on August 26. However, Studio Ghibli co-founder and former producer Toshio Suzuki recently shared some of the director's thoughts on Shinkai's latest film.

The February 2 issue of Bungeishunjū's Weekly Bunshun magazine featured an interview with Suzuki on Thursday. Regarding the trope of "a girl losing her way in a different world" seen in films like Spirited Away, Suzuki said, "I had a prediction that someone would make that sometime." Miyazaki apparently agreed with Suzuki's sentiment. The director said, "Yeah, that's right. I won't do it, but [the film] goes just like I thought."

Suzuki also commented, "The term 'another world' is used successfully time and again, and I had a hunch that Makoto Shinkai is a fan of Hayao Miyazaki." The former producer praised Shinkai's film, adding that "It's made so that all the characters in the drama, lines, and music make the background stand out." "The high fall sky that seems like it could be breathed in was especially impressive," he said.

The Case of Hana & Alice director Shunji Iwai compared the film to Rene Magritte's 1959 painting The Castle of the Pyrenees for its "enduring persuasive power with audacity." Although Iwai noted Magritte's painting is a much "higher" work, he was impressed by Shikai's accomplishment. Anime theme song lyricist and AKB48 founder Yasushi Akimoto said his "heart quivered" when he watched your name.

Shinkai's film returned to the top spot in the Japanese box office for the January 21-22 weekend. The blockbuster film has set theatrical screening records across Asia. According to Box Office Mojo, the film had earned US$306,795,190 worldwide as of January 17. Funimation will begin screening your name. in North America on April 7.

Source: Livedoor News via Yaraon!