Image via Suzume on Twitter

The story of Suzume expands with the announcement that Sota’s friend Tomoya Serizawa will be getting his own short novel written by the director himself Makoto Shinkai. The catch is though, the novel will only be given out as a theatrical gift for those who see the film in Japan from January 28 and until stocks last.

Serizawa’s story focuses on him and Sota going about their university life and the normal troubles they get into.

Only 500,000 copies of the novel will be given out, making the story extra exclusive. This is the second side-story to be released as a theatrical gift, the first being based on Tamaki which was given out from December 28, 2022. 

RELATED: Suzume Anime Film Drives Up to 25th Place on Japan All-Time Box Office Charts

Suzume is directed by Makoto Shinkai, who also penned the screenplay for the film alongside Masayoshi Tanaka as the character designer, Kenichi Tsuchiya as the animation director and Takumi Tanji as the art director with animation production at CoMix Wave Films. 

Suzume was released in Japan on November 11 with Crunchyroll teaming up with Sony Pictures and Wild Bunch International to bring the feature to global audiences outside of Asia starting April 12, 2023.

Source: Suzume on Twitter

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Daryl Harding is a Senior Japan Correspondent for Crunchyroll News. He also runs a YouTube channel about Japan stuff called TheDoctorDazza, tweets at @DoctorDazza, and posts photos of his travels on Instagram.