Image via Suzume on Twitter

Makoto Shinkai’s latest Japan-trotting anime film Suzume continues its journey through Japan’s all-time box office list, effortlessly climbing to 68th place. Alongside details on the film’s updated box office taking, the official Twitter account for Suzume revealed the next theatrical giveaway for those who see the film in Japan—an original story by Shinkai himself!

As of Suzume’s 31st day in theaters in Japan, December 11, the film has made 8.59 billion yen (US$62.19 million) on the back of 6.36 million tickets sold. Suzume has overtaken 2009’s Rookies the Movie: Graduation spot on the top 100 chart and is now at 68th place, just under 1999’s The Matrix. Suzume will also be expanding to Dolby Cinemas at 6 theaters from December 24 across Japan.

RELATED: Crunchyroll Reveals Global Theatrical Dates for Makoto Shinkai’s Suzume Anime Film

The original story given to audiences in Japan will be centered around Suzume’s aunt Tamaki in a mini-novel titled Suzume no Tojimari – Tamaki-san no Monogatari (Suzume – Tamaki’s Story). Shinkai wrote the story after the film was completed and it will be given out to 1.5 million people. The giveaway starts December 24 and runs until stocks dry up.

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.

Sources: Suzume on Twitter, Kogyo Tsushin

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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.