The next Makoto Shinkai anime film “Suzume” slated to be released in Japanese theatres on November 11, 2022, will feature music composed by RADWIMPS.
The band and renowned film music composer Kazuma Jinnouchi have teamed up to produce the perfect score and soundtrack for the movie, and this collaboration has raised the bar for their film music. This will be Shinkai and RADWIMPS’ third endeavor and the follow-up to the blockbuster anime films “Your Name.” (2016) and “Weathering with You” (2019).
For the first time in Makoto Shinkai’s career, the recordings took place outside of Japan at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London, best known for having produced The Beatles. The behind-the-scenes video shows both Kazuma and Yojiro directing the orchestra, which will give the movie a completely new musical dynamic.
Lead vocalist of RADWIMPS Yojiro Noda says, “A collaboration with someone of Kazuma’s caliber, having worked on both films and video games, has given me an experience I cannot describe in words. It has broadened my horizons.” Kazuma added, “The process of developing a sound that can coexist with RADWIMPS’ amazing mood and energy was simultaneously exciting and nerve-wracking for me, but ultimately I believe we’ve stuck the landing on one of the answers of how that might sound.” Many ideas for the action sequences came from Kazuma’s experience in Hollywood, which begs the question, what does a “Shinkai-esque” action sequence look like?”
New look for RADWIMPS.
Lead vocalist of RADWIMPS Yojiro Noda continues:
I first received the offer back in Spring of 2020, right as Japan and the rest of the world was about to enter two years of uncertainty and restriction. Reading the screenplay gave me the opportunity to expand my imagination and think about what I can do with the medium of music.
Kazuma and I met recently at London’s Abbey Road Studios to record the orchestra. A collaboration with someone of Kazuma’s caliber, having worked on both films and video games, has given me an experience I cannot describe in words. It has broadened my horizons. It would be an honor to work with him again, and I am personally excited to see how the film’s score turns out.
From Director Makoto Shinkai:
Almost as soon as I finished the first draft of ‘Suzume’s’ screenplay, I shared it with Yojiro without a second thought. I knew the musical demands of ‘Suzume’ would be quite different from the previous two films, giving the audience a striking musical experience. RADWIMPS was one of the few musical talents that I could count on to help me make that discovery. I am confident we have achieved something worthy of calling a ‘theatrical music experience’ and hope that everyone gets the chance to experience the film in theatres.
