Latest news with #Suzume
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Penguin and Barbie stars new futuristic fantasy romance is giving Suzume vibes in first trailer
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Margot Robbie and Colin Farrell go through a one-in-a-lifetime journey in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, which just released a first-look trailer with some serious Suzume vibes. No, Farrell doesn't turn into a talking chair, but there are plenty of magical doors and a romance that feels larger than life. The trailer, which you can see above, follows Sarah (Robbie) and David (Farrell), two single strangers who meet at a mutual friend's wedding, and feel a connection. "It's funny how the most beautiful places make you feel the most alone," he tells her. "Maybe it just depends on the person you're with," she replies. Thanks to David's magical GPS, they meet again and decide to go on a Big Bold Beautiful Journey. Per the official synopsis, the film sees them living "a funny, fantastical, sweeping adventure together where they get to re-live important moments from their respective pasts, illuminating how they got to where they are in the present… and possibly getting a chance to alter their futures." Both Robbie and Farrell had the biggest success of their careers in recent years. Robbie made history as star and producer of the massive box office hit Barbie, while Farrell was nominated for an Oscar for his excellent performance in The Banshees of Inisherin and is now starring in DC's successful series The Penguin. They are joined in this new movie by Kevin Kline, Lily Rabe, Jodie Turner-Smith, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, and Billy Magnussen. The film was helmed by The Acolyte director Kogonada, who took inspiration not exactly from Makoto Shinkai's Suzume (despite the magical doors) but from Hayao Miyazaki's movies at Studio Ghibli. "That sort of magical lightness really connects you to our everyday experiences and all the challenges of being human, and is able to do both things at once," he told Vanity Fair. In fact, he brought on Japanese composer Joe Hisaishi, known for his work on Miyazaki's films, to create the score for the film. "It felt important to lean into the fantastic, but to also ground it in these landscapes," added Kogonada. Both Robbie and Farrell had the biggest success of their careers in recent years. Robbie made history with Barbie, and Farrell was nominated for an Oscar for The Banshees of Inisherin and is starring in HBO's successful crime series The Penguin. A Big Bold Beautiful Journey arrives in cinemas on September 19. In the meantime, check our guide for all upcoming movies in 2025 and beyond.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Popular Japanese anime producer behind Your Name jailed for child prostitution
Koichiro Ito, known for producing some of Japan's most popular and successful anime films Ito, 52, was given a four-year sentence on Friday after he was convicted of 'violating laws on child prostitution and pornography' as well as rape, a Wakayama District Court spokesman confirmed to the news agency AFP. He was accused of paying a 15-year-old girl ¥20,000 (£105) in 2023 for sex; coercing another girl of the same age into taking explicit pictures and paying her ¥12,500 (£66) for them in 2021; and paying a 17-year-old girl ¥30,000 (£158) for having sex with him at his home in December 2023. All of Ito's actions violated Japan's Child Prostitution and Pornography Prohibition Act. The court ruling stated that Ito's crimes consisted of '11 cases of child prostitution, 9 cases of photographing sexual poses and the like, 10 cases of producing child pornography, including those taken at the same time, 1 case of non-consensual intercourse involving one case of child prostitution, and possession of five pieces of child pornography', Kansai TV reported. Presiding judge Keiko Fukushima said Ito indulged in child prostitution repeatedly and knowingly. 'The defendant repeatedly searched for underage women available for sexual intercourse via the internet, took nude photos of them and had them send them, or offered money to women he met in person to engage in child prostitution and secretly photograph images of sexual intercourse,' she ruled. 'He repeatedly offered money to engage in child prostitution and secretly photograph images of sexual intercourse. This has a significant adverse effect on the healthy development of the mind and body of the victims who are immature in their ability to make autonomous decisions. The degree of responsibility and blame is high.' Ito was first arrested in Tokyo in February and told investigators he was unclear as to which girl the police case was about since he had nude images from underage girls sent to him on multiple occasions, a report in The Hollywood Reporter said, quoting NHK. Police had begun an investigation into Ito after his name came up in a separate and unrelated child prostitution case. At his trial, prosecutors sought six years in prison for Ito, who pled guilty at the first hearing. 'He took advantage of the victim's immaturity, seduced her with money, and committed the crime, which is cunning and malicious. The crime was committed at the whim of his sexual desire and there is no room for leniency in the circumstances or motive,' the prosecutors said according to an online translation of a report in NHK. Ito's lawyer requested a lighter sentence saying the disgraced producer had reached a settlement with two of the three victims and was attending counselling. Ito was a producer for Your Name and Suzume, both critically and commercially successful in Japan, as well as for celebrated films like Weathering with You and The Garden of Words. He was also involved in the 2022 TV series Modern Love Tokyo. Your Name, released in 2016, was the second highest-grossing domestic film in Japan, behind only Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away. The movie won multiple awards, including the best animated feature at the 2016 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, the 49th Sitges Film Festival and the 71st Mainichi Film Awards. Suzume, released in 2022, similarly opened to majorly positive reviews and went on to become the fourth highest-grossing Japanese movie ever. It was nominated for best animated feature at the Golden Globes, losing out to Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron. After news of Ito's arrest broke last month, Makoto Shinkai, who directed Your Name and Suzume, said on X: 'I was shocked to see the news of the arrest of those involved in the production. First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the victim. I am also truly sorry for causing anxiety to everyone who loves and supports the production.' 'I believe that the value of the work will not be diminished as a result of this incident, but I am sure that it will inevitably be viewed with distrust by the public. This makes me feel very frustrated and sad.'
The Independent
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Popular Japanese anime producer behind Your Name jailed for child prostitution
Koichiro Ito, known for producing some of Japan 's most popular and successful anime films Ito, 52, was given a four-year sentence on Friday after he was convicted of 'violating laws on child prostitution and pornography' as well as rape, a Wakayama District Court spokesman confirmed to the news agency AFP. He was accused of paying a 15-year-old girl ¥20,000 (£105) in 2023 for sex; coercing another girl of the same age into taking explicit pictures and paying her ¥12,500 (£66) for them in 2021; and paying a 17-year-old girl ¥30,000 (£158) for having sex with him at his home in December 2023. All of Ito's actions violated Japan 's Child Prostitution and Pornography Prohibition Act. The court ruling stated that Ito's crimes consisted of '11 cases of child prostitution, 9 cases of photographing sexual poses and the like, 10 cases of producing child pornography, including those taken at the same time, 1 case of non-consensual intercourse involving one case of child prostitution, and possession of five pieces of child pornography', Kansai TV reported. Presiding judge Keiko Fukushima said Ito indulged in child prostitution repeatedly and knowingly. 'The defendant repeatedly searched for underage women available for sexual intercourse via the internet, took nude photos of them and had them send them, or offered money to women he met in person to engage in child prostitution and secretly photograph images of sexual intercourse,' she ruled. 'He repeatedly offered money to engage in child prostitution and secretly photograph images of sexual intercourse. This has a significant adverse effect on the healthy development of the mind and body of the victims who are immature in their ability to make autonomous decisions. The degree of responsibility and blame is high.' Ito was first arrested in Tokyo in February and told investigators he was unclear as to which girl the police case was about since he had nude images from underage girls sent to him on multiple occasions, a report in The Hollywood Reporter said, quoting NHK. Police had begun an investigation into Ito after his name came up in a separate and unrelated child prostitution case. At his trial, prosecutors sought six years in prison for Ito, who pled guilty at the first hearing. 'He took advantage of the victim's immaturity, seduced her with money, and committed the crime, which is cunning and malicious. The crime was committed at the whim of his sexual desire and there is no room for leniency in the circumstances or motive,' the prosecutors said according to an online translation of a report in NHK. Ito's lawyer requested a lighter sentence saying the disgraced producer had reached a settlement with two of the three victims and was attending counselling. Ito was a producer for Your Name and Suzume, both critically and commercially successful in Japan, as well as for celebrated films like Weathering with You and The Garden of Words. He was also involved in the 2022 TV series Modern Love Tokyo. Your Name, released in 2016, was the second highest-grossing domestic film in Japan, behind only Hayao Miyazaki 's Spirited Away. The movie won multiple awards, including the best animated feature at the 2016 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, the 49th Sitges Film Festival and the 71st Mainichi Film Awards. Suzume, released in 2022, similarly opened to majorly positive reviews and went on to become the fourth highest-grossing Japanese movie ever. It was nominated for best animated feature at the Golden Globes, losing out to Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron. After news of Ito's arrest broke last month, Makoto Shinkai, who directed Your Name and Suzume, said on X: 'I was shocked to see the news of the arrest of those involved in the production. First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the victim. I am also truly sorry for causing anxiety to everyone who loves and supports the production.' 'I believe that the value of the work will not be diminished as a result of this incident, but I am sure that it will inevitably be viewed with distrust by the public. This makes me feel very frustrated and sad.'
Japan Times
03-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
'Your Name' anime producer jailed over obscene acts against minors
A producer of the hit Japanese anime film "Your Name" has been handed a four-year prison sentence on charges of committing obscene acts against minors. Koichiro Ito was convicted of "violating laws on child prostitution and pornography" as well as non-consensual sex and the filming of indecent images, a Wakayama District Court spokesperson said on Monday. Ito, one of the producers of the critically acclaimed 2016 film, was sentenced on Friday. Regional broadcasters reported that Ito was accused of paying a 15-year-old girl ¥20,000 ($130) for sex in 2023, and demanding that another teenager take and send him explicit photos of herself. Prosecutors had sought six years' imprisonment for Ito, who pleaded guilty in the first hearing, broadcaster KTV said. "Your Name," directed by Makoto Shinkai, was a huge commercial success in Japan. It won Best Animation at the 2016 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards. Ito was also a producer for Shinkai's 2022 animated film "Suzume." "I'm greatly shocked to see the news about an arrest of someone related to our work," Shinkai posted on social media platform X last month. "First of all I express my deepest sympathy toward the victims. I also feel very sorry for causing worries to people who love and support our work," he added. "I don't think the value of our output is undermined by this incident, but it is natural to receive looks of disbelief. That is very regrettable and deplorable."
Korea Herald
24-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Korea Herald
Korean animation summons its demons in 'Exorcism Chronicles'
Homegrown franchise delivers stylish spiritual warfare and four-wall spectacle, even as its epic ambitions strain against mortal runtime Even as Korean cinema holds its ground as the world's seventh-largest box office market, Korean animation has been struggling to break through. Foreign titles keep raking in the numbers -- Pixar's "Inside Out 2" pulled 8.8 million admissions, "Elemental" drew 7.2 million, and Makoto Shinkai's "Suzume" brought in 5.6 million viewers. Meanwhile, homegrown animation's biggest win remains 2011's "Leafie," which drew its 2.2 million viewers. Into this landscape enters "Exorcism Chronicles: The Beginning," a web novel that carved out its own following back in the 1990s on primitive online bulletin boards before becoming a publishing sensation with over 10 million copies sold. Locus Corporation's adaptation comes with some serious pressure -- it needs to hit one million admissions just to break even, a mark only three Korean animations have ever reached. The buzz is already building, with opening weekend numbers landing it in second place at the box office, just behind Marvel's latest offering. The film is rolling out with some fancy tech tricks up its sleeve. Select theaters are showing it in the four-wall panoramic 4DX ScreenX format that wraps right up to the ceiling. At 22,000 won ($16.50) a ticket, you're getting the deluxe treatment – reclining couch, extra legroom and your own table. The story kicks off with Father Park, a doctor-turned-excommunicated priest carrying the weight of a failed exorcism that cost a child's life. When his old friend Jang, a monk from a secretive magical Buddhist sect, shows up asking for help protecting Joon-hoo -- a whiz kid with natural exorcism talents -- from his power-hungry master Seo, Park sees a shot at redemption. As Seo dives deeper into forbidden rituals and human sacrifice in his quest for power, Park and Jang team up with the temple's guardians and Hyun-am, a young exorcist looking to hone his skills after losing his sister to demonic forces. On the visual front, the film breaks from the typical style Korean viewers are used to, taking its cues from Netflix's "Arcane" -- maybe a bit too closely. Yet, it's certain to come off fresh for audiences more familiar with Japanese anime aesthetics. Character designs stick to their source novel roots, with Father Park sporting his signature massive build straight out of a Gothic horror tale. The demons pack a punch without going over the top, and the jump scares land at the right moment. While the mix of 2D and 3D animation hits some frame drops here and there, the overall look delivers more capably than expected. The action sequences really shine, turning what could have been standard self-important, dialogue-heavy exorcism fare into smashing supernatural showdowns. Characters unleash elemental powers -- fire, water and raw energy -- while trading bone-crushing blows, making each battle feel like a superhero clash with occult flavor. (The voice actors keep things grounded without hamming it up too much, which is another plus.) The premium ScreenX format nicely amplifies every magical blast and malevolent force, wrapping the action across all four walls -- spells seem to literally fly past viewers from every angle. The sweeping shots between battles are equally impressive, transitioning seamlessly from neon-lit cityscapes to mist-shrouded temple grounds nestled in the woods. Cramming the franchise's sprawling universe into just under 90 minutes is where things get tricky. The world-building feels rushed, storylines crowd each other out and emotional arc about sacrifice and love struggles to land when there is barely time to catch your breath between character introductions. Still, while "Exorcism Chronicles" might not fully capture the epic scope of the original novel, it is a promising supernatural action flick that could open new doors for Korean animation. It's got style, spectacle and just enough substance to make you curious about what comes next. The film opened in theaters nationwide on Friday.
