‘Suzume’ Director Makoto Shinkai Praises ‘Elemental’

One of this summer’s biggest surprises has been Peter Sohn’s “Elemental” which, after a weak opening, has had very strong legs at the box office.

It turns out, a major fan of the Pixar film is well-regarded Japanese director Makoto Shinkai (“Suzume,” “Weathering with You”) who saw the film in Japan this past weekend.

Shinkai took to Twitter to express his love for the film. His thoughts, written in Japanese, have been translated:

The movie “Element” was very good. It was a film full of ambition, with the creators trying to move our emotions in every possible way, and to deliver the best visuals. I was very impressed by the skill that came through in the film. It was a spine-tingling experience!

Shinkai’s “Suzume” was released this past Spring in the U.S. and was the third-highest-grossing animated feature worldwide last year. Both Shinkai’s film and “Elemental” will be eligible for the Animated Oscar this year.

“Elemental” has grossed a very strong $276 million internationally, including a ridiculously impressive $48 million in South Korea. The film is the most viewed foreign film in Korea this year and the most-viewed Pixar film ever released there, with more than six million tickets sold so far. One out of every eight person in that country has seen “Elemental.”

Despite being released many weeks ago, “Elemental” was the #8 film globally last weekend, picking up $15.4 million around the world. Its global total is $423.7 million. It is no longer what was first seen as a “flop.”

It was a mistake to screen “Elemental” at Cannes on May 27th, this resulted in very mixed reviews coming out of the Croisette and expectations being lowered for the film. The reviews for a bit better after that.

Directed by Peter Sohn, the film is based on an original story set in a world where fire, water, earth and air live together. It currently has a 58 Metascore and a 73 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, which, by Pixar standards, is low.