I watched the movie recently and absolutely loved it, so when I saw the first installment of the manga version on NetGalley, I just had to request it! The art is amazing and the story is almost identical to the movie with a few small changes here and there. Not sure about the choice of the end point for the mange but otherwise really enjoyed this!

In this first volume of the Suzume manga we explore the story from the film through the illustrations of Denki Amashima. The first pages are these beautiful color illustrations; I really enjoyed Amashima’s art style and felt like it really captured the characters well. The character interactions in the manga were handled well and felt like there was more breathing room to get to know them in this format and the still images could really express the feeling of abandonment and loss in a different way from the film. The pacing at times felt a bit abrupt in its transitions but for those who love the movie and want to explore the story in a different way this is a beautiful depiction. I really love this story and am interested to read the rest am excited for the next volume!

Highly recommend for fans of the film and for those looking for a story exploring loss and human connection with humor, love, and hope.

Thank you very much to NetGalley and the publisher. I received an advance review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

As a fan of the anime "Your Name," I eagerly sought out the "Suzume" manga, and I'm delighted to say it exceeded my high expectations! The artwork is stunning, with each page alive with vibrant colors that enhance the narrative. The color pages added an extra dimension to my enjoyment. What made my experience even more special is that I hadn't seen the movie, allowing me to enjoy the story with fresh eyes, making it feel all the more magical. It's a tale full of wonder and excitement, beautifully balanced with cozy moments that provide comfort. "Suzume" isn't just a story; it's an enchanting adventure that captivated me from start to finish.

Likeable characters and an intriguing plot. The first few pages of color were nicely done.

The book has some funny moments but I felt it was moving way too fast in the beginning. Compared to the movie there is way less transitional elements so the scene changes feel abrupt and it's a bit hard to understand the plot if you haven't already seen the movie.

Did I request this immediately after watching the movie on Netflix? Yes, yes I did.

Did I already decide it was a 5 star read before even opening it?, Yes, yes I did.

And I wasn't wrong! Definitely worth the read, and c'mon it's a Makoto Shinkai movie too, it's perfection x 1000

Suzume by Makoto Shinkai, Denki Amashima (illustrator) is a manga based on the animation Suzume no Tojimari by Makoto Shinkai.

We follow the story of Suzume, who one day encounters a mysterious young man named Souta, who is searching for a certain door. Curious, Suzume follows him and discovers an old, magical door standing alone in ruins. When she opens it, she accidentally unleashes a disaster linked to a supernatural world on the other side of the door.

The manga is a mix of fantasy, adventure, and coming-of-age themes. I enjoyed it a lot and will definitely be reading the next volume. Also, I have to watch the anime now! 😍

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for a review.

I like the art style and that the beginning is in color. Very intrigued by the story, it's not at all what I expected. Will definitely go on reading.

I have a special place in my heart for Makoto Shinkai's films. However, "Suzume" is one I have yet to have the opportunity to watch. I have read a bit of and enjoyed the manga adaptation of "Your Name" (one of Makoto Shinkai's films). So I was so excited to see Suzume Vol.1 by Makoto Shinkai with art by Denki Amashima on Net Galley. I jumped at the chance to read it and finally experience the story. I am so invested in these characters. I can already tell this series is going to break me.

The characters and the story set up several themes that I think will carry through the series. Themes of abandonment and letting go that tie into the overarching theme of loss. However despite these darker themes there is also humor and hope. The characters work so hard and have already grown so much. Honestly this story is shaping up to be both heartbreaking and bittersweet. I just want to state here before I continue. As I said above, I've not watched the film so please don't ruin the story for me.

Overall, Suzume Vol.1 was a good read with beautiful are and unconventional characters. Who knew a chair could be so expressive? I loved the way this manga ended with a cliffhanger that left me on the edge of my seat. I'm so excited for volume two. I wonder if any of the side characters will reappear later in the story?

It is a fascinating story. I was hooked from the beginning—unique premise and loveable characters. I liked the pacing. I've read it in one day. It made me want to watch the movie.

I just finished reading it in no time—it was such an engaging story that I couldn’t put it down. I had no idea there was a manga version of the movie until now, which was a pleasant surprise. Following Suzume and Souta’s adventure was not only fun but also incredibly heartwarming. Their journey was filled with moments that made me smile and feel deeply connected to the characters. The blend of excitement and emotion throughout the story kept me hooked from start to finish. Discovering this new dimension of the story through the manga made the experience even more enjoyable.

Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc!

I really enjoyed this manga. Very likeable characters, interesting plot and good illustrations. A lot of funny moments and some emotional ones as well. I haven't seen the movie yet but now I want to! I'll also be anxiously waiting for part 2 of the manga.

Suzume meets a stranger, Souta, who is searching for a ruin. Later, she decides to follow him and they discover a magical door that leads to other portals and the keystone.

Suzume and Souta, who had been cursed into the form of a chair, team up to search for the keystone and close the door. This leads to a wild chase, during which Suzume and Souta meet and befriend new people.

This is a magical and adventurous story; it has some funny moments. The illustrations are beautiful. I’m excited to see what will happen next in Suzume and Souta’s journey and where it will take them.

This is a wholesome and magically roadtrip story of a young girl accidentally discovering a whole new world because she helped a stranger.

I find this author to be so uniquely imaginative. He's truly unafraid of going with the most bizarre ideas, giving little to no explanations up front, and taking the audience on a journey full of warmth and whimsy and all around goodness, in the midst of chaos. I'm left wanting for more of it.

I watched the film before reading the manga, I was a little confused at first about which came first. Turns out they started somewhat at the same time, but this manga came out first and the film (which tells the full story) came out later. I'm excited to get my hands on volume 2 to experience this full story in a different format again!

Suzume, vol. 1
Genre: Fiction, Fantasy (Manga).
Rating: ★★★ (3/5)

I thank NetGalley and Kodansha Comics for providing me with an advanced reader copy (ARC) of this book in return for an honest review.
***
"Suzume" is the story of seventeen-year-old Suzume, who meets a strange young man looking for something. When she decides to follow him to some ruins, her destiny will be linked to his, and they will travel throughout Japan in search of a "key", an enigmatic cat.

Personally, I had consumed Makoto Shinkai's work before, both in films (e.g. Kimi No Na Wa) and in his novels (e.g. She And Her Cat). That's why, when I found this volume, I decided to read it before watching the movie. I wouldn't say I was disappointed, but I think it left me a little indifferent. Although I know that the first volume is always in charge of the worldbuilding and the presentation of its characters, I feel that I have not been able to delve much into the story. However, I read it in a very short time, and I think it could improve in later volumes, so I am not closed to the idea of ​​continuing the story.

Recommended for Makoto Shinkai fans, fantasy lovers, and probably cat enjoyers, too.

Thank you to NetGalley for my e-arc of this.
I was so excited to get this and read it as the movie was such a special experience/memory for me. It did not disappoint! I loved that the art style was kept in line with the style of the movie and that they didn't change up the plot too much. However, I think for someone who has read the book and watched the movie, the graphic novel was a little choppy and cut out some of the transitional information from scene to scene. I will absolutely be buying a physical copy of this and be collecting the series when they are released into the wild in September 2024!
I highly recommend all versions of this story.

"I wonder why it feels so awful to be powerless on your own, that you have to rely on other people to protect you..."

★★★★☆

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book as an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

Suzume is one of my fav Shinkai Makoto's work and reading the manga is bringing back the same feeling as watching the anime back in the day. I love the adventure, the way Suzume met a lot of good people in her journey, and some of the nostalgic feeling that certain people feel when they see the ruins. Also i love how in this one they portrayed an older male main character, moreover that gorgeus long hair. Knowing the whole story from the anime, this one brought so much complex emotion to each character and now some of them collided because of the spirit raging down there. I'm excited to revisit the story in the next volume!

l like this one a lot. The translation is easy to read and the plot is just magical! I love it and really look forward for the next volumes!

3.25

I adored the film adaptation of Suzume when I saw it in theaters, so I was really excited to see this volume of manga up on NetGalley. While I liked the art style here, especially the color pages at the beginning, I think if I hadn't seen the film I wouldn't have enjoyed this very much.

In this volume Suzume meets Souta, discovers a door to a new world and begins her adventure finding the keystone. Generally with adaptations, I find the screen version glosses over details from the book, but in this case I think the manga and movie follow each other pretty faithfully, which left me a little disappointed because I was hoping for more depth in the manga. I do think this was a gorgeous read and will likely pick up Vol. 2 when it's released, but until then I recommend watching the film!

If you have seen Suzume as a movie, the manga beautifully captures its essence with captivating illustrations and essential plot points. The characters are likeable, interesting, and relatable, and it reminds me of what I like about the film - creativity, intensity, and brevity.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a free ARC for review!

First and foremost, thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC, in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adore “Your name” so I didn’t hesitate to request Suzume once I saw it was available. And, oh, it did not disappoint one bit! I love the art and the color pages were essencial to grasp a little more of the story. To be honest, I haven’t watched the movie yet, so this was a total new story for me, which I think it added more to the fact that I truly loved this one! It’s a magical story, filled with excitement and cute and cozy moments.