*Some disclaimers and context.

The score 75/100 means that this anime is something noteworthy to me; one that would be worth remembering. That being said, it just meets the mark for that status as it needs some work.

Another thing I would like to mention is that Suzume is the first anifilm cinema experience ever for me, and I thought to commemorate the occasion I would write my first ever anime review as well.

The Review

I'll get straight to the point with the other criteria first, besides story, direction, and themes.

I thought the animation overall has improved compared to Shinkai's previous films, especially in the detail and fidelity of the characters. They look a lot more fluid and distinguished now, instead of slightly different facial features and different hairdos. Even with the supposed "appalling" 3D animation that some others have pointed out, I thought it looked fine in the grand scheme of things. Sure it may seem unfitting at first with the always ever so high 2D animation quality of Comix Wave Films, but it's just the normal effect of seeing something different from the usual that may stick out. The animation and design is not bad in anyway, and I like how they are experimenting with 3D animation to perhaps make it as seamless as 2D animation one day. I also got to commend the sound design, it is more bombastic and complex this time around. Appropriate for an anifilm that is more focused on fantasy elements rather than just romance. The soundtrack being more cinematic in its themes, is more fitting in my opinion. Personally I think it's better than just inserting j-pop songs.
Now that we got those aspects down...

Story, Direction, and Themes

Overall I thought the anime is a good film in its own right, even when compared to Shinkai's other works. Perhaps at worst, a viewing experience that is not bad. I like the new direction Shinkai is trying to take with this film, focusing more on other themes such as family matters, individual acceptance, priorities in life, etc., rather than just romance. That being said, it is a great idea that however, needs work on its execution.

If you haven't seen the film yet, I highly recommend to watch this documentary first to get some better understanding from the story. You'll understand once you've watched Suzume.

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For instance in the beginning of the film, Suzume invites Souta into her room to treat his wound after their first worm encounter. Souta then used the seemingly unusual three-legged wooden chair to sit on, as Suzume treats his wound. Throughout this entire scene until the start of the chase for Daijin, no character bothered to be concerned about the chair. Hell, even Suzume herself didn't say anything about it, even if Souta used the chair without permission. It is almost as if the scene played out putting the chair in a dismissive position. Which is ironic, as this chair proved to be an object of importance to Suzume. I don't know if the storywriters or Shinkai himself decided to keep the sequence as it was, but I thought this scene could've been done better for the overall story. Instead of the movie opening with young Suzume running in the snow to intrigue the audience with a mystery vibe, it could've started as an obscure memory-dream of Suzume's mother. A brief showing of Suzume's heart-to-heart moment with her mother when they were constructing the chair could've provided so much needed context for the movie's story.

If they would keep Suzume's room scene as it is, it wouldn't feel like something was missing or weird about Suzume chasing a God in the form of a cat with a wooden chair all around Japan.
Often times the movie somewhat confused me on what are the true motives of the characters. Except for Daijin, because deities or beings with godly powers can be random pricks at times so I let that one slide (recent case on point, Odin and Heimdall from GOW Ragnarok).

Anyway, it was like the film is telling me that Suzume has the hots for a stranger guy she just met despite his chair form. It was not until later in the movie, when we see the flashback of Suzume and her mother that it cleared things up for me. Then it made me realize that the chair had another important meaning to Suzume. Hence why she goes around Japan with Souta in this seemingly outlandish adventure, whilst being "too comfortable" with a guy possessing a chair.

Though her other motif about saving Japan from another disastrous earthquake like the one that caused her mother's death is worth mentioning. However, I only recognized this with the help of additional context outside the film which can be seen in this YT video

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The brief scene when Suzume & Co. passed through lands covered with black garbage bags, is actually a neat reference to the Fukushima nuclear disaster. Those black bags are filled contaminated with topsoil from the radiation the nuclear power plants released. It then struck me that Suzume's mother died as a direct result of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami disaster. Couple that with the scene of Suzume's recalling of ocean wave sounds crashing as she goes through the ruins along the coastline, I came to realize that the heavy burden of that disaster acts as a subplot for this film. In case you haven't, you have to watch the YT video I posted, it provides some insightful context trust me.

This in of itself however, is another problem for this film. In order to gain further appreciation for the movie's story, you need some additional context from external sources to understand it first. To the average film or even anime viewer, this hidden meaning may be lost as just another casually scenic view.

Back to what I have mentioned earlier about my issues with the film's sequential order of important context, it is about this time in the film where they show Suzume's flashback with her mother. This is where they should put Suzume's hinting dream of the Ever-After, it would especially make sense since she has been constantly exposed to the worm and the doors to the Ever-After. This should then give further reason for Suzume to close on something reminiscent of her troubled past, along with the audience better understanding what that sequence of young Suzume out in the snow meant in the end. This would have been a much better use for it, instead of using it as cheap intrigue at the start.

Thankfully that's where most of my critiques end. The rest of the subplots and themes were handled nicely, especially with Suzume and her auntie. That is indeed a heartwarming bonding moment for the two of them, and they have finally resolved their tense relationship. As for Shinkai's intentions for this film to go away from the romance tropes, I would say he somewhat failed. Although I'm not complaining as this time around, it is not overdone like some of his previous works.

The wrap things up, I would say I still enjoyed Your Name more than Suzume. Because Your Name is a prime example of a consistent and cohesive package. It may have the cheesy idea that is "romance wins", but the execution of that film is what made it click even for me. Unfortunately for Suzume it is vice versa, it has interesting concepts and ideas that fall somewhat short. Some ended up half-baked with execution, and story sequencing issues like what I have mentioned. But it is promising to see Shinkai try to veer away from typical romance tropes, as it is beginning to get stale on its own like what we've seen with Weathering With You.

I'd recommend watching this anifilm. A thoughtful experience that may tug the heartstrings in different ways, just don't go into this expecting it to be anything strongly romantic.