CATDOLL: The Chinese version of the novel "The Garden of Words" written by Makoto Shinkai will be released soon

The simplified Chinese version of the novel The Garden of Words, written by Makoto Shinkai himself, will be officially released in mainland China in March 2015. Since its release in Japan in 2014, the novel has received unanimous praise from readers from all walks of life. In addition to the "Makoto fans" who have been paying attention to Makoto Shinkai's works for many years, this slightly sad and fresh love story has also attracted many white-collar workers and literature lovers, and once set off a wave of discussion. The simplified Chinese version of the novel was introduced by Guangzhou Tianwen Kadokawa Animation Co., Ltd. and published by Baihuazhou Literature and Art Publishing House. The Japanese animation company CoMix Wave Films even specially provided classic animation scenes as a limited edition special gift for the simplified Chinese version of the novel.

In addition to making animated films, Makoto Shinkai has also adapted some of his classic works into novels in recent years. Among them, "The Garden of Words" is the second novel adaptation written by Makoto Shinkai himself after "5 Centimeters per Second". Unlike the movie version, the novel version of "The Garden of Words" restores the scenes in the movie through text, and also adds monologues from different characters. It tells the causes and consequences of the development of the relationship between the hero and heroine from different perspectives, making the characters more full and the plot more substantial than in the movie. In addition, a group of supporting characters also have their own pasts in the novel, making the relationship between the characters closer. In general, the launch of the novel version makes up for the various regrets that the 45-minute movie version cannot present.

Born in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, Makoto Shinkai joined the famous Japanese game company Falcom after graduating from university, where he was responsible for art and promotional films. During his tenure, he tried to create an animated short film, but later quit his job to concentrate on animation. In 2002, the release of the animated short film "Voices of a Distant Star" attracted the attention of all walks of life overnight. This 25-minute work, from directing, scripting to painting and editing, was almost completed by Makoto Shinkai alone. The production level far exceeded other independently produced works. The film also won the Excellence Award at the first New Century Tokyo International Animation Fair. In 2004, Makoto Shinkai once again launched the feature-length animated film "The Place Promised in Our Early Days". The increasingly sophisticated production and wonderful soundtrack were once again highly praised, and won the Best Animated Film Award at the 59th Mainichi Film Awards, beating "Howl's Moving Castle" directed by Hayao Miyazaki. After that, Makoto Shinkai continued to launch animated shorts through various platforms. He was just over 30 years old and was even called a "genius" new animation director in Japan by the media.