Your Name. 君の名は。Kimi no Na wa (SPOILERS)

[Graymouse]

I know I am late on this because it was released back 2016 but I just finished watching it today on Amazon prime video. It is directed by Shinkai, Makoto and distributed by Toho. The anime is hand drawn cells, that you don't often see today. It was unbelievably heartwarming. It is an interesting way to write a romance that is for sure. If you have seen it, what did you think?

 

[looneymoon]

Most anime is still hand drawn as far as I know. Though there is more 3D stuff coming out now that's looking pretty close to a flat, hand drawn look (Beastars comes to mind).

Anyways, I love this movie It's really interesting because it feels almost like a culmination of all of Shinkai's films, and the resolution between these two characters feels like the ending is one desired by every other pair that came before.

I saw Weathering with You, his latest film, a few months ago. It was okay. I know writing tragic couples is kind of his thing, and I really enjoy how he tackles those kinds of stories. I think Your Name made such a strong statement on the rest of his work, that it might be cool for him to do something different.

 

[Graymouse]

Anyways, I love this movie It's really interesting because it feels almost like a culmination of all of Shinkai's films, and the resolution between these two characters feels like the ending that ending desired by every other pair that came before.

I agree with you! The way the plot plays out by switching bodies, between two people. Taki and Mitsuha who eventually start to understand each other because they get to spend a day in each others bodies and learn about the other on a more intimate basis. Albiet, in different timelines.

I think my eyes got a bit wet, a couple of times watching this. The movie makes one think that everyone is tied to the Red String of fate and people could be destined to meet.

Edited to add, my favorite part was when Taki wrote I love you in Mitsuha hand.

 

[Sasseli]

I love this movie to bits! This is actually the first Shinkai movie I really, really, really like! The drama, the feelings, the music (Radwimps!!!), it's all just so perfectly amazing!
His latest movie (Weathering with you / Tenki no ko) lacked a bit in comparison, but is still good, too! If you haven't seen it yet, you'll sure like it.

 

[Master Bates]

Not really a fan of Shinkai's storytelling chops (I much prefer Mamoru Hosoda), although the guy does give some glorious beautiful animation. I've watched all of his feature length films (including "The Place Promised in Our Early Days" and "Children Who Chase Lost Voices" (his weakest, imo)---even his earliest work, the OVA "Voices from a Distant Star").

All his stories all feel the same, imo (except maybe "Children")--- overly sentimental love stories between a boy and a girl, a period of separation between our potential lovers, the girl being potentially lost forever to our boy protagonist, the boy running desperately to save the girl. It gets stale after some time. Perhaps that's why out of all his works, "5 Centimeters per Second" is still what I consider to be my favorite from him, if only because I don't consider it a movie that tries to tell a single story, but more a visual poetry consisting of vignettes, with more emphasis on the mood and tone of a moment than any sort of resolution.

That said, I consider "Your Name" to be the film where his storytelling skills have reached a level that's resonant to me, although I still found it a bit lacking personally. I still like it, mind, and I consider myself a 'fan' of Shinkai's animation in general. It's just that I have low expectations when it comes to his 'stories'. I honestly think "A Silent Voice" is better than "Your Name", but I'm aware I'm in the minority in this.

And I'm going to be bold and say that I find "Weathering With You" to be a better and more polished Shinkai film than "Your Name", because it makes better characterizations and utility of its side characters. It's also more coherent, and makes better plotting of events, although it's less emotional. But then I'm the kind of person who doesn't look for the 'emotion' in his films because I've been following this guy for years and has grown desensitized to most of his staples, so every time I watch his newer films I don't look for the drama but rather look for the ways in which he has improved.

So yeah, that's my condensed opinion on this movie. Back when this was more recently released, I would've written more but given that it's been years I have forgotten most of my thoughts on this film.

 

[Graymouse]

I have watched most of his films, just the only ones I haven't is "Weathering with You" which I hope to watch soon. I believe that Taki and Mitsuha have cameo appearances in that one.

Even though "A silent voice" was heartbreaking to me but I still really enjoyed it and it's worth your time. I still feel that "Your Name" is better. I was really glad that "love" interest was resolved. Most Shinkai-sans stories are never conclusively concluded. So, this was a good start.

 

[Master Bates]

Have you tried Mamoru Hosoda? I honestly believe he's a better storyteller than Shinkai and I love his movies (not so much his last two, but I still like them).

Another GOAT whose films deserve to be watched is also Satoshi Kon (RIP). That guy is a god of transition shots. It's such a shame he died so young. Had he been alive today, who knew what animated films we would've been enjoying from him right now. The world has been deprived of his genius. His most popular works are probably "Perfect Blue" and "Paprika", but my favorite from him is definitely the less popular "Millennium Actress". Even his sole animated series, "Paranoia Agent", is pretty good too.

For something quirky and surreal, you should also try Masaaki Yuasa, although his works are more of an acquired taste. Personally, I was charmed by his "Night is Short, Walk On Girl".

Of course, Ghibli is already a given so I'm not even gonna go there.

 

[looneymoon]

Mamoru Hosoda is great, but I think he's a really different kinda filmmaker than Shinkai. Shinkai more or less has made a career specializing in one thing, except that one time he caved and tried to make what was essentially a Miyazaki movie and it wasn't very good I do think I prefer Hosoda's movies overall.

I think my current favourite big anime director is probably Masaki Yuasa.

 

[Graymouse]

Thank you guys for opening up different paths to new Anime' that I haven't seen yet. I really love the mushy feel good, coming of age type of anime' like Anohana. I am such a sucker for childhood romance type in all mediums.

 

[Master Bates]

Mamoru Hosoda is great, but I think he's a really different kinda filmmaker than Shinkai. Shinkai more or less has made a career specializing in one thing, except that one time he caved and tried to make what was essentially a Miyazaki movie and it wasn't very good I do think I prefer Hosoda's movies overall.

I think my current favourite big anime director is probably Masaki Yuasa.

That's precisely why I can't put Shinkai among the greats: he's too singular. I'll still continue to watch his movies though and see how he'll improve and transition to other type of stories. "Children Who Chase Lost Voices" is that one Miyazaki-like film Shinkai tried to make, and yes, it was a disjointed mess, imo. I consider it his weakest.

And yes, Yuasa shows a lot of promise. I find myself looking forward to his latest works year after year, although "Devilman Crybaby" left me traumatized and led me to not pursuing his works for a while. "Ping Pong" is also one of the best sports anime I've had the pleasure of watching. I think the last movie I've seen from him, "Ride Your Wave", was pretty good too, although I felt it falter a bit by the end. I'd still give it an 'A-'. This guy has the range to be versatile. Very promising.

@Graymouse
Ah, I see your type. I'm sorry, I don't think I'd be of help there as those kind of stories aren't really my cup of tea lol. But I am not averse to romance movies, btw. Some of the movies I really enjoyed were romance, I'm just not the mushy type.

Speaking of mushy romance, you should try Yuasa's "Ride Your Wave". It's not childhood friend romance, but it IS mushy. Hosoda's trinity of "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time", "Summer Wars", and "Wolf Children" have sweet romantic aspects too although it's not in the forefront.

 

[Graymouse]

From what I understood Shinkai, never really wanted to be the next Miyazaki. His fans have put him on the pedestal. In fact, when "Your Name" got really popular he even asked people to stop seeing it. Some directors don't like the lime light. I think this is what will hold Shinkai back from being among the GOAT. I am glad though that he wants to make his own path, but if you are going to diminish your own work to a point where you are asking your fans to stop seeing your work, that is on a whole another level.

 

[Master Bates]

Shinkai doesn't need to be the next Miyazaki (no one does), he only needs to be Makoto Shinkai.

I think the main thing holding him from greatness, imo, isn't that he doesn't want to be seen as the next Miyazaki (that's a fair sentiment), it's the limitations on the 'variety' of the stories he tells (his skills are plenty great already). Methinks he needs to broaden the genre of his branding for us to be able to see what he's really made of.

 

[Graymouse]

Shinkai doesn't need to be the next Miyazaki (no one does), he only needs to be Makoto Shinkai.

I think the main thing holding him from greatness, imo, isn't that he doesn't want to be seen as the next Miyazaki (that's a fair sentiment), it's the limitations on the 'variety' of the stories he tells (his skills are plenty great already). Methinks he needs to broaden the genre of his branding for us to be able to see what he's really made of.

I can see that, however, some artists are narrow, I mean lets look at Edgar Allen Poe for an example. All his poems where dark romanticism and yet he turned out one the best English Literature poets of all time. I guess what I am saying is that it is alright to be narrow, just as long as when you write something it hits like a jackhammer.

When "Your Name" got popular that in my opinion was is breakthrough. He should have expanded on the success of the story. With "Weathering with you" he almost captured another lighting in the bottle moment. He just needs to keep telling these types of stories from now on. Although I think it is not his style and he will go back to telling unresolvable love stories before "Your Name".

 

[looneymoon]

I like Shinkai. He's an incredible BG artist and has an amazing eye for shot composition. I think the biggest thing holding him back is that his characters are basically always the same people. Even right down to the character animation, there's not whole lot that makes them stand out. It makes me wonder how this story is elevated by the medium? I feel like there's usually not a whole lot in the animation that couldn't just as easily be communicated by live action actors.

Which is really odd because he did everything in Voices from a Distant Star, including the 3D... by himself. Which is incredible, and shows the breadth of skills he brings to the table. The characters though... they do look super wonky, so I think that might just be a general weakness he has. Even storywise his characters can pretty much be boiled down to just "boy" and "girl." I mean, it works for what he does, but I understand that gets stale pretty fast.

I think thats why I like someone like Yuasa because he seems to let his animators go nuts with their shots. I really appreciate animation that doesnt care so much for things like staying on model. It makes the viewing experience so fun because you can get 6 different shots with the same character, but can get 6 totally different energies depending on the ankmator. A lot of people hate that, but I love it

 

[Master Bates]

Sure, specialization is great too. A lot of artists are 'specialists' in their genre: Stephen King focuses on horror (although he has other works such as "The Green Mile"), Agatha Christie and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle are in 'detective' stories, Jane Austen is into romance, etc. etc.)

The problem with Shinkai though isn't that his stories are narrow, it's that his stories feel THE SAME. It's like his formula is replicated every time, and honestly that needs to be shaken up a bit. Even Jane Austen changes her narratives. Shinkai's just mostly stay the same.

EDIT:
Totally agree with Rishi. Shinkai is a great animator, that I have no doubt. His background animations are to die for. I just don't think of him as a great storyteller or even a great charcater or scene animator. That said, "Your Name" is a milestone for him, storytelling wise. I really could see his improvement. I like how there were seeds planted for future plot direction which were ultimately followed through. He also started to pay attention to his side characters outside his main boy-girl pair, although not by much (he is much more improved on this aspect with "Weathering With You").

Also, Yuasa's quirky off-the-balls animation is... *chef's kiss*

 

[Graymouse]

Can't believe we forgot about Clannad. I prefer the Tomoyo after story.

 

[Graymouse]

I wanted to share this, I found it on YT. This is where Shinkai drew his inspiration from for Kimi no na wa

 

[odekopeko]

I'm not a huge fan of Makoto Shinkai's works, but my friends really enjoyed Your Name. I know there are spoilers here, but they basically spoiled the ending for me anway. I wish I was quicker to jump on this film, because I'm not sure if I will have the same kind of experience going in, knowing what happens at the end.

That said, his 5-min short titled, She and Her Cat: Their Standing Points, and Garden of Words really resonated for me. I was able to watch these again recently, and walk away with an even deeper appreciation for them for the beautiful animation and his use of dialogue, so I'll keep that in mind when I watch Your Name. I just bought the blu ray.

@Graymouse would you say it has replay value? Is it something you feel like you can watch over and over again?

 

[Graymouse]

I'm not a huge fan of Makoto Shinkai's works, but my friends really enjoyed Your Name. I know there are spoilers here, but they basically spoiled the ending for me anway. I wish I was quicker to jump on this film, because I'm not sure if I will have the same kind of experience going in, knowing what happens at the end.

That said, his 5-min short titled, She and Her Cat: Their Standing Points, and Garden of Words really resonated for me. I was able to watch these again recently, and walk away with an even deeper appreciation for them for the beautiful animation and his use of dialogue, so I'll keep that in mind when I watch Your Name. I just bought the blu ray.

@Graymouse would you say it has replay value? Is it something you feel like you can watch over and over again?

@odekopeko Honestly, this is my 5th time watching it in the last 3 days. To me it is that good. I feel the same each and every time I watch certain parts of the movie. There is a certain human emotion behind longing for someone who you love dearly. It tugs at your emotions, Please give it a try. Afterwards, lets discuss!