Your Name is both dream-like and true to life, both very deep and lighthearted with the occasional comic relief — the movie of a generation.
Have you ever felt like you were missing someone in your life that felt ever so close but just out of reach?
This movie encapsulates the feeling of longing that most teenagers experience… with a satisfying end for a change. Even if you’ve never experienced any of this, heck, even if you’ve never fallen in love like the two main characters, Your Name will make you feel all the feels.
Last year when I first watched this romantic tale, the closer I’ve ever gotten to love was having those silly crushes you’re too ashamed to even tell your friends about. Yet I knew that what the characters had was true love. That Love so many art pieces hope to convey but can never quite get right without falling into clichés.
Best anime
Your Name was a global phenomenon when it came out in 2016, becoming the highest grossing anime of all time. FUNimation Films’ incredible work on creating vibrant and detailed landscapes made it more immersive than a 3D movie.
The soundtrack wasn’t just complimenting the pictures, it made the experience all the more immersive and took the emotional moments to the point where your heart broke for the characters. Given its nonlinear structure and its rapid pace, the movie requires you to be focused most of the time but it’s worth it. You’ll be baffled by the plot twists and the change of scenery will take your breath away.
I am her
Mitsuha is a high school girl stuck in the rural village of Itomori, wishing upon the stars she was a handsome guy living in Tokyo. Weird, right? Actually, I completely understand her frustration. I have this deep fear of missing out on life experiences myself.
I come from a small town and I came across a lot of barriers in my pursuit of career and happiness. You know the City is right there, with endless doors of opportunities you can open. You want to build a career for yourself, make your dreams come true and you have this haunting feeling of not belonging to that town you grew up in.
Given the chance, you’d leave that place, not because your family isn’t good to you, but because you want to start living up to your potential. Mitsuha wants to finally live the life she’s been day-dreaming about for so long.
I think we all know why she chose a “guy” and all the privileges that come with it. Starting this journey as a single girl can be scary, you always keep the worst scenarios in the back of your mind. Believe me, I’ve been there. Her wish came true in the most unexpected and hilarious way; body-swapping with a city boy named Taki. I won’t go into details about the story itself but I will talk about the ending.
Happy ending
I’ve always thought that a happy ending is the ultimate gift a director can give to the audience. Forget confusing ending scenes or tragic plot twists that leave you with a bitter taste in your mouth. Makoto Shinkai spoils us with the most satisfying end by reuniting the two soulmates.
They started from being strangers to the very intimate position of body swapping and then, after years of forgetting each others’ name, they made eye contact and remembered. Time and space kept them apart but their connection, symbolised by the red ribbon, was stronger. That scene in the streets of Tokyo stopped mid-conversation and yet it was extremely satisfying.
“What’s your name?” I will never get over that movie.
