Review of the Film: Your Name.

Yesterday, I had the chance to see the Makoto Shinkai film, Your Name. and let me tell you...it was amazing. A true masterpiece in my mind. As a result, I felt the need to put my thoughts to words in thought of the film. I do need to note, most importantly that while I've seen the subbed version, this review will both contain spoilers and cover the dubbed version, as that was what I saw in the theater.

So, in order to truly discuss the breadth of this masterpiece in the only way I know how (with words), there are a few different things I want to touch upon in this review: themes, animation, character/storytelling, music and voice acting. Not necessarily in that order. So, let's get started.



First, a quick synopsis: the story itself follows a pair of high school age individuals, Taki Tachibana and Mitsuha Miyamizu, who inexplicably find themselves switching bodies and affecting each other's lives. Of course, there's more to it than that, as this connection is eventually explored. Part rom-com, part taut thriller. If this hasn't roped you in...well, just read ahead. Or just watch this trailer.

1) Voice Acting/Dub Changes

This seems the simplest to get out of the way, if I'm honest. I saw the dubbed version in theaters as stated above and...I was really impressed. I know that leading up to the film's released, a lot of people were saying how "off" or "bad" Stephanie Sheh sounded as Mitsuha. At the time, I wasn't sure, though it sounded a little weird to me.

Then I saw the film.

Honestly, I've always professed myself as a dub lover, and very rarely has a show or film given me reason to doubt that decision. Nor did this film. Both of the leads (Michael Sinternikilaas and Stephanie Sheh) are very good at what they do. Each handle the body switching very well to the point that (in conjunction with the animation) you are never at a loss as to who is in who at the time. They provide just as much life to the material as their Japanese counterparts. I'll admit that I didn't cry in the theaters, but that's more a failing of myself than them.

Alongside them, the side characters are all appropriately cast for the roles they have. There's never a moment that takes me out of the world I'm inhabiting for all 106 minutes. Standouts also include Hitoha (Mitsuha's grandmother) and Yotsuha (her sister). For some reason, these two really felt so natural to me to the point they were simply an English version of their Japanese cast.

Now, there are a few dub changes they seem to have made, mostly because a majority of American people (myself included) don't understand a word of Japanese. However, none of these take away from the plot in any way and the points and themes presented, all make sense. Most of them are changes like the words "kataware doki" (a play on words in Japanese, from what I understand) to simply "magic hour", which works in context. Likewise, due to English having no distinct way of saying "I" (like "watashi" or "ore" etc.) they had to play with the scene of Mitsuha!Taki speaking with Taki's friends for the first time, but it gets across. Though easily the best change is that of "musubi" because it mentions "musubi" and its meaning in English, then goes on to use that English word instead. All solid changes, and, as stated, nothing that takes away from the original meaning.

2) Music

The music of this film is composed entirely by RADWIMPS, and let me tell you: it is one of the most emotive and amazing soundtracks I've had the pleasure of listening to in recent years. There's a subtle nuance to the music where it does not bombard you with discordant noises or super loud music. The only time that it does is during two distinct segments: where Taki and Mitsuha are changing bodies often to the track ZenZenZense, a fun rock track that really helps reflect the zaniness of what's going on, and again when Taki!Mitsuha and her friends are planning to blow stuff up to save the town, which makes sense.

Instead, the music settles into a few distinct themes, the most prevalent and beautiful of which are the ones revolving around the comet (heard most distinctly around the Autumn Festival) and that of Mitsuha's Theme, which is a solitary piano piece that is beautiful in its simplicity. It truly stirs the emotions of the viewer but without forcing you to feel. You're not told to feel a specific emotion, but just the subtle suggestion that, perhaps, you should feel something.

Other than that, the music has four vocal tracks: Dream Lantern, the aforementioned ZenZenZense, Sparkle, and Nandemonaiya. Each one of these was reworked into English by the original songwriter and singer, which are good, though the lyrics get a little lost over everything going on. Honestly, the best used of these songs is Sparkle, in my opinion: slow and a little melancholy before building up in this intensity as the situation grows grave before petering...and then, in that touchingly and hauntingly beautiful moment, it speaks softly to the viewer before inspiring once more. Truly, the music is so well placed on a subtle and nuanced level that I don't think it will leave my mind for a very ling time.

3) Art/Animation

Nothing less than a breathtaking view.

I am well aware, of course, that Shinkai's works are incredibly hallmarked for their breathtaking landscapes. This one is no exception. The landscapes, just as Taki wishes to design, are a thing of breathtaking beauty. The rain on the trees, the Itomori countryside, the Tokyo cityscape, and even the comet itself that is the crux of the film is beyond beautifully rendered. It is crisp, clear and does nothing less than lend itself perfectly to the story. I'm no animation expert, of course, so to me, having good animation comes down to two things: does it make the action clear, and does it look clean.

The answer to both: yes. The animation is very clean, but most importantly is that thanks to it, you always know what's going on. You can tell from animation alone when Taki is in Mitsuha's body and vice versa. And the colors help to present a tone: from the green Itomori to the shiny Tokyo, and following the comet strike, how everything seems to almost be rendered in gray, like the life of the world has been sucked out. As they say early on: a breathtaking view.

Perhaps the scene I wish I could talk about most, however, is the Kuchikamizake Trip. This one sequence, a couple minutes in length, showcases the amazing animation as Taki is connected by a braided cord to Mitsuha in the past after drinking her sake. What follows is so fluidly animated and told, leading through a chain of events that led to the moment we're at. It blew me away when I saw it.

4) Character/Storytelling

Character and story go hand in hand. Without a good foundation of one, you cannot have another. Thankfully, this has both. Within moments of the film beginning, or rather, being introduced to each character, we get a measure of who they are. Mitsuha is shy, embarrassed, and downtrodden by her classmates and father; Taki is clearly hot-headed but hard working and friendly. However, their characters don't just stay there. Thanks to the body-swapping shenanigans, Mitsuha becomes more bold, exemplified by the ending when she stands up to her father. Taki becomes kinder and less hot-headed...well, for the most part.

Of course, at the crux of this is their changing relationship from reluctance, to bizarre friendship...to love.

What Shinkai, perhaps, does best in this film is the different genres. You'll laugh at the strange going-ons between Taki and Mitsuha as their friends wonder just what is happening. It's genuinely hilarious watching them lay ground rules like "no showering" or how to sit in a skirt (or the fact Taki doesn't know how to put a bra on leading to the guys blushing when he plays basketball in Mitsuha's body). I found myself smiling at it all, especially when Taki tries to tell himself not to play with Mitsuha's breasts...but does it anyway.

Then the twist comes when the body swapping stops, and you receive this sense that something is very, very wrong. Normally, you'd get mood whiplash, but Shinkai handles it that instead you get this sense of dread until the revelation: Itomori, and Mitsuha, were wiped off the map 3 years ago. It's such a numbing shock that even when it hits you, you almost saw it coming. But then he switches it around to give you hope again when Taki sees into Mitsuha's path and then wakes up in her body again. It's all well crafted to elicit that emotion in you.

Finally it culminates in the way the story is told. Because, if you haven't seen the movie, you won't realize: the beginning is the ending. The opening scene is where they reunite, but we don't know it yet. The dream Taki has is of Mitsuha before he knew her. There are all these little details that could easily confuse the storyline or muddle the plot and genre, but the way it's pulled off is never poor. And what it does is draw out emotion.

Longing emotion.

I'll admit that I choked up thrice in the film. The first is when we learn that Mitsuha met Taki before he knew her, three years in the past. The music, the way the braided cord (an obvious reference to the red string of fate) snaps out as she yells "My name is Mitsuha!" really hit me. Then, again, when Taki and Mitsuha meet for the first time to a remix of Dream Lanter. It's humorous, with a sense of urgency and then crushing despair and longing. Then, just when you think there's a shred of hope, and Mitsuha will remember Taki's name, all you see is what he wrote on her hand: "I love you". It's ridiculously romantic, if misguided, but it moved me, because it moved her. Then finally, that reunion and final line: "Can I ask you, your name?"

It's a story that grips you beginning to end, and refuses to let go. Not to mention the pacing is amazing. Despite the body swap stopping only about 45 minutes in, you never feel it drags too long. Some may argue the ending does, but I felt it didn't, personally, because it helped convey...well, a theme, as I'll talk below.

5) Themes

That sense of longing that lingers on...

A story is nothing without themes, and Shinkai has a bevy of them to tell!

Of course, with heavy influence is the 2011 Earthquake and Tsunami disaster that took place in Japan, as evidenced by the Itomori Comet. Perhaps it's a little harder for me, personally, to connect to that, but there are various other themes that are tackled which can be relevant to anyone.

The main one is, of course, longing. Two characters who never meet but fall in love with each other until that very end. Their constant separation, especially across the gulf of time, is poignant and something most people in their teens and up will understand because we've all experienced a sense of longing for something. This is so well shown by the visual aspect like the way the lake is bisected by the comet in the sky, or the moon by a chain link fence. You feel this pained longing with them, but it's not enough to crush you...it's just...there. Even after the movie is over, this is what you're left with: longing for more, but having to be content with what you have.

There's also the theme, I felt, of connection and unity between people. Of course, Mitsuha's grandmother consistently talks about this, and it really is prevalent. How we connect with others is something we all share, and how our lives are intertwined with others. Perhaps not romantically, but simply the way everyone around us changes. Okudera changes as a result of the different Taki, same with Mitsuha's friends, classmates and father. That we affect the others around us is powerful to show in light of that longing.

Which, of course, leads to the final theme of hope. Your Name. is incredibly sad and emotional...yet at the end, you walk away with hope. And that's something the characters embody. They are hopeful from beginning to end, even as everything from family to time itself, stands in their way. It's a reminder in these times that we need to hold on to hope, and hope for good things that don't harm others, but that there is a better future at the end of the longing.

Overall
If my opinion hasn't been made incredibly plain, I believe Your Name. is a very clear 10/10 masterpiece. One that needs to be seen in theaters to truly appreciate. Dub or sub are both good options, too, so don't be afraid to give the dub a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed by it whatsover. So, please, watch this wonderful film, Your Name.

Dare to Be Silly,
Epicocity