I just watched “Your Name,” a 2016 Japanese animated feature written and directed by Makoto Shinkai, and it is one of the best films I have ever seen – live action, animated or otherwise. Seriously. Not only is every single scene a breathtaking work of art, but the story is absolutely wonderful.

“Your Name” is an emotionally poignant story about two young people linked together through time and space. With a healthy serving of Science Fiction, this film explores what is takes for humans to truly connect with each other and how strong those bonds can be. What this film does exceptionally well is include traditional (even ancient) Japanese cultural elements in a story that is clearly present day or set in the very near future. These traditional cultural elements provide a powerful contrast to the technological and architectural modernity of what might be seen in Japan’s major cities, like Tokyo. This contrast never feels out of place or even contradictory. By including Japan’s past with Japan’s present, Shinkai creates a world in balance for his characters.

You may remember my post from January 2020 in which I reviewed Makoto Shinkai’s 2019 feature “Weathering with You.” In that post I incorrectly stated that “Weathering with You” was Shinkai’s sophomore outing. In fact, Shinkai has been writing and directing short films and features since 1999. That said, “Your Name” and “Weathering with You” are the two films that have catapulted Makoto Shinkai into international celebrity and rightly so. These films are a treasure and I cannot wait to see what Shinkai thinks of next.