Three years after the release of his modern classic Your Name, visionary anime director Makoto Shinkai returns to UK screens with another heartfelt hit…
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Starring: Brandon Engman, Ashley Boettcher, Riz Ahmed
Running time: 112 minutes
It’s not often that we see much traditional animation in theatres over here anymore. Disney ditched their hand-drawn division back in 2013, and considering the unprecedented success of both computer-animated Frozen movies, it’s unlikely they’ll look back any time soon. Fortunately, the Japanese animation industry is still holding tightly onto its roots, so every now and then we’re treated to a brand-new anime gem on the big screen.
The latest to make the journey to the west is Weathering With You, the next animated feature from Makoto Shinkai, creator of acclaimed body-swapping drama Your Name. Shinkai’s new film follows Hodaka Morishima, a runaway high-schooler trying to get by in a bustling and exceptionally rainy Tokyo. After a tangle with a pimp - think Taxi Driver, but more family-friendly - Hodaka meets Hina, a “sunshine girl” with a mysterious link to the sky.
Despite being about the weather, the movie never really discusses climate change to any extent. Instead, Weathering With You is a vivid and uplifting tale about finding something precious to hold on to in an unstable world, and ties its use of pathetic fallacy directly to the plot in order to ramp up the stakes. It’s a compelling story that progresses at just the right pace, and while Shinkai plays it a little bit safe by sticking to the same narrative structure as Your Name, enough care is put into developing these new characters that it’s all just as impactful by the end.
The key to Shinkai’s success is his keen eye for detail; by giving the utmost attention to even the most mundane moments, the spectacular scenes become that much more breathtaking. In close-up shots, each raindrop is rendered with photographic accuracy, glistening like gems as they fall and shattering like glass upon hitting a surface. Indoor scenes are filled with warmth, whether it’s how the bun of a Big Mac slightly rises when the box opens, or the dancing steam emanating from a homemade noodle broth.
There are several moments when you realise it’s a film you’re always going to love
More cynical viewers might roll their eyes at sunny montages of Hina and Hodaka spreading goodwill around the city in the first half, but once the drama kicks into gear it’s impossible not to be in awe at all of the different levels on which this movie manages to impress. Off-putting anime tropes such as overbearing slapstick humour and scantily-clad women are nowhere to be seen, making this a perfect entry-point into the medium for those who are on the fence.
Hit-or-miss dubs are another reason why some might usually find anime somewhat inaccessible, but with two talented young actors as the stars - supported by bigger names like Venom’s Riz Ahmed and Bojack Horseman’s Alison Brie - those watching in English won’t be disappointed. The performers fit their characters to a tee and deliver each line with authenticity that adds impact rather from detracting from it, helping to further connect with the well-rounded characters.
There are several moments in Weathering With You when you realise it’s a film you’re always going to love, and when the tender vocals from Japanese band RADWIMPS kick in, the tears start to fall like rain. For a medium that’s usually pushed straight to home release in the UK, this is a deeply cinematic experience that benefits greatly from a big screen and surround sound; it’s a blessing that this movie has seen a full theatrical release, and it shouldn’t be missed.
Weathering With You is an incredible follow-up from Makoto Shinkai that meets the sky-high expectations set by Your Name. Beautifully crafted, engaging and inspiring, it’s a perfect way to start the year and quite possibly just the kind of film the world needs right now.
Did you know? This was the first anime to be selected as Japan’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the Oscars since 1998.
Weathering With You is in cinemas now
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