Okay so the movie premiered in Japan yesterday and I went to watch it today.I should admit that I was thinking this is going to be one of Shinkai Makoto's regular movies, where nothing really makes sense, but everything is so beautiful, animation is astounding, music is emotional, and for some reason you are left with tears, some bittersweet emotions, etc.Shinkai Makoto is one of my favourite directors, if not THE favourite, but I usually don't like his stories as much as the mood he creates. I am always left with some sort of disappointment in the end. But that doesn't keep me from adoring his works.「君の名は」had been advertised as hell in Japan for the past 2 months or so. Even in the university we got advertisements for Shinkai Makoto's upcoming movie. So it was kind of a given you'd want to go watch it asap. Just like I did.Now, I'm not going to talk about the story itself, since most of you guys won't be able to watch it until the DVD/BD are released, which usually takes a year or something. I am just going to say that this was absolutely, by all means Shikai's masterpiece. My favourite so far has been Kotonoha no Niwa, but Kimi no Na wa is on a totally different level. At first it gave of the feeling of 5 cm per Second. But it was different, in a unique, amazing, sweet, lovable way.The story was splendid, the ending was splendid, the setting was amazing. Everything about this anime was perfect. I can't even point out a single drawback or con. It was just that good. No it wasn't just that good. It was wonderful, marvellous, fascinating.At the end I teared up real bad, and I am still under the impressions of this movie which is why I am here writing this right now.
I do not usually give this high ratings to stuff, because after watching a fair amount of anime I started disliking most of the stuff I watch, rather than liking. But I will rate Kimi no Na Wa 10/10 with no regrets.
I wrote above that this is Shinkai's masterpiece, and now I am going to say why. For most people 5 cm per Second is his best work. Some of his other movies have some supernatural forces. Kotonoha no Niwa was your regular slice of life story. Kanojo to Kanojo no Neko was mostly based on the concept of relationships. Now then, why is Kimi no Na wa the best? Because it included every best detail from previous Shinkai Makoto movies.
Music was written by an accomplished Japanese band called Radwimps. I tried finding the OST CD which was released 3 days ago, but it was sold out in all of the biggest CD shops of the city. That comes to tell how amazing, emotional, sensual soundtrack this anime has.
The animation.. I don't think you need me to tell you that Shinkai Makoto's animation is out of this world. But then again, he had improved, it had gotten so much better since Kotonoha no Niwa.
Last but not least, the best part of the story were the characters. Their development, their relationship. Their connection, their bonds and their love.
I just can say for sure, that I wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't release anything new for a couple of years, because this movie had tremendous work done on it. Kudos to Shinkai sensei for always getting better with every single work he produces.