4.0 stars

The classically animated masterpiece that is Your Name, proves to be an exquisite film that competes with, and even dominates over, the entire animated film industry.  Released in 2016, Your Name, broke records as it managed to take away the title of Highest Grossing Anime Film of All Time from beloved Best Animated Feature winner Spirited Away. Praised by both critics and audiences, the movie takes a more approachable look into classic anime, as it leaves behind traditional Japanese myths and culture to focus on the oddly connected life of two teenagers in modern Japan.

The plot follows lives of two teenagers from different walks of life and tells the interesting story that occurs when a strange event causes them to switch bodies. Teenage girl Mitsuha lives in the Japanese countryside, and is tired of the traditional lifestyle she follows, meanwhile, Taki, a teenage boy, is  constantly overwhelmed by the hectic life of modern Tokyo. Their lives are clouded with boredom until they unexpectedly start experiencing life through, literally, each other’s eyes. Nonetheless, this masterpiece is much more than just an animated retelling of Disney Channel’s Freaky Friday. In fact, the body switching is just the catalyst that starts the adventure that truly takes center stage in Your Name. Even though many Western audiences claim anime is just too wierd of a genre to even dare to explore, Your Name acts as a perfectly placed bridge between both worlds, as it incorporates a familiar idea but gives it the stylistic originality only the Japanese animated film industry can provide.

Despite their odd names, Mitsuha and Taki start of resembling normal teanagers, such as those found in teen sitcoms like Gossip Girl or The Vampire Diaries. They start off as plain and predictable, yet relatable canvases, that work harmoniously to build and introduce the plot of the story. This believability plucks the characters from 2D into 3D, since they become tangible, realistic people that are capable of connecting with their audience, in ways they never taught cartoons could. Unlike many animated films, Your Name focuses on counteracting the magic in its story with realism, in order to create a functional story that the audience can easily relate to.

By default, anime films carry deep problematics, however, Your Name manages to makes these available to a foreign audience. The powerful themes carried by classical anime films such as Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle are usually carried through by tradition and magic, which usually opaques the overall plot and usually scares away a Western audience. It is by these means that many become overwhelmed by the eccentricity of anime, and thus chose to misjudge and turn away the genre as a whole. However, Your Name breaks free from this norm. By developing its story in a modern, contemporary setting, and by stripping it away from the heavy, foreign tradition and the in-your-face magic that typically  clouds these stories, it manages to create a space with a palpable, important message for both audiences. Even though the message itself is not as deep and profound as that found in more classical anime, it’s still more thorough than those found on Western media.

Above all, Your Name should be watched, regardless of the story,  just because of its aesthetical beauty. The days when alluring classically animated films like Sleeping Beauty and The Little Mermaid where shown in Western screens are long gone since the rise of 3D animation. Despite of the dazzling quality 3D animation brings to a cinema, it would never measure up to the grace and uniqueness a classically animated film. Additionally, the production paid an unbelievable attention to detail, which made every single shot a unique one, and it also made it true work of art. The level of coordination went even into the microscopic level as, if you listen closely, you may notice that even the rhythm of the soundtrack is made to coordinate with the story.

Overall, Your Name is a moving masterpiece that enchants the audience with every single frame. By sewing together universal themes from both hemispheres into a awestricking story, it manages to serve as a more mainstream version of anime. Even though, the film is nowhere as complex as other classic anime films like Princess Mononoke, and even its own director stated that it could have been better, it is perhaps it’s simplistic nature that captivates the audience. So, leave the bias behind, and allow yourself to dive into the moving piece of art that lies in Your Name.