'Your Name'

In cinemas November 18th!

If asked about Japanese animation, the majority of people would no doubt point to Studio Ghibli as the forerunners of commercially and critically successful releases. As with Pixar in America, they have become synonymous with deep and visually stunning films that are rarely matched, much less surpassed. With the arrival of writer/director Makoto Shinkai's 'Your Name', however, that might all be about to change.
 
Already taking Japan by storm and breaking records along the way, 'Your Name' is the story of city boy Taki and country girl Mitsuha... two unconnected teenagers who find themselves mysteriously united through their dreams.

In recent decades, animation has come a long way - both in terms of technical capabilities and in the more emotionally resonant stories they tell. In everything from the 'Toy Story' franchise and 'Up' to the aforementioned Studio Ghibli films and 'Inside Out', there has been a more pronounced balance between spectacle and heart, allowing them to transcend demographics.

It's a balance that not only shines bright in 'Your Name' but occasionally eclipses that of other animated films that stand in its wake. Though many will not yet be familiar with the name Makoto Shinkai, he is no newcomer. Having written and directed numerous works, it is a balance that he has truly come to master before stepping into 'Your Name'.
 
And it shows.
 
Though packed with enough wit and laugh-out-loud situational humour to keep people of all ages amused, 'Your Name' never shies away from its deeper themes. Themes which include everything from the disparity between life in the country and life in the city, the coming-of-age and burgeoning sexuality, love, loss, and the clash of ancient tradition against the back-drop of a modern world. It's all there, coming together to form something not so much the fantasies that Studio Ghibli creates but something more akin to Magical Realism.

It is, unfortunately, not without its faults. The plot is unashamedly complex at times, even from the outset, with an opening scene that proves more baffling than intriguing. Though the rocky start eventually smooths out, bringing clarity to what came before, it still requires more attention than most younger viewers would afford it. Especially with no truly odd and colourful characters to distract them. The occasional musical interlude may serve to fill that void, but seems a tad more ill-conceived and jarring than it does a stirring accompaniment.
 
Regardless, 'Your Name' remains an astounding accomplishment! A visually stunning, often hilarious, and consistently heart-wrenching exploration of life and love across all boundaries. 

Review by Jay Thomas.

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