8.4/10
Your Name (Japanese: Kimi no Na wa) is a 2016 Japanese animated romantic fantasy film written and directed by Makoto Shinkai and produced by CoMix Wave Films. Featuring the voices of Ryunosuke Kamiki and Mone Kamishiraishi as Taki and Mitsuha, the film became a global phenomenon upon release.
Premiering in Japan on August 26, 2016 (after an early screening at Anime Expo in Los Angeles), the film quickly evolved from a highly anticipated anime release into a worldwide cultural moment. With a total global gross exceeding $400 million, it became the highest-grossing Japanese film of all time until it was later surpassed by Demon Slayer: Mugen Train.
More than just a body-swap romance, Your Name blends time, longing, destiny, and disaster into one of the most emotionally resonant anime films ever created — without ever losing its intimate human core.
Your Name – Official Trailer
What Is Your Name About?
The story follows Mitsuha Miyamizu, a high school girl living in a quiet rural town in Gifu Prefecture. She feels trapped by small-town traditions and dreams of life in Tokyo. Meanwhile, Taki Tachibana is a Tokyo high school student juggling part-time work and ambitions of becoming an architect.
One day, without warning or explanation, they begin swapping bodies.
At first, the situation is chaotic and comedic. They leave notes for each other, set rules, and try to survive school and daily responsibilities without raising suspicion. Over time, however, the connection becomes deeper. What begins as confusion evolves into empathy, curiosity, and eventually something much stronger.
But Your Name is not simply about switching places. It gradually reveals larger forces at play — involving memory, time, and the invisible threads that connect people across distance.
The film carefully balances romance, fantasy, and emotional tension, all while avoiding heavy exposition. It trusts the audience to feel rather than over-explain.
Who Are the Main Characters?
Mitsuha Miyamizu
Mitsuha is a shrine maiden in training, raised by her grandmother after her mother’s death. She is idealistic, determined, and quietly frustrated with the limitations of her hometown. Her red braided cord — a symbolic thread of connection — becomes one of the film’s most recognizable visual motifs.
Her longing for something more feels authentic and grounded, making her one of anime’s most relatable heroines.
Taki Tachibana
Taki is impulsive, artistic, and at times blunt, but fundamentally kind. Living in bustling Tokyo, he represents the life Mitsuha yearns for. As the body-swapping continues, he begins to understand not only Mitsuha’s world — but also his own feelings.
Together, they form one of the most emotionally compelling duos in modern animation.
Is Your Name Worth Watching?
Absolutely.
Critically, Your Name holds a 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metacritic score of 81, indicating universal acclaim. Critics praised its breathtaking animation, emotionally layered storytelling, and unforgettable soundtrack.
Visually, the film is stunning. From shimmering cityscapes to glowing twilight skies, every frame feels meticulously crafted. The music by Radwimps — particularly tracks like “Zenzenzense” and “Sparkle” — amplifies the emotional rhythm of the story.
What truly elevates the film, however, is its emotional weight. It captures the feeling of searching for something — or someone — you cannot fully explain.
It is romantic without being cliché. Dramatic without being melodramatic. And fantastical without losing emotional realism.
How Does It Connect to Shinkai’s “Disaster Trilogy”?
Critics often refer to Your Name, Weathering with You, and Suzume as Makoto Shinkai’s informal “disaster trilogy.”
Each film blends personal relationships with large-scale natural events — reflecting Japan’s cultural memory of earthquakes and disasters. However, the heart of each story remains human connection.
If you enjoyed one of these films, watching the others deepens appreciation for Shinkai’s recurring themes of fate, distance, and resilience.
Box Office & Legacy
Your Name grossed over $405 million worldwide, breaking numerous records. It became the highest-grossing anime film globally at the time and helped push non-Studio Ghibli anime into mainstream international success.
Its impact extended beyond Japan, performing exceptionally well in China and South Korea and earning critical awards including Best Animated Feature at multiple international festivals.
The film also inspired a live-action remake currently in development by Paramount Pictures and Bad Robot.
More importantly, it reshaped global perceptions of anime storytelling — proving that animated films could compete with major live-action blockbusters on emotional and commercial levels.
FAQ
Is Your Name sad or happy?
Your Name blends emotional tension with uplifting hope. It has heartfelt and dramatic moments, but it ultimately delivers a deeply satisfying and emotionally powerful experience.
Is Your Name appropriate for kids?
The film is generally suitable for teens and older children. It contains mild thematic intensity but no graphic content.
Why is Your Name so popular?
Its combination of stunning animation, emotional storytelling, memorable music, and universal themes of love and destiny made it resonate globally.
Do I need to watch other Makoto Shinkai films first?
No. Your Name is a standalone story. However, fans often enjoy watching Weathering with You and Suzume afterward due to shared thematic elements.
Where does Your Name rank among anime films?
It is frequently listed among the greatest anime films of all time and remains one of the highest-grossing Japanese films in history.
Conclusion
Your Name is not just about two teenagers swapping bodies. It is about memory, longing, destiny, and the invisible threads that bind people together across time and space.
Makoto Shinkai created a film that feels intimate yet epic, grounded yet cosmic. Nearly a decade after its release, it continues to move new audiences around the world.
If you have not seen Your Name, this is not just another anime recommendation.
It is a cinematic experience that stays with you long after the final scene fades.
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