let’s meet at twilight

Growing up, I guess the only anime I ever watched were Pokemon and Detective Conan. After that, anime never really appealed to me until Kimi No Na Wa (2016). Its astounding visuals, storyline, and characters gave me a glimpse of what I was truly missing. Director Makoto Shinkai has already made multiple films, but according to sources Kimi No Na Wa is his greatest work by far. As every minute of the film went by, I started to understand why it was such a highly acclaimed anime film.

The film revolves around two teenagers, city boy Taki Tachibana and country girl Mitsuha Miyamizu, who swap bodies and eventually become star crossed lovers. In a span of almost two hours, the film’s genre shifts from humor to romance to heartbreak – with a touch of fantastical elements along the way. Personally, my favorite humorous moment was when Taki, in Mitsuha’s body, was crying while touching her breasts because he had not been able to swap bodies with her for a long time. However, my favorite scene overall was when Taki and Mitsuha finally met face to face in their own bodies. This was such a dramatic scene to watch – especially with amazing visuals and colors representing twilight.

I loved how Kimi No Na Wa was structured as well. The opening scene followed a life of Taki and Mitsuha after their twilight meeting. They were far apart and had no recollection of anything, yet they both felt something or someone was missing from their lives. Of course, first time viewers did not know this yet at the time.

The storyline as well was amazing. I believe swapping bodies is already a great plot in itself, but Director Makoto Shinkai was able to integrate multiple cultural elements into his story which made everything more interesting. Through this film, viewers get a glimpse of Japanese culture, although a bit tailored to match the story. Without the concepts of kuchikamizake and “the red string of fate”, I believe the film would not have been as highly acclaimed. Also, the director highlighted how there is beauty in disaster. He used the concept of the comet destroying Itomori along with a great color palette and visuals to showcase this important theme.

Character development is also a very important element for Kimi No Na Wa. Viewers see how two different teenagers fall in love with each other through their body swaps – how they both adapt and find themselves in each other. However, what I loved was that, although their love was featured, the director focused more on their journey towards finding each other and acknowledging the other’s existence.

From the introduction of characters, when the comet strikes, to the final meeting of Taki and Mitsuha, my eyes were glued to the screen. The way every scene escalated kept me awake and interested in the film. Halfway through the film, I really thought the turning point would be their initial meeting, but I was caught off guard when Mitsuha was actually experiencing the swap three years prior to Taki.

Kimi No Na Wa was an enjoyable film to watch – from visuals to storyline I was kept on my feet. I understand why people were crying after we watched. They were moved by how two people who have never actually met could reunite through a special bond. However, this film is not enough for me to delve into the world of anime. Don’t get me wrong – I think anime is beautiful and I understand why people do watch it, but I guess the genre isn’t just for me.