Summary
Makoto Shinkai directed Weathering With You which is a romantic fantasy story turned into an animated film that attracted the attention of a global audience in 2019. Following the success of Shinkai’s previous film Your Name, Shinkai brings forth another tale filled with teenage affection, the otherworldly, and a strong emotional pull intertwined within. Girdled with unending rainfall and a city filled with enigmas, Weathering With You tries to seek the answer as to why one would prefer to choose love amidst so many uncontrollable circumstances.
Synopsis
The plot revolves around a teenage boy, Hodaka Morishima, who seeks solace from a remote island to Tokyo only to be met with endless opportunities. However, once in the city, Hodaka realizes how difficult it is to survive in the city with no resources. To make ends meet, he takes up a job at an occult magazine run by Keisuke Suga along with his assistant Natsumi.
Tokyo is currently undergoing a lengthy period of rainfall, and the showers attempt to set a calm yet sad overtone or atmosphere. Despite the dreary weather, Hodaka is fortunate enough to meet Hina Amano, a strong-willed girl who has taken it upon herself to look after her younger brother, Nagi, following the death of their mother. Hina comes to Hodaka’s rescue from sticky situations, which allows them to form a bond rather quickly.
While these events unfold, social services tries to separate Hina and her brother because of their living conditions. Hodaka is categorized a runaway and is also being sought out by the police. In an unexpected turn of events, Hina is taken away from the color blue – the sky. She uses weather control to restore balance and bring sunshine back to the city of Tokyo.
Hodaka, in determination to stop her, begins to storm about the city and challenges weather like he has never done before. Eventually, he gets what he wants but at a really big cost: while Tokyo is now permanently drenched in rainfall, it changes the city forever. Years later, its shown that the two have met. With the world altered beyond recognition, their unbreakable bond remains unchanged
Cast & Crew
Weathering With You
Director and Writer:
Makoto Shinkai – Over emotionally reverberating tales and astonishingly detailed animations, Shinkai once again unleashes a film that is both broad and personal in scope. It’s no wonder that he focused every ounce of detail in this film.
Producer:
Genki Kawamura – Having produced Your Name before, he is surely trying to maintain the top-tier production of this film while keeping consistency in the deeper themes as well.
Main Voice Cast:
Nana Mori as Hina Amano
Kotaro Daigo as Hodaka Morishima
Shun Oguri as Keisuke Suga
Tsubasa Honda as Natsumi Suga
Sakura Kiryu as Nagi Amano
Music:
As in all RADWIMPS works, the songs maintained their significance to the the film’s sentimental ebbs and flows. Tracks like “Grand Escape” and “Is There Still Anything That Love Can Do?” alongside “We’ll Be Alright” are part of the fabric within the heart and tempo of the story.
IMDb Ratings and Reception
Weathering With You has a 7.5 rating on IMDb which demonstrates the positive perception from audiences around the world. The animation, music and the emotional aspect of the film was well appreciated by the critics. A portion of the audience noted how Shinkai captured teenage feelings so vividly while others pointed out that the film explored similar concepts presented in Your Name precedes. Despite this, the movie was regarded as a beautiful and wonderful follow up, praised by critics and performed well at the box office, especially in Japan and other Asian countries.
Although it was not nominated, the movie was Japan’s official entry for consideration in the Best International Feature Film category at the Academy Awards. Regardless, its international outreach further cemented Shinkai’s profile as one of the major contemporary anime directors.
Analysis and Major Themes
Weathering With You revolves around love, sacrifice, and the repercussions of personal choice, and human action. The plot does challenge the premise of equilibrium in nature by suggesting that, at times, personal satisfaction can be contrary to what is best for the universe as a whole. By making the choice to return Hina, Hodaka makes a statement fueled by individualistic emotions as opposed to environmental expectations on society.
The movie also features climate change, alienation among the youth, and economic hardships as some of its most important themes. The ceaseless rain in Tokyo serves as an analogy to the psychological distress of the youthful protagonists. The flooding of the city can be seen as both a physical and metaphorical drowning of the old world and the birth of a new one.
Conclusion
Weathering With You combines the visceral nature of love and the latent forces of nature, presenting a stunning story that envelops the viewers in a beautiful tale. Lyrically crafted poetry, striking visuals, and emotional scores reflect the essence of love while reminding us that in the face of calamity, love remains a powerful anchor.
The film serves as a sequel-to some as a spiritual successor – to Your Name, but also uniquely stands as a testament to Shinkai’s artistic brilliance: that in a world where emotions shift like the weather, love remains the unchanging constant.
Watch Weathering With You on Kisscartoon
Read Also,
