Contents
- in this review I will first explain why I liked the anime then I will later go through the plot of it.
- if you have not watched this anime then don’t go past the spoiler warning. (Unless you want to) Enjoy < 3
☆ Introduction ☆
Weathering With You was released in Japan on July 19th. This movie was highly anticipated due to the previous movie by Makoto Shinkai, called your name. The previous movie was such a hit that everyone who had watched it was patiently waiting for the next movie to come out. Once it did it turned out to be worth the wait. I hope you enjoy this review as I explain why I like it, and the plot of the movie.
〃∀〃 Why I like this movie 〃∀〃
In the beginning the movie already had me hooked because of the anticipation of what was going to happen next. As the movie goes on more and more interesting details about the plot and characters unfold. While they did I found myself grinning, laughing, and crying throughout various parts.
I liked this movie because, of course, I’ve watched your name and I equally liked that movie. But also because the characters showed development throughout the film and the art and emotions in it make it that much more enjoyable. I especially found the ending to be my favorite part of the movie, just as it was with your name.
✧ Spoilers ✧
The story opens with a young girl named Hina Amano in a hospital room holding the hand of a woman who appears to be either sleeping or in a coma. Hina looks out the window at the buildings of Tokyo being drenched by a heavy downpour. In the middle of the rain a small stream of light began to break through the clouds and illuminate the single building.
Entranced by this light, Hina decides to leave the hospital and run toward it. Hina then climbs the stairs and notices a single red torii gate on the roof of the building. She approaches the gate and clasps her hands in prayer. Hina steps through the gate and she is teleported to an unknown realm high in the sky. She flies through the air and sees translucent fish swimming through the air below her.
Next, We have Hodaka standing on a large ship that’s approaching the shores of Tokyo. As if it were an act of god, the weather takes a sharp turn and the boat is shaken by a torrential downpour. Hodaka seems excited by the rain and stays outside the ship despite being advised to stay inside. The boat sways and Hodaka loses his balance, nearly sliding off of the ship. He is saved by Keisuke, an adult man who has Hodaka buy him dinner and a beer to repay him. Keisuke gives Hodaka his business card when they reach Tokyo and tells him to get in touch.
Hodaka quickly finds himself in over his head in Tokyo when he’s unable to find a job. He takes showers at cheaply-priced manga cafes and eats only instant udon and soup for his meals. The rest of the time he spends wandering the streets of Tokyo aimlessly, looking for alleys to sleep in to escape the rain. After knocking over a trash can, he finds a discarded pistol hidden in the trash. He thinks the gun is a toy and puts it in his bag. One day, as he falls asleep in a McDonald’s, a staff member gives him a burger out of pity. That staff member happened to be Hina.
♡ Conclusion ♡
As Hinas brother is asleep, Hodaka thought this was the perfect time to give Hina the ring he got her for her ‘18th’ birthday. After he does Hina tells him about the curse on the sunshine girls and how they need to die in order for the weather to go back to normal. Distraught, Hodaka tells hina that everything will be ok and that they will be together forever. As they are about to sleep Hina asks Hodaka, “would you like to see the sun?” And he answers, “yes.”
Spoiler, click to view
While they are asleep hina disappears and everyone in Tokyo has a dream of her floating up to the sky as the weather lifts. In the morning Hodaka realizes hina is gone and tells her little brother. Hodaka then gets taken by the police and her little brother by child services. Hodaka breaks out of the police station and as he’s running away crying, Hina’s ring falls from the sky. He then begins running towards the sunshine building. Soon he meets up with Keisuke‘s niece and she gives him a ride halfway on her motorcycle.Hodaka finally makes it to the sunshine building but is stopped by Keisuke and then later the police. As Hodaka screams and cry’s about how he needs to save Hina, Keisuke realizes that Hodaka loves her as he once loved his own wife before she died. He then tackles two of the police. Out of the darkness then comes Hina’s little bro, having broken out of the foster care, tackling the other guards. As he did this he yelled at Hodaka, “this is all your fault! Go bring my sister back.”
Hodaka runs towards the top of the building and crosses the shrine. He floats up to the sky looking for hina, and, eventually finds her. As he tells her not to let go they are being brought back to earth and almost lose grasp of each other. They make it back down as it cuts to Keisuke and his niece being arrested, Hina’s little brother being taken by child services, and Hina and Hodaka laying passed out on the roof.
After this scene it then shows them both being carried off in different directions. The movie now cuts to three years later in which Hodaka was taken back home and had finally Graduated. Hina was still in Tokyo and in school. When Hodaka gets back to Tokyo he visits Keisuke who now owns a big company and asks for his advice. Once he leaves he takes a familiar path and spots a schoolgirl standing to the side, praying with her hands together and eyes shut. He immediately recognizes this as Hina and cry’s out her name in tears, and they then reunite again.