INTRO
So nowadays I’m left in my 20s finding it quite hard to connect with anything since there is always something new around the corner, giving me little time to resonate or reflect. I’m sure any one of you reading can definitely relate to this. But, sometimes… you get those little gems that defy all odds, sometimes it’s a game, a song, sometimes It’s even a film. So, let me ask you… when was the last time some form of media touched you in a deep and moving way? For me... It was just the other day... a movie, No! A masterpiece... Called, Your Name.

PLOT (The first paragraph in this section is abit of a SPOILER fair warning)
The film starts and ends with what both of the main characters, Taki and Mitsuha believe to be their first encounter, but despite that, they have an intense affinity toward each other as if they have met before, similar to that classic naive feeling of meeting who you believe could be your Soul Mate, even though your yet to know their name. They mention separately at the start of the movie that they have both felt for several years that they have been missing something, as if they have a hole in their heart and soul, they both state these feelings are the result of waking up crying from a dream they can’t seem to remember moments after they awake. It’s said that after this they both feel a sense of loss that lingers for a long time after. By the end of the film, after a large portion of storytelling in the middle of the movie, acting as the prologue, the same scene from the start of the film rolls around again and it becomes clear to the viewer that these dreams from the beginning and end are the very embodiment of distant memories. these memories are what we see throughout the film. something beautiful that time forgot, that acts as an explanation for their unknown obsession with each other, that same unknown obsession that we in the real world... know all too well.

In short, without spoiling anymore, what this film does perfectly is puts a profound meaning behind that intense and painful longing for someone who is standing right in front of you. Everyone has had it right? That feeling when your sitting right there with your gf/bf/husband/wife and you both simply feel this intense pain as if you miss them even though they are right next to you. That same feeling that makes you swear to anyone who attests, including yourself, that this person was made for you, and no one else in the world can quite understand how you feel about them. You know? That ignorant feeling that makes you irrationally believe no one could love someone more then you love them. You believe your feelings are the only feelings that have ever been this strong in the history of time. And you always put it down to "We are Soul Mates" acting as if you have known them all your life even though it's been a few weeks and you still don't know shit. In short… this film speaks to the naive part of you, the wonderers child within, this film helps you believe that irrational feeling just may... may, not be irrational at all.

ART
Now the art! Don’t even get me started! The art in this film is undeniably a genuine spectacle to behold. Never before have I seen a film where the art style and artistic visual mood stays so consistent and uniform when exploring so many different types of story telling and emotions. It’s not a secret that in the film industry, especially with animation works, when trying to lay out a narrative It's hard to get any given moods point across visually without straying too far from the overall main aesthetic of the film. I guess you could call this 'Visual Tear' but when it comes to Your Name, Visual Tear is a foreign concept, the films artistic consistency in the way it perfectly evaluates the mood at any given point in the plot is flawless. One other thing that needs to be commended is the land scape. This film has some of the most beautiful landscapes (Several of which are based on REAL PLACES!) and silent scenes in any film I have ever seen. Your Name in some scenes has this incredible way of evoking intense emotion with no words, and instead, nothing but pure beauty in it’s visuals. And what’s best is the way this film merges it’s beautiful and stunning scenes with music that will certainly take your breath away as if they were designed to go together. Literally go ahead and freeze frame at any second of the film and you’ll notice that you could easily use it as a wallpaper or poster, the art is simply that consistently stunning.

MUSIC
Now one thing that needs to be noted about the music is that every score and every single song is written and preformed by the same band, Radwimps. This consistency is definitely something that adds a serious amount of weight toward the immersion of the films narrative. What can easily be noticed is that it’s as if every beat of every single song and score is perfectly synced with each and every frame of the films animation, which gives off a sense that this film lives and breathes. This very much makes it impossible to not be completely enveloped by the world that the story takes place in, I think it’s the creator Makoto Shinkai’s amazing ability to merge every film element together so well that carries half of this film through the slow beginning pace of the storyline, to eventually greet us with one of the most tense and heart achingingly satisfying endings to any film I have ever seen. It’s even been said by Makoto Shinkai, himself, that this perfect harmony between music and art within it's scenes was no accident and completely intentional, infact, that fact has even been demonstrated through release of his original animated story boards. On top of that, it’s been said that Radwimps where involved in the making of the music for this film from the complete beginning of production as far back as these story boards, and because of this Makoto Shinkai even changed parts of the animation, dialog and even the plot to perfectly match with the music for the film from day one. This in It's self is something that not many directors have done or will ever do. Truly in my opinion this stands alone as my ONE very reason for calling this film a piece of art rather than a mere movie.

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ACTING
Now the voice acting, lets talk about that, for the purpose of this being a blockbuster I will be focusing on the English Dub as it is my native language. Now in a lot of Amines or Anime films the voice acting within the English Dubs are slated non-stop by people who consider them selves’ elite fans of Anime. And for the most part I completely understand that sometimes English Dubs are very sloppy and take away from the overall impact of the story as it was intended so in its native tongue. But that! In my opinion! Is most certainly not the case with Your Name. The English Dub is 100% an amazing piece of voice acting, and if you have only seen Your Name in Japanese worrying about it’s Dub being bad, I strongly suggest you check it out in your native language for what I think to be a much more impactful and emotional experience. But to summarise on the voicing of the film I must put my hands and up and commend every single actor for a very realistic and believing performance. Especially the lead roles Mitsuha and Taki. But this is all to be expected by the legendary Funimation of course.

CONLUSION
So here comes the conclusion. However, first, let me just put something to bed right now. If you are avoiding this film because you know it’s basically a romance Anime, then you are seriously missing out. Although it's base concept explores romance, it is in no way! A ROMANITC FILM. The film focuses much more on, spiritual and time-based concepts, although it’s true... the film is about two star crossed lovers... instead of romance it focuses much more on the feelings of loss and desperation rather then the love It's self, so, if you are on the fence with seeing Your Name, let me put it frank. The film is in no way cheesy! In no way cringy! And is not a soppy little love story! It is genuinely a piece of modern art and should most certainly be seen that way. Aside from that little rant... (SORRY, not sorry) the film is a charismatic care free tale exploring the wonders of adolescence that will definitely speak to both the old and young alike, there is something for everyone, even you clueless millennials ;) to round it all up it’s simply a stunning adventure, an emotional roller-coaster, with amazing voicing, a complex and clever plot, set in a beautiful and stunning world, featuring music that fits perfectly with intent.

RATING
My final rating for the film is simply a 10 out of 10, although it’s not perfect and upon re-watch there are a few plot holes you’ll probably notice, it just doesn’t matter, why pull at the logistic strings of a Masterpiece? The music, the art, the emotion, and the way Makoto Shinkai chooses to pace the time of events is simply enough to keep you fully enveloped and immersed throughout this whole 1hr and 46 minute Anime Spectacular and even leave you slightly obsessed after the film ends, I promise if you go in with the right attitude this will be one of your favourites, and you simply won’t be watching it just once.
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