'Weathering With You' Review: Another win for Makoto Shinkai

The two lead characters of Weathering With You

I had the pleasure of watching Makoto Shinkai’s newest film, 'Weathering With You' in theaters this past week. This post will contain slight spoilers for the film.

This film follows a sixteen year old boy named Hodaka, who runs away to Tokyo to experience something more in his life. When he arrives, he is quickly met with the struggle of trying to make ends meet, and he finds himself working for a shady (yet supportive) publishing company. Through Hodaka’s new job, he meets a girl named Hina who has an uncanny ability to control the weather.

Makoto Shinkai is an expert in crafting stories that play to the heart. With this movie, it felt like Shinkai expanded his collection of films because 'Weathering With You' plays to viewers emotions, and it also likes to take things seriously.

Hodaka Morishima

That is the type of tone that this film takes on. It balances the dark and light sides of the “star-crossed” lovers genre. One scene can be breathtaking—having perfect visuals, and music alike. The next scene could be dark, and borderline uncomfortable watching. Since this film technically came out in July of 2019, I knew these plot elements were an issue many critics had with 'Weathering With You', however I think it allows for a better storytelling vessel.

Even with all the tonal shifts in this film, 'Weathering With You' is surprisingly funny. In fact, there are parts in it that are “Laugh Out Loud-able.” Much of the comedic relief in the story is brought about by the characters Natsumi and Nagi; but we won’t dive into the specifics in this review.

Natsumi Suga

In many ways, 'Weathering With You' is a serious take on the teen-romance/magical genre. Especially in mediums like anime, it is very common for the plot to develop “just because.” With this movie, that idea exists, but our main characters are left to deal with the consequences of their “just because.”

It’s almost like this is the most “film-like” film that Shinkai has ever made. With movies like 'Your Name' and '5 Centimeters Per Second', audiences are pulled into the story by the character arcs. With 'Weathering With You' I felt more pulled in towards the story. Not because I had a burning need to see the two main characters get together (like Taki & Mitsuha), but because I needed to see the film end in a certain way; unhinged from the “teen-romance” element.

Shinkai starts the movie, and he ends the movie. There are no more questions left to be asked.

When the payoff comes, it comes with a price; but it ends the movie off on a good note. The film is telling you something that it isn’t really telling you, and if anything, that is the part left for the viewers to piece together.

Hina Amano

I hope the anime community doesn't hate me for what I’m about to say, but hear me out. With a 'Your Name' live-action movie on the way—and all the criticism that comes with anime adaptations—I feel like 'Weathering With You' would make for a better live-action movie.

Tonally, I think 'Weathering With You' would translate better in live-action than 'Your Name'. This is because of the grounded nature of the story. 'Your Name' is like a dream.

'Weathering With You' could be a live-action film, because while the magic is there, I could have also seen people act out those scenes as well. The characters feel like real people, whereas I can’t see a real person being Taki or Mitsuha. Maybe it’s just because I hold 'Your Name' in a special place, but I think 'Weathering With You' would do better than it on the big screen.

Visually, this film is as equally stunning as other Shinkai projects. The ComixWave Films company did another stand out job animating this film. They made everything in this movie look beautiful. From the character designs, to the Tokyo scenery, even to the way they made water look. It was absolutely stunning, and it’s a shame that they don’t get as much praise as companies like Dreamworks and Pixar.

I feel that 'Weathering With You' stands as an equal to 'Your Name' in respects to the music. As the soundtrack was written by Radwimps (who worked on Your Name), the vibe of contemporary rock music stays consistent through this film. Even down to the music in the background, you can tell that these films take place in the same universe. The Shinkai shared universe? Maybe.

There is one sequence in particular, near the films end that made me want to jump out of my seat in excitement. As the music builds, and the emotions intensify, I was being pulled closer and closer to the screen. Then the climax of the scene took over, and I was watching something out of a dream.

'Your Name' had the Kataware Doki scene. 'Weathering With You' has the Grand Escape scene. Both of which are sequences that build character in the most beautiful way possible (thank you ComixWave & Radwimps).

In a pinch, that just about sums up how I feel about this film, and Makoto Shinkai’s work as a whole. Through 'Weathering With You' I was not only able to watch a film, but I felt it as well. These aren’t larger than life characters, and in that being so, I can find a bit of myself somewhere in the story. While its’ plot is surreal, there is something so real about two kids just trying to figure out where they fit into their own story.

Even if it might’ve not lived up to the same critical acclaim as its predecessor (WWY is still very highly rated) it still tugged at some heart-strings. Just not the same ones. And that’s why I love this movie. It paints youth in the dark and light; maybe occupying a more grey-ish area. How can a teen-romance be reckless? When are people being unrealistic? 'Weathering With You' answers questions posed in the film, and addresses comments people have on the genre.

It is youthful in every sense of the word, and it is not meant to be all the way “magical” or “realistic.” It rides that margin, and Makoto Shinkai delivers another film in stride.

SWEETNESS LEVEL

'Weathering With You' (2020)

100% Sugar