Following the record-breaking success of 2016’s “Your Name,” writer/director Makoto Shinkai continues to cement his reputation as the current master of Japanese animation. “Weathering with You” balances fantastical elements with brilliantly realistic animation and an emotionally grounded storyline. Shinkai’s films are repeatedly compared to Pixar or Miyazaki movies, and this latest release validates these comparisons.
“Weathering with You” follows a teenage boy named Hodaka (Kotaro Daigo) who runs away to Tokyo during an exceptionally rainy season. After initially struggling to make ends meet, he befriends an orphan girl named Hina (Nana Mori) who appears to have the ability to manipulate the weather. Together, the runaways will try to make ends meet, while also fighting against the oppressive monsoon that is threatening to flood Tokyo.
Shinkai manages to balance the supernatural elements with the movie’s emotional core, resulting in a story that is surprisingly intimate in its scope. The symbolic motif of the changing weather works as an emotional foil for the characters, while any mysticism feels rooted in the realism of the world and the relationships onscreen.
The Japanese band RADWIMPS provide the music for this film, as they did for “Your Name.” In fact, Shinkai has stated in interviews that he initially sent the script to the lead singer of RADWIMPS, inspiring the creation of several original songs that then influenced the animation. Music has always played a central role in Shinkai’s films and this is clear throughout “Weathering with You.” The soundtrack cements the emotional core of the film, enhancing the visuals that we see on screen and the excellent performances by the voice actors.
Without a doubt, the highlight of “Weathering with You” is the animation. Shinkai’s team of animators seems to excel at effortlessly animating some of the most difficult things to animate. It is raining for much of the movie, yet the individual raindrops on characters’ faces and the reflections on the water of puddles are all hand-drawn with meticulous detail. A scene involving fireworks is unlike anything that I have ever seen in an animated movie. Shinkai’s animators immerse us in a world that is rich with detail and feels real enough to touch.
While “Weathering with You” doesn’t quite approach the masterpiece level of “Your Name,” it is a worthy follow-up and a great film. It remains in the same territory as “Your Name,” while taking enough risks and innovations to ensure to remain distinct. Emotional, beautiful, and surprisingly hilarious, “Weathering with You” is another excellent release by one of the best directors in Japanese animation.
