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Makoto Shinkai is one of the most renowned anime filmmakers and a recipient of several prestigious awards. He is a genius when it comes to blending reality with fantasy. With more than two decades in the filmmaking business, the filmmaker/novelist has created several masterpieces that have mesmerized the audience for years. One of the striking features of his movies is the stunning visuals that make everything realistic. With multiple successful movies under his belt, here is a list of his greatest masterpieces.
1. Your Name
- Release Date: August 26, 2016
- Where To Watch: Prime Video
Your Name starts with the body swap between Taki Tachibana and Mitsuha Miyamizu. However, they are not from the same place or time. The story focuses on the duo trying to live their lives in one another’s bodies and trying to save each other. They fall in love in the process and wish to meet each other. With elements of the supernatural, Your Name transcends time and memory, creating a nostalgic love story. There are some great plot twists and jaw-dropping visuals, and the climax with leave everyone emotionally satisfied. Your Name is one of Makoto Shinkai’s finest works, balancing multiple emotions all at once.
2. Suzume
- Release Date: November 11, 2022
- Where To Watch: Prime Video
Suzume is a 17-year-old girl who meets Souta, a mysterious young man who travels through Japan closing ancient hidden doors. These doors lead to a different world called Ever-After, and inside it resides a giant destructive force called the Worm, which causes havoc when it travels to the present world through the doors. Suzume joins Souta on his quest, but unfortunately, Souta is turned into a Three-Legged chair. Thus began their journey to revert Souta back while closing the ancient hidden doors.
The story starts with Suzume’s trauma and ends with it, but the beauty of it is that something is soothing about it. It is a healing of the heart movie following a personal journey. Suzume will leave an everlasting impression on the viewers because of Makoto Shinkai’s magic.
3. Weathering With You
- Release Date: July 19, 2019
- Where To Watch: Prime Video
Weathering With You follows the story of Hodaka Morishima and the Weather Maiden, Hina Amano. With Tokyo constantly suffering from rain, Hina can bring out the sun temporarily with prayers. The duo started a business based on it, but it was not long before they realized that each time Hina performed a miracle, the sky slowly claimed her to restore balance. When Hina’s final days arrive, Hodaka risks it all to save her. The story is an excellent portrayal of love, sacrifice, and resilience. Powered by Makoto Shinkai’s breathtaking visuals, the movie explicitly explores emotions to its core, with a perfect fusion of fantasy and reality. Changing the world for love, Weathering With You is bold and beautiful.
4. 5 Centimeters per Second
- Release Date: March 3, 2007
- Where To Watch: Prime Video
5 Centimeters per Second follows Takaki Touno, dividing the story into three segments. He and Akari Shinohara are in love, but they are not destined to be together. As time passed, the latter moved on with her life, while Takaki could never live his life to the fullest. Probably Makoto Shinkai’s sorrowful movie exploring unfulfilled love, emotional distance, and longing. It is a realistic story, but it leaves a bittersweet taste as the two characters slowly drift apart. Whenever Makoto Shinkai creates something, it leaves an everlasting impression, and 5 Centimeters per Second is also not an exception. The climax features a magical reunion, yet it’s grounded in heartbreaking, brutal honesty.
5. The Garden of Words
- Release Date: May 31, 2013
- Where To Watch: Prime Video
The Garden of Words is a short film revolving around 15-year-old Takao Akizuki and 27-year-old Yukari Yukino. The former dreams of becoming a shoemaker and visits a garden, sketching shoe designs. Yukari also visits the same garden and spends her life eating chocolates and drinking beer. When the two started conversing, magic unfolded. There is nothing spectacular happening, but just two people talking during the rainy season. Makoto Shinkai brings out visual poetry in every frame, with the depiction of the Shinjuku Gyoen Garden during the rainy season standing out as especially exquisite.
The Garden of Words focuses on two broken people through silent and mature storytelling. While there are not many dialogues, the silence highlights loneliness, growth, isolation, and renewal.
6. Children Who Chase Lost Voices
- Release Date: May 7, 2011
- Where To Watch: Prime Video
Children Who Chase Lost Voices highlights Asuna Watase, a lonely schoolgirl who meets a mysterious person named Shun. Shun informs her about Agartha, where dead people are brought back to life. Asuna’s teacher, Mr. Morisaki, was also looking for Agartha to revive his dead wife. Together, they journey to Agartha and experience a whole new world, unaware of the dangers lurking in the shadows.
Shinkai’s Ghibli-like work explores epic world-building involving spiritual journeys, ancient civilizations, unknown flying creatures, magic, etc. Children Who Chase Lost Voices emphasized grief and mortality. It leaves the viewers with one question: Does love mean clinging to the past?
7. The Place Promised in Our Early Days
- Release Date: November 20, 2004
- Where To Watch: YouTube
Makoto Shinkai’s first full-length film, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, brings science fiction, alternate history, and emotional longing into play. The Soviet Union controls Hokkaido and has built a tower that can alter reality. Hiroki Fujisawa and Takuya Shirakawa desire to build a plane to travel to the tower to unearth the secrets. When one day, their friend, Sayuri Sawatari, goes missing, the story takes a massive turn.
The Place Promised in Our Early Days is a complex story with philosophical and emotional depth. Like The Garden of Words, it also explores the finding of peace in letting go of a person. However, the lingering pain within the viewers will remain.
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Note: Availability of the films on the mentioned platforms may vary depending on your location.
Priyanko is currently pursuing his Master’s in Economics. He loves to read manga or watch anime in his spare time. He is a massive fan of One Piece, Naruto, and Haikyu. Amidst the Great Pirating Era, he wishes to become the greatest Hokage, even though he is short.
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