By Chris Penwell
Where has the time gone? On this day, 10 years ago, Your Name debuted at the Anime Expo in Los Angeles.
Seeing it in cinemas blew my mind back in the day. The bright, colourful 2D animation that has long been replaced by CG, is gorgeous to look at.
The music by RADWIMPS truly hitting with joyful lyrical songs, in addition to emotional punches to the heart. And the concept of swapping bodies and understanding why your beloved is so wonderful through their own eyes is truly brilliant.
But what made the film special to me was the person sitting next to me, who months later disappeared from my life.
The amazing soundtrack
For a decade, I’ve turned on the Your Name soundtrack whenever I feel down. It usually brings my mood up. It works significantly well in the movie too. It sets up the story well and helps keep up the pace of Your Name. I love the “School Road” track that plays as the teenagers start their day. It’s a beautiful melody with the guitar and the strings playing in the background. It just puts me in a cheerful, nostalgic mood.
Your Name also presents the wonder that country folk can have when they visit a big city for the first time. It should be a billboard for Japan’s tourist board based on how pretty the animation studio made Tokyo look in the film. The busy tapping of the piano notes, referring to the hustle and bustle, and the gorgeous string section, complementing the pretty visuals, sounds so lovely.
A compelling storyline
The storyline really brings you in, too. In this film, two teenagers, Mitsuha and Taki, switch places. It comes with the awkwardness of being a different gender, in addition to the already awkward nature of being a teenager. The writing is sublime, with some funny scenes here and there, but it tears at the emotions of both characters, too.
By living each other’s lives, they actually begin to fall in love. They stay in communication, trying to figure out this mystery of switching bodies and fitting in. They’re connected, and despite the strange premise, you believe in their love for each other. Then there’s a twist that will take your breath away.
And lastly, arguably the prettiest scene in animation, is when the meteors fall. The sky is coloured so beautifully, the clouds are shaded to the pretty sunset, and when a comet splits off, it shines this glowing blue and purple in the night sky. It’s hard to forget, even after 10 years.
Personal memories with Your Name
Whenever I think of Your Name, I think of my old friend. She had a bubbly personality, always smiled, and could keep an awesome conversation. We were buzzing to watch the film as she drove me all the way to the cinema in South Edmonton Common. To be honest, it was one of the few times I actually hung out with a friend like this during university.
But, after this romantic anime and a long discussion about the amazing film, there was an odd flicker. I don’t know if she felt the same way, but after an awkward hug and a blush in the corner of my eye, we both said goodbye.
During one winter day, between classes, we simply sat by a fire outside the university. Surrounded by snow, starring into the flames and keeping ourselves warm, we talked about life, what we’ll do after university, and our families. I remember it vividly; it was one of the deepest conversations I’ve ever had. It must have been hours. Sitting there, I should have said something. We had a connection, and I had feelings for her.
But her family was recently in an accident, and she was taking care of her parents. She looked shaken and tired, and I knew she was putting on a good face. It wasn’t the right time.
She was in my Public Relations class every week, but over time, she disappeared. That smile faded from my life. Her social media profile picture has remained the same for a decade. She never responded to me, despite us being friends. I’ve feared the worst. So, Your Name is a special film to me, but it hurts every time I see it mentioned. I lost my friend and maybe…something more.
I currently have a wonderful boyfriend, and I’m back in England, where I should be, so I’m happy with the way things went for me. But I can’t shake the feeling I should have been there for her as well. I hope she’s alive and well.
Screenshots via All The Anime YouTube channel
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