Your Name. [Blu-ray]

As Hayao Miyazaki has gotten whiter of hair and older in age, the quest to find the next Miyazaki has steadily increased with mixed results for any anime directors so described. On the one hand to be publicly described as the “Next Miyazaki” is a great honor; on the other hand, it is also a stupefying burden, worst of all largely decided more by mere opinions than anything one can measure,.. with a single exception. The latest “Next Miyazaki”, Makoto Shinkai, earned his designation the old-fashioned way: by writing and directing the highest-grossing anime film of all time in 2016, actually beating the legendary Miyazaki himself for the first time in a long time, with “Your Name”. Though knowledge of Shinto and Japanese can make some things a good deal clearer, it was Shinkai’s genius to tell a story that doesn’t really require said knowledge; Americans and other foreigners should have no trouble grasping the main premises. After some decidedly interesting opening scenes (that will be more fully revealed when repeated and expanded later), “Your Name” opens with what seems to be Yet Another version of Freaky Friday : a boy living in Tokyo, Taki, and a girl living in the boondocks, Mitsuha, mysteriously find themselves switching bodies for a day, two or three times a week, and after realizing this, set some ground rules and leave each other notes on their cell phones and notebooks, sometimes even writing on each other’s skin, in order to cope with this mysterious problem. They also use their talents to help each other out: Mitsuha builds Taki’s potential relationship with the college student he has a crush on, Taki boosts Mitsuha’s popularity, and everything proceeds along very nicely. But there is a dark side looming, and the indicators can be seen more clearly upon rewatching. In a twist reminiscent of the first season-ending of Steins;Gate a truly horrific fate is coming, and soon Taki and Mitsuha are desperately trying to save over 500 lives,... including one of their own. The price for doing so is high, and the movie fades to what appears to be a sad end as the price for the miracle,... only to end with another miracle. “Your Name” was such a box office smash that it suddenly focused a huge amount of attention on the previously barely known Makoto Shinkai, and most people were astonished to learn that far from being his first film, “Your Name” was actually his eleventh, the seventh made available over here, though none before were anywhere close to being as successful. (“Your Name” earned over fifty times more than anything else he ever did.) And while none of these previous films were quite as good as “Your Name”, there was clearly genius at work in all of them, and they are certainly worth viewing. One thing that becomes clear upon doing so is that Makoto Shinkai is that rare thing, a short story writer rather than a novel writer, and that he has a tendency to cut too much that needs to be corrected, proven by the fact that he has later written 6 mangas and worked on 3 light novels based upon his animes and every single one of them is an improvement, ESPECIALLY in the additional scenes and much clearer endings. Anyway here is what you can find and see so far: She and Her Cat (1999) a short about a cat and his lady owner that made Makoto Shinkai a professional and got him a contract from CoMix Wave Films, available in three different versions (5, 3, and 1.5 minutes) on the same DVD with noticeable differences between the three. Voices of a Distant Star (2002) his breakthrough 25 minutes long CoMix Wave short about two young school children falling in love who are separated by an alien invasion; she is sent off to fight it, while he remains at home awaiting her cell phone messages, where the wait for light-speed transmission grows from 6 months, to a year, to 8 years. The movie ends with him after all this time preparing to enter the military and (hopefully) be reunited with her. It is another stunningly beautiful short story, showing bits and pieces of their lives. The Place Promised in our Early Days (2004) his first feature-length, 90 minutes long, the story of two middle school best friends who share a dream and love for a girl. The dream in this altered reality in which Japan has been divided between Hokkaido and the rest, between the USSR and the USA, is to build and fly a plane to a mysterious, impossibly tall tower on the island of Hokkaido, allegedly used by the Soviets for the exploration of alternate realities; the girl is fellow student Sayuri Sawatari that they are both in love with. However, her disappearance fractures their friendship and stops work on their plane, but three years later they are reunited by circumstances leading towards a world war. 5 Centimeters per Second (2007) his second feature, though of only 63 minutes in length, and arguably the original version of the love story used in "Your Name", though this one had an extremely sad ending instead of the extremely happy ending in "Your Name". Interestingly, as in so many other cases, Mr. Shinkai wrote a happier ending to the much-expanded manga version. Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011) his third feature, 116 minutes long, and IMHO Makoto Shinkai’s biggest failure yet (I call it “Viewers Who Chase Lost Endings” for a reason), an attempt by a short story writer to do a Miyazaki style film, an epic adventure into a Hollow World about which it reveals almost nothing. Garden of Words (2013) his fourth feature (and most successful before “Your Name”) and at only 46 minutes in length, yet another short story about a couple of misfits, divided by age, but nevertheless drawn together by circumstances and weather until they are driven apart but with hope for the future. It is also notable for being much improved in the later written manga and as-yet-unseen light novel by Makoto Shinkai. Note: It is not uncommon for animators to briefly insert characters from previous films into later films (Miyazaki did this a lot) without necessarily needing to logically be considered connected to the originals, but there is a huge difference between something like that and the character of Yukari Yukino, a small character in “Your Name” who was also one of the two main characters in “Garden of Words”, with the same look, the same name, the same profession (literature teacher), and was portrayed by the same voice actress, Kana Hanazawa. What is significant about this, though unstated, is the presumed character arc of Yukari, who has gone from being saved by Takao Akizuki from being all but immobilized in her life and her career in “Garden of Words” to surviving a comet strike in “Your Name” thanks to the frantic efforts of Taki and Mitsuha. I wonder what she did and what she became as a result of it all? And I wonder if Makoto Shinkai will ever tell us? Note: The contents of the various versions are a little more complicated than usual so let me explain them. First, the Blu-ray of the movie contains a couple of special features, subtitled specials about the movie, not present on the DVD. Second, the three versions are set up like this: the DVD version contains only the DVD, the Blu-ray version contains both the Blu-ray and the DVD, and the Limited Edition version contains the Blu-ray, the DVD, and a couple of soundtrack CD’s: one containing all the BGM plus the 4 songs in English, and another containing only the 4 songs in Japanese.

Good movie

This movie is hands down one of my top 10 favorite animated movies. Mokoto Shinkai has put out nothing but phenomenal films. The animation is beautiful and the soundtrack by Radwimps was perfectly composed! I have listened to it over and over and it just never gets old. I am a sucker for movies with a little romance in it and the story really kept you wanting more! I really loved Taki and Mitsuha’s character development. I highly recommend this movie to anyone who is second guessing it! Also, you will not pick up or understand any secret Easter eggs that are Mokoto Shinkai threw into Weathering With You or Suzume if you don’t watch this first!! Now, ordering from Amazon is a bit frustrating when it comes to dvds and box sets. I ordered this twice, the second time being a replacement. The first one arrived severely damaged and I was clearly shipped a damaged return that was repackaged. The insert that is supposed to be attached in the back was in the front. The second one I ordered was not nearly as bad, but there are still creases and the corners are damaged. As this is a collectors box set, you typically want it to be in pristine condition. Especially someone like myself who takes care of their stuff. I am contemplating contacting Amazon to ask for another replacement as this is not the first time I keep receiving damaged memorabilia. This is just a heads up to anyone purchasing this. You may need to go back and forth if you’re looking for one in good condition. Edit: Third replacement was also damaged and getting a replacement. This is a replacement on a new order as they will only let you do a replacement once on an order. The dvd set ended up being sold for a little cheaper, so that was fine in my book. Just frustrating that Amazon can use some simple bubble wrap….

Would add it to my DVD collection if I still bought DVDs

The case: The box case is nice. I like how they have it split down the center, very representative of the story. The second disc for the OST can be a little tough to get out, you just have to be careful--push down hard on the center button and carefully lift from the end. The BD menu: I wish they had kept Katawaredoki as the theme for the main menu, as they did for the Japan release. It is instead more upbeat "First View Of Tokyo" and corresponding theme (sky, Tokyo, etc.). I wonder if that is due to US commercial pressures. Art book: The art book is definitely neat and fun to look at, appreciating anime art. English release: It turns out I'm not a fan of the English dub. As noted previously, there are times when translations don't work out so well. One that Makoto himself mentions in the bonus interview is the part where Mitsuha (as Taki) refers to herself as "watashi" and in English it is just "I". The scene makes no sense in English. There are also other times when you can see Mitsuha moving her mouth despite her not talking and instead her sister is talking... The sister also says things like "what a jackass" instead of "what a fool/idiot" in the scene where Mitsuha yells out that she wishes to be an attractive boy in Tokyo in her next life. It really changes the mood at times like that, as you wouldn't expect the little sister to say something like that. Bonuses: The interview is actually pretty interesting for understanding Makoto and his making of your name. It also teaches you a bit about what people who have been fans of Shinkai's works felt about your name., including why some would consider this movie "anti-Shinkai" when comparing to his other works. There is a TV special/program that I didn't really look into because something similar was in the Japanese BD release. You basically see the hero/heroine VA's talk about your name and Shinkai. There is a filmography bonus showing Shinkai's other works. It was interesting to see how his style had changed/improved over time. I had only seen 5cm per sec besides your name, and I enjoyed that too. These are just short previews/trailers of his other works. ... I really do wish the main menu theme had kept Katawaredoki... *sigh*

I had not seen this movie yet, as it was suggested by a friend, but WOW such an amazing movie. I own the collectors edition for Region B, but am able to play it with my modded player (because I am in Region A). The collectors edition compared to this version is nothing. Sadly, while the movie itself does have the English audio track and English subtitles, none of the bonus content does, so I am looking into using software to translate the bonus content for me. The difference between the "First Press" version and that "Collectors Edition" is huge in terms of bonus content. The movies are the same, content wise, but this first press version has WAY MORE bonus content on it. The collectors edition does have a tiny amount of bonus content on the blu-ray with subtitles that goes a little into the background, but that's about it. The first press version has nearly 3 extra discs of content, and most I can't even explain since I have not translated any of it yet, but it's a lot of interviews and things like that. The only thing I was sad about both sets, especially this first press version, was to see was that there was no soundtrack included like "Weathering With You" had. That would have been fantastic for this set. I highly suggest the "First Press" version set to anyone who REALLY loves this movie, and the collectors edition is good for everyone else, but keep in mind that you may not be able to play the discs if you live in the USA. The 4K disk I think will play on most players, if not all, as all 4k disks are region free from what I have seen and read, but the blu-rays I think are region locked. I cannot 100% confirm right now as I re-shrink wrapped the first press version once I ripped all the discs, but I can at least confirm it with the collectors edition.

There are only a few movies that make you want to buy a copy and recommend to others, and this is one of them. Your Name has an amazing story and beautiful music that really stays with you after watching it. The animation and storytelling are excellent, and it’s a film I’m happy to have in my collection. Highly recommended.

I saw this film twice in theaters with my brother and got this box set as soon as it came out. This is a beautiful piece of animation with a unique romance that even people who are not fans of the genre, or even anime, will enjoy. It includes the wonderful soundtrack by RADWIMPS in both English and Japanese although the English versions of both the soundtrack and film leave something to be desired. The way the box set splits open in the middle separating Taki and Mitsuha is a very clever detail. It also includes an art book which fans will enjoy. The economics of the Limited Edition ($65) only make sense for the most enthusiastic fans. Otherwise the Your Name (Blu-ray/DVD Combo) at $20 plus the Your Name. [2 CD][Deluxe Edition ] at $12 (or as part of Amazon Music Unlimited) is much more rational. Even still for the number of times I've watched the movie and listened to the soundtrack I think it is worth it. Everything about the film is top quality. The artwork, character animation, lighting, and camerawork are all masterclass. There are deep and recurring themes of tradition vs modernism, rural vs urban, and exploring different perspectives. A modern classic.

映画を見てドはまり！ Blu-rayの発売がまちどおしかったです！！

Meine Bewertung bezieht sich ausschließlich auf den Kauf durch "Amazon Warehouse Deals" für dieses Steelbook. Achtet bitte unbedingt darauf, das ihr das Steelbook nicht dadurch kauft, denn ich bekam meines in einem dünnen Pappumschlag und was soll ich sagen, es war übersät mit Kratzern und für maximalen Spaß hat Amazon einen fetten sehr schwer zu lösenden (natürlich mit massig Rückständen) Aufkleber auf die Front geklebt, in der Größe von mindestens 3 Finger breit. Das Teil ging natürlich gleich wieder Retoure, da ich den Aufkleber im Leben nie hätte vollständig entfernen können udn die Kratzer gaben dem Ding dann dne Rest, also paßt gut auf, bevor ihr dieses vermeintliche Schnäppchen machen wollt.

Works in Australia! 4k HDR output!

Très très joli coffret par alltheanime, relativement correct niveau prix, et surtout, excellent film de Makoto Shinkai avec cerise sur le gâteau, une magnifique BO des Radwimps. En bref, un beau coffret qui rend honneur à un film tout aussi beau.

Your Name is a brilliant movie that didn't need to be animated in order for it to be a success. I heard about it through anime circles and because everyone said that it was so brilliant I knew that I had to give it a shot. When I watched it I still wasn't sure exactly what to expect, but what I got was a story about two people who fell into each other's lives, and fell in love while still being faced with an insurmountable barrier keeping them separated. It's a story about being in your everyday life and being disappointed with how your life is going even as someone else might wish with all of their heart to have the boring things that you take for granted in their life. It is a story about the bittersweet feelings of love, and the empty feeling that you sometimes experience while you are waiting to find the person who will fill the hole in your heart. I am not so macho a guy that I can't admit that this movie made my cry. The characters feel real and the emotions, both good and bad, that they feel flood out from the screen and will grab your heart if you let them. The Limited Edition comes in a very nice and solid box with a foil finish. It also comes with a hard-back art-book which consists of a handful of pages of stills from the film, some of the promotional art that you can find on google and a couples of pages of sketches and design stuff. It's your standard limited edition art-book. More importantly, it comes with the two-disk "Bilingual" (English/Japanese) soundtrack by RADWIMPS. If you have already bought the two-disk bilingual soundtrack, then this will not be a selling point as the soundtrack here does not appear to have anything that was not available on the soundtrack that you can purchase separately. If you haven't already bought the soundtrack, you may be asking yourself "Is it worth it to spring for the limited edition?". The answer is that it probably isn't worth it if you aren't also interested in the art-book, and premium box. I did some price-hunting for you here, and at the time of this review, buying the standard edition, and the soundtrack itself, would cost you around $50 while the limited edition will cost you $75, so if you want to save yourself some money, or just aren't interested in the premium box and art-book, there are cheaper ways to go than the route that I took. If the shiny thick cardstock box, and artbook sound like they are worth $25 to you, then definitely spend the extra. If you have already purchased the soundtrack, then be aware that you are buying another copy of it when you buy the limited edition. It is a very beautiful soundtrack, and you might decide after thinking about it that it is worth it to have a second copy of it for some reason, but like I said, there doesn't appear to be anything on the soundtrack included in this collection that wasn't on the soundtrack that you could buy as itself.