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Romance stories are mostly a hit or miss especially if it’s a boy-meets-girl trope. This also extends to Makoto Shinkai’s films that weave romance with fantastical elements. From time travel to body swap his stories are imbued with supernatural elements.

But most of all, he wrings out a spectrum of emotions from his fans nonetheless. The same could be said for his upcoming project. Though fans have rather low expectations.

Mitsuha in Your Name | Credit: CoMix Wave Films

Be it the Garden of Words or Your Name, Shinkai left no stone unturned in highlighting his brilliance. As a novelist, he brings out symbolism perfectly in his stories. With his latest update, fans wait with bated breaths for the upcoming film.

But there’s a caveat to that as well especially with Suzume’s existence as a lackluster film. Despite its positive reviews and reception, the studio’s views...

Makoto Shinkai is the visionary director behind Your Name, Weathering With You, and many more phenomenon titles. He has announced his next movie will hit theaters in 2025. Known for his breathtaking visuals and heartfelt storytelling that seems to get more and more magical each time, Shinkai has captivated audiences worldwide with tales of love, loss, and fate.

Mitsuha and Taki meet for the first time in Your Name. [Credit: Toho]

However, with this new project on the horizon, fans are voicing a collective request for Shinkai— ‘Can we have an adult cast now?’ Shinkai’s previous works predominantly feature teenage protagonists navigating first love, separation, and self-discovery.

Makoto Shinkai is no doubt a genius and has cracked the secrets to success and has even challenged himself by making a chair a protagonist. While this formula has delivered many emotional masterpieces, the fans feel it’s time for a shift.

Fans want...

Blake Lively may be one of the most stunning divas in all of Hollywood, but she also seems to be establishing herself as one of the most controversial figures in the entertainment industry as of late. For one, while her It Ends with Us controversy paved the way for numerous of her past not-so-appropriate manners to resurface, this wasn’t the first time she found herself under fire.

Blake Lively. | Credits: Gossip Girl / The CW.

Besides being blasted for all the other infamous stunts she pulled, there was a time when fans even started blaming Lively for her co-star Armie Hammer’s firing from the hit show Gossip Girl. These rumors came forward when Hammer was asked to address his exit when he indirectly hinted that Lively may as well have been the reason behind his departure.

Armie Hammer got candid about his Gossip Girls ‘firing’

Back in 2009, when Gossip Girl...

Makoto Shinkai has hinted at plans to reveal details of his latest anime film in 2025.

Shinkai made this announcement in his New Year’s message on his official X account, where he reflected on his creative journey over the past year, revealing that 2024 was dedicated to crafting a brand-new film.

“Happy New Year! 2024 was a year I spent working on a new movie. It’s a great joy to build a new world that no one has seen before from scratch with my colleagues. I’ll do my best to announce it in some way this year. I hope that 2025 will be a peaceful year for all of you.“

2025 will also see the release of the live-action adaptation of Shinkai’s 5 Centimeters Per Second anime.

Makoto Shinkai is a Japanese filmmaker and novelist.

Shinkai began his career as a video game animator with Nihon Falcom in 1996, and gained recognition...

Makoto Shinkai loves including romance in his movies. Your Name, The Garden of Words, and Weathering with You focused primarily on love, and even his latest movie, Suzume has a romantic plot involved. But somewhere along the way, it has been getting repetitive.

Suzume was an incredible movie whose theme was inspired by the disastrous 2011 Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. It was a box-office hit, with critics praising its brilliant animation, plot, and emotional impact. Yet, fans wish that the director could get out of his bubble, even though it is not entirely his fault.

Suzume was originally supposed to break away from Makoto Shinkai’s typical romance movies Suzume by Makoto Shinkai | Credits: CoMix Wave Films

Suzume primarily focuses on the 17-year-old titular protagonist who teams up with a stranger, Souta, to prevent disasters from striking Japan. Within the first quarter of the movie, Souta is turned into a chair,...

Anime is no longer a niche industry due to its increasing popularity over the past few decades. The global rise of anime has redefined the boundaries of storytelling and artistry, leading to an era where animated films hold equal weight as mainstream cinema. Among the contributors to the worldwide success of anime films, Hayao Miyazaki’s name first comes to mind.

Spirited Away | Credit: Studio Ghibli

As his masterpiece Spirited Away secured an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2003, it marks a monumental achievement both for him and the industry in general. However, anime is far from a one-man show. The medium has a rich tapestry of directors whose unique visions could challenge the Oscars’ norms. Here are four anime directors who could, much like Hayao Miyazaki, carve entirely new paths in the global cinematic landscape.

4. Mamoru Hosoda

Mamoru Hosoda is no stranger to the Oscars, having earned a...

Mamoru Hosoda is one of the most well-known moviemakers in the Japanese film industry. Some of his most popular works include The Girl Who Leapt Through Time and Summer Wars. In fact, his 2018 movie, Mirai, was nominated in the Best Animated Feature Film Category of the 91st Academy Awards.

Mirai (2018) directed by Mamoru Hosoda | Credits: Studio Chizu

Due to his popularity, Hosoda has been often compared with the likes of Hayao Miyazaki, another legend in the anime film department. However, the director is himself a fan of Miyazaki’s works and humbly admitted why the Ponyo and Spirited Away creator is irreplaceable.

Mamoru Hosoda on Being Compared to Hayao Miyazaki The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006), directed by Mamoru Hosoda | Credits: Madhouse

Since Mamoru Hosoda is a successful anime film director and animator, it is obvious that he would be compared to Hayao Miyazaki at some point in time. In...

In the anime industry, only a few anime films have managed to leave an indelible mark on the hearts of its viewers like Naoko Yamada’s A Silent Voice. Though the film lacks a formal ambition, its harrowing theme of bullying and disability is set around Shoya Ishida, who regrets his actions of bullying Shoko Nishimiya, his deaf classmate, and seeks to make amends with her.

Shoya Ishida and Shoko Nishimiya. Credits: Kyoto Animation

The redemption film is considered to be a masterpiece that depicts a haunting picture of trauma that exists in our lives. Since the film has featured such an authentic storyline, Yamada-San received praise from countless people worldwide, and it looks like one of her projects has a distinct admirer. Makoto Shinkai, the writer of Your Name, has come forward to express his deep admiration for one of her works.

Makoto Shinkai Has Words of Praise for...

Timothée Chalamet is a well-known actor in Hollywood and is in very high demand today, despite the fact that he appeared – very early in his career – in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar.

Recently, though, Chalamet has been landing big movie roles after his successful performances in the Oscar-nominated films Lady Bird, Call Me by Your Name, and Little Women. His two most recent works, Wonka and the Dune trilogy, have both been huge bestsellers.

As Chalamet is waiting for the release of his Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, he gave a very interesting interview to Rolling Stone magazine, in which he discussed his early career on film.

While he is today best-known as a dramatic actor who picks (more or less) complex and layered roles, Chalamet revealed that he wanted to take a completely different path early in his career and that the rejections he faced “forced” him, in a way,...

Makoto Shinkai, a renowned author and filmmaker, has a knack for weaving together captivating tales of love and fate. After the immense success of works like Your Name, Shinkai wanted something different. The traditional romance didn’t hold enough magic to attract Shinkai anymore.

Suzume and the Door [Credits: CoMix Wave Films Inc. and Story Inc.]

Makoto Shinkai then decided to take a bold step and step out of his comfort zone with Suzume no Tojimari. Instead of the ‘boy meets girl’ romance, Shinkai said he wanted to use his skills to tell a tale that ties together the themes of loss, hope, recovery, and human connection.

I did everything that I possibly could in terms of ‘boy meets girl’ and ‘will they, won’t they, will they meet.’

This bold step was a risk that eventually paid off; the much anticipated Suzume no Tojimari was received with enthusiasm and praise worldwide and grossed over 320 million dollars, becoming...

Makoto Shinkai has created one of the best anime movies to exist with Your Name. The unique twist he had on the classic soul-switching trope got the anime and film community hooked on it even years after its release in 2016. With gorgeous visuals and an emotional soundtrack, Your Name was a guaranteed hit and would eventually help popularize non-Studio Ghibli films to a global audience.

Shinkai was the natural contender for the “next Miyazaki,” despite not wanting this title. However, the director says one controversial scene in Your Name wouldn’t have made it if it was released any time later for a justified reason.

Taki wakes up in Mitsuha’s body in Your Name. [Credit: Toho]

The only controversial scene included in Your Name was when Taki woke up in Mitsuha’s body and didn’t expect to have breasts which he then proceeded to feel. This was possibly...

Japanese anime has taken over the globe with its creative and unique concepts in various projects. Over the years, several anime movies have shattered box office records, cementing their place as cinematic masterpieces. Your Name is arguably one of the most successful anime films, introducing many Western fans to the little-known world of anime.

Taki and Mitsuha write their names in Your Name. [Credit: Toho]

The fantasy drama film is a masterpiece of its director, Makoto Shinkai, that celebrates love, determination, and kindness. Owing to its immense popularity, Your Name became a box office smash hit and generated enormous revenue with its release in over 100 countries and regions. Unfortunately, the box-office hit Your Name met a disappointing fate when adapted into a live-action movie that no anime fan was prepared for.

Director Explains Why Your Name Live-Action Fell Short of the Anime’s Impact

Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name is a...

After Netflix suddenly canceled the Canadian series “Anne with an E” after the release of Season 3 in 2019, fans of the show and the original Anne of Green Gables books by Lisa Maud Montgomery were left disappointed and flocked to the internet to create change.org petitions and social media campaigns in order to renew Anne with an E for Season 4.

Anne Shirley in Anne with an E | Credits: Ken Woroner/Netflix

Given the show’s acclaim and loyal fanbase, the hashtag #renewannewithanE began trending on X (formerly Twitter). 5 years later, an animation studio by the name of “The Answer Studio” heard the overwhelming demand for a genuine adaptation of the classic novel series, Anne of Green Gables, and decided to announce something that made fans jump for joy.

Anne of Green Gables anime adaptation by the Answer Studio confirmed Anne Shirley | Credits: The Answer Studio

As reported by Crunchyroll, the...

Anne Shirley , a new TV anime adaptation of Lucy Maud Montgomery's classic novel Anne of Green Gables , is set to premiere on Nhk Educational TV in Japan in April 2025. The TV anime's official website and X (formerly Twitter) have been opened, releasing the title logo and scene visuals. Title logo The original Anne of Green Gables novel , published in 1908, tells the story of Anne Shirley, an orphan taken in by Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert in Prince Edward Island, a beautiful small island in Canada. Anne's overwhelming imagination and beautiful heart, which have supported her difficult circumstances up to the age of 11, gradually changes the hearts of those around her. Since its Japanese translation edition was published in Japan in 1952, the novel has been a timeless classic that has been loved for more than 70 years. Anne of Green Gables was previously adapted into a TV anime series twice in Japan...

A Silent Voice is a film that captivated the hearts of the anime and film community. The emotional impact of the film was on par with the likes of Your Name by Makoto Shinkai, often rivaling each other. But A Silent Voice might take the cake with its incredible character arcs and growth. Naoko Yamada made a masterpiece with this film and it shows when it holds up to this date with its message about human nature and friendship.

Shoya Ishida from A Silent Voice. [Credit: Kyoto Animation]

The relationship between Shoya Ishida and Shoko Nishimiya is all about empathy and growth. From bullies to friends, their journey is incredibly rough but one about forgiveness and kinship. Another appeal of the film is that it doesn’t hyperfocus on Shoko’s hearing impairment and makes her one-dimensional. Yamada treats her on equal grounds to the other characters without bias.

How A Silent Voice...

In the realm of anime films, the name that shines the brightest is Hayao Miyazaki. The Japanese filmmaker has been an inspiration for many, and there are very few other creators who can be compared to him. One of them is Makoto Shinkai, who is mostly known for his works like Suzume, Weathering With You, and Your Name.

Hayao Miyazaki | Credit: Oscars YouTube channel

The main reason behind Shinkai’s comparison with Miyazaki is the success that Shinkai’s films have achieved in such a short period of time. The anime filmmaker has released back-to-back hits that, just like Miyazaki’s collection, have created a huge impact on the anime film industry in general.

However, Shinkai himself feels that he cannot be “the next Miyazaki.” He once revealed that he feels awkward whenever he is compared with the legend, as his films lack a few things when compared with Miyazaki’s bangers like Princess Mononoke,...

With anime’s growing popularity, it feels great to see famous celebrities express their love for anime on their huge platforms. After all the years of being labeled as “weird” or an entertainment medium for kids, anime-manga series are finally getting the recognition they deserve. At this point, it seems like nobody is immune to the medium’s charm, not even celebrity business giant Elon Musk.

Mitsuha Miyamizu in Your Name | Credits: CoMix Wave Films

While most people only know the famous anime titles, it seems like Musk is a proper otaku. His list of favorite anime has everything from the mainstream mysteries to classic gems. Interestingly, both Makoto Shinkai and Hayao Miyazaki’s best films are a part of the list as well. Many long-time anime fans would give Musk their stamp of approval for his good taste.

Miyazaki and Shinkai’s Best Films are on Elon Musk’s...

Makoto Shinkai is regarded as the legend of modern anime movies, the man behind films like Your Name, Weathering With You, and Garden of Words. And he once again captured the hearts of the whole world with his latest 2022 movie – Suzume no Tojimari. The huge success of this film is enough proof that sealed Makoto Shinkai’s status as a modern anime legend.

A still from Suzume no Tojimari | Credits: Comix Wave Films

However, one might find it quite interesting to know, that Suzume was initially going to have a very different storyline than any other Shinkai films. Although the movie became very successful around the world, this is not how the movie was supposed to be. He had a totally different idea!

Souta Wasn’t Even Supposed to Exist in Suzume! Souta turned into a chair | Credits: Comix Wave Films

According to certain sources, Suzume was initially meant to...

The master filmmaker behind films like Your Name, Weathering With You, and Garden of Words, Makoto Shinkai has once again caught the attention of the whole world with his latest movie, Suzume no Tojimari, released in 2022. The success of this film is enough proof that cemented Makoto Shinkai’s status as a modern anime legend.

Suzume from the Suzume no Tojimari film | Credits: Comix Wave Films

As a consequence of his popularity, Shinkai also receives comparisons to the legendary Hayao Miyazaki. Although this might sound like a great honor, it actually is. Aside from his respect for Miyazaki, Makoto Shinkai does not like being compared to him. Despite that, Shinkai unexpectedly paid homage to Miyazaki films in Suzume which only true Miyazaki fans would be able to notice.

Suzume Has a Wild Easter Egg, Connecting to One of The Most Popular Hayao Miyazaki Films Kiki from Kiki’s Delivery Service...

Hayao Miyazaki’s movies have always managed to capture its target audience of young children despite having darker undertones. A great example is Spirited Away, Studio Ghibli’s highest-grossing film which portrays consumerism and environmentalism under the facade of a fantasy movie.

Many people consider that if Hayao Miyazaki has one competitor, it would be Makoto Shinkai. Shinkai’s movies have captured the hearts of audiences across all age groups, and their themes of romance have tugged at heartstrings.

Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away Box Office Record was Beaten by One Makoto Shinkai Movie Spirited Away (2001) | Credits: Studio Ghibli

If you look at the list of highest-earning movies in Japan, it is peppered with Shinkai and Ghibli movies. Spirited Away premiered in 2001 and grossed around $395 million at the worldwide box office. It instantly became the highest-earning movie in Japanese history. It held its record till 2016 when Makoto Shinkai released Your Name,...

Despite having an amazing and successful career, Makoto Shinkai is only human and naturally feels jealousy at some points in his life. The director has competitors he will feel threatened by, especially if they’re in his generation of anime films. He has one director he has openly spoken about feeling jealous of and it’s not Hayao Miyazaki, but Naoko Yamada. With the success of her anime, K-On!, and her film, A Silent Voice, Shinkai has a formidable competitor in the industry.

K-On!, directed by Naoko Yamada. [Credit: Kyoto Animation]

It seems almost unthinkable that the director of Your Name, Weathering With You and Suzume can feel jealous of someone else. Makoto Shinkai is a legend in his own right but sometimes they remind us that success doesn’t make them perfect. However, the director has also expressed immense respect for the K-On! director and sees them as a worthy opponent.

Speaking at a Tiffcom seminar, Cai Gongming, founder of Chinese distributor Road Pictures, explained how his company has built up Japanese anime to be one of the strongest film import categories in the mainland China market. And although Chinese audiences remain focused on local, Chinese-language movies, he also said that Hollywood has been making a slow comeback in the market this year.

Road Pictures scored major hits in 2023 with Japanese anime titles Suzume, which grossed $117M, and The First Slam Dunk, which took around $84M. As a result, the total box office of this category in the China market increased by 90% year-on-year.

This year, Cai said the combined box office of Japanese anime movies is on the same level as 2023, although the per picture average is lower as twice as many titles have been released. Road Pictures’ biggest hits have included Spy x Family Code: White, with around $40M, and...

Makoto Shinkai is the proud creator of movies like Your Name, Suzume, Weathering With You, and many more. He is considered one of Japan’s most commercially successful filmmakers, with some of the highest-grossing movies in his pocket.

While each of his projects deals with different themes, one genre is common between them: romance. Shinaki is sure to include romance in his films, and it’s what makes them unique. In an interview, the filmmaker and novelist expanded even more on his ideology.

Makoto Shinkai Comments on the Usage of Eroticism in His Movies Suzume kising Souta (chair) in Suzume | Credits: CoMix Wave

In an interview, Makoto Shinkai was asked about a rom-com series, Makeine: Too Many Losing Heroines. The anime had a scene which many fans have dubbed as Shinkai-like. To this, the director responded with a laugh and claimed he wasn’t sure about it, although he admitted...

The master filmmaker behind films like Your Name, Weathering With You, and Garden of Words, Makoto Shinkai has once again caught the imagination of the whole world with his latest movie, Suzume no Tojimari, released in 2022. The success of this film is enough proof that cemented Makoto Shinkai’s status as a modern anime legend.

Suzume & Souta from Suzume no Tojimari | Credits: Comix Wave Films

On top of that, he is often regarded as the successor to Hayao Miyazaki’s legacy, so his works always receive extremely wide acclaim. However, in a twist of surprise, Shinkai opened up about his creative vision and artistic philosophy in an interview. The words that he said threw everyone off guard, and fans would be thrilled to know his opinion for being compared with Hayao Miyazaki.

Makoto Shinkai Will Never be The Next Miyazaki! Suzume using the key | Credits: Comix Wave Films

Makoto Shinkai...

Makoto Shinkai films feature some of the most gorgeous visuals you’ve ever seen in any animated film. The director made history with Your Name as the second highest-grossing Japanese animated film, sitting near the likes of Spirited Away by Hayao Miyazaki and Demon Slayer: Mugen Train. Due to his rich storytelling and vibrant visuals, Shinkai has also been compared to the Studio Ghibli director and has sometimes been touted as the “next Miyazaki.” The Your Name director, however, vehemently disagrees with the sentiment.

Grown-up Mitsuha recognizes Taki in Your Name. [Credit: Toho]

For years, anime fans have been in search of the next Miyazaki and someone who could surpass him. Makoto Shinkai’s popularity made him the prime candidate but the idea of someone else surpassing the likes of Miyazaki’s films, who has built a legacy for decades, is incomparable and unfair to the directors in that position. No...

When it comes to animation, Hayao Miyazaki’s name is often mentioned by other anime directors, and Makoto Shinkai is also one of them. The acclaimed director of Your Name and Suzume has long aspired to follow in the footsteps of Miyazaki. However, there’s one individual who ignited Shinkai’s passion for storytelling long before Miyazaki did, and that is none other than the legend, Haruki Murakami.

Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name | Credit: CoMix Wave Films

Murakami, a contemporary novelist known for his surreal, dreamlike narratives, is one of Japan’s most famous authors. By understanding the significance of Murakami’s literary influence and Miyazaki’s animation legacy, we can appreciate how Shinkai has crafted his unique, emotionally charged brand of anime.

Haruki Murakami’s Influence on Makoto Shinkai’s Storytelling

During the time promoting his films at the BFI London Film Festival, Makoto Shinkai shared the details with...

With each passing year, Japanese anime movies are becoming more recognized globally, captivating audiences with their unique blend of storytelling, art, and emotional depth. Your Name is arguably one of the most successful anime films, introducing many Western fans to the little-known world of anime.

Mitsuha and Taki in Your Name | Credits: CoMix Wave Films

Owing to its immense popularity, Your Name became a box office smash hit and generated enormous revenue with its release in over 100 countries and regions. The fantasy drama film is a masterpiece of its director, Makoto Shinkai, that celebrates love, determination, and kindness.

Makoto Shinkai is globally recognized for his cinematic movies, which are also widely praised and loved by fans. Despite the film’s immense hype and success, Makoto Shinkai believed it overshadowed one key aspect of his masterpiece.

Amid the Hype, Fans Overlook the Key Depth of Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name

Makoto...

Makoto Shinkai is a name that does not need to be mentioned twice in the anime industry. From beautiful love stories like Garden of Words and Your Name to his latest release, Suzume, each and every one of his anime movies are blockbusters, and deservedly so.

Shinkai can be called a revolutionary in the industry due to his depiction of very intricate emotions in his films. Your Name, one of his most successful works, is a simple romance told in the most extraordinary style.

Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name Became a Hit Despite Following the Most Common Trope Mitsuha and Taki in Your Name | Credits: CoMix Wave Films

The story of Your Name begins with the introduction of Mitsuha Miyamizu, a girl from a mountainous region of Japan who is bored with her country life. The next protagonist is Taki Tachibana, a high school boy from Tokyo. They begin unconsciously switching bodies when they sleep.

Japanese anime has taken over the globe with its creative and unique concepts in various projects. Over the years, several anime movies have shattered box office records, cementing their place as cinematic masterpieces. Your Name is arguably one of the most successful anime films, introducing many Western fans to the little-known world of anime.

Suzume | Credits: CoMix Wave Films

The fantasy drama film is a masterpiece of its director, Makoto Shinkai, that celebrates love, determination, and kindness. Besides Your Name, Makoto Shinkai is famous for his other box office hit, Suzume, which became an instant hit in 2023 because of its excellent visuals. Just two weeks after its Netflix release, Suzume became the eighth-most-watched non-English film, and the only anime to rank that high.

Makoto Shinkai enhances Suzume‘s aesthetics by weaving in Japanese mythology, traditions, and landscapes. Interestingly, the legendary mangaka once unveiled the creative inspiration and concept behind the...

Makoto Shinkai movies are the easiest ticket to having a surreal experience that is both otherworldly and something that hits too close to home at the same time. From Your Name to Suzume, his movies have left an indelible mark on fans, who often shed tears at the mere mention of the movies. This impact is a result of stories that beautifully bring together two individuals and interweave their lives with each other.

Taki and Mitsuha | Credits: CoMix Wave Films

Along with the romance, Shinkai’s portrayal of nature’s wrath and its impact on human lives is both authentic and heart wrenching. Despite creating a category that’s definitive of his unique style, Shikai is never spared from being compared with his past self or other legendary figures of the industry, like Hayao Miyazaki.

Makoto Shinkai on Constant Comparison with Miyazaki

Both Hayao Miyazaki and Makoto Shinkai have garnered widespread attention from international audiences.

The anime industry has a lot of popular creators who have earned recognition, but none of them compare to Hayao Miyazaki, anime director and co-founder of Studio Ghibli. Miyazaki is a legend in Japan and an inspiration for practically everyone who is trying to make it big in the anime industry, as he has helped shape the community on a global scale.

Hayao Miyazaki | Credit: Oscars YouTube channel

But with the passage of time, Miyazaki’s opinion about anime has changed a lot. While he is the biggest contributor to the global success of the entertaining art form, he is also the one who, in a way, essentially pointed out that anime was actually a big mistake. It was one of his biggest controversial statements and, to this day, affects a lot of fans.

However, Miyazaki’s statement about anime being a mistake was proved wrong by another popular anime filmmaker.

Makoto Shinkai films have become on par with Studio Ghibli films in terms of global popularity. While the legacy of Hayao Miyazaki cannot be measured or surpassed, fans of Japanese movies have often pit him against Shinkai, especially with how visually amazing and the emotional depth of each director’s visions.

Shinkai’s films are more often a message about love and how deep the connection between two soulmates transcends beyond human capabilities. They always have a supernatural element with an impending disaster within the story the protagonists have to face.

Mitsuha witnessing the comet in Your Name. [Credit: Toho]

Pitting him against Miyazaki, however, displays that fans of his movies haven’t totally understood the vision. While most of the viewers love his most famous film, Your Name, some have criticized it and show a clear misunderstanding of his intentions. Your Name isn’t entirely meant to be centred around the disaster of the comet,...

Hayao Miyazaki’s prominence in the West is extraordinary, with how he blends Japanese animation with Western elements. Although worlds apart in style, Makoto Shinkai has become a highly regarded figure who is often compared to Miyazaki for his directorial vision. Shinkai has requested fans to stop the comparisons, as Miyazaki is in a league of his own. Given their widespread popularity, somewhat of an overlap is expected.

Mitsuha and Taki | Credits: CoMix Wave Films

However, it’s great that the discourse doesn’t have any effects on their individual styles of films. Shinkai shared during an interview that his most famous work was also the one that restored his faith in the industry. He perfectly encapsulated the impact of his movies into words, and it’s bound to bring a smile to his fans’ faces.

Your Name’s Reception Restored Makoto Shinkai’s Faith in the Industry Taki as...

Toho Co., Ltd. has announced the acquisition of a 6.09% equity stake, purchasing 45 shares, in CoMix Wave Films, best known for producing the works of acclaimed director Makoto Shinkai.

This move is part of Toho’s broader strategy to enhance its animation capabilities, a key component of the company’s long-term “Toho Vision 2032” strategy. This strategy outlines the company’s vision for sustainable growth through international expansion and strengthened IP development.

CoMix Wave Films will continue its operations under the leadership of Chairman Noritaka Kawaguchi and President Tomohiro Tokunaga following the acquisition.

Through this partnership, Toho and CoMix Wave Films plan to optimize their production environments. This will also allow CoMix Wave Films to access Toho’s vast resources and distribution network.

Toho and CoMix Wave Films have collaborated, with the Japanese entertainment giant distributing films made by the studio ever since Garden of Words.

This development follows closely on the...

The director behind Your Name, Makoto Shinkai, has achieved monumental success with his film that has captivated fans worldwide. However, despite this achievement, Shinkai is not quite confident in his own skill and often grapples with a mix of anxiety, and the pressure of being compared to legendary director Hayao Miyazaki.

A stunning scene from Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name | Credit: CoMix Wave Films

In fact, the filmmaker harbors a surprising sentiment: he doesn’t want Miyazaki to watch his film. For Shinkai, the label of being the “next Miyazaki” is more a burden than an honor. As a filmmaker, Shinkai is quite a skeptic about Your Name‘s success as he believes the film is not at all perfect.

Makoto Shinkai’s Humility as the Iconic Your Name‘s Creator

Released in 2016, Your Name became an unexpected phenomenon, both in Japan and globally. Despite this, Makoto Shinkai remained doubtful...

Exclusive: Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill’s production company Crooked Highway has hired Vince Cheng as President of Production and Adriana Fernandez as Director of Development, Deadline has learned.

Cheng will oversee all aspects of film and TV development and production, while Fernandez will be responsible for guiding all stages of film and TV development and production.

Previously, Cheng was a producer for PlayStation Productions, adapting PlayStation’s 1st Party video games into films and television shows. Highlights include the award-winning series The Last of Us, Twisted Metal series, Uncharted and Gran Turismo. Prior to that, he was a development executive at Millennium Media, where he was working on blockbuster action films such as Expendables 3, The Hitman’s Bodyguard, London Has Fallen, Rambo: Last Blood and the Hellboy reboot.

Fernandez previously worked as film exec at J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions. During her tenure, she worked on a...

Luca Guadagnino’s adaptation of William S. Burrough’s second novel, Queer, begins, shall we say, peculiarly. Sinéad O’Connor’s haunting cover of Nirvana’s “All Apologies” scores overhead shots of what we soon realize is Burroughs’s own writing space, every object alluding with cringey literalness to the Beat Generation author’s thorny mythos.

“Everyone is gay,” per “All Apologies,” and it quickly becomes clear that Guadagnino and screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes are content to stay on the surface of that knotty lyric and plenty more besides. They would seem to think that plumbing depths is for snootily cultured queens. Queer prefers to oafishly stick, and not always unentertainingly so, to mincing façades, beginning with Daniel Craig’s performance as Burroughs avatar William Lee.

His bruiser face tarted up with dorky specs and his growly voice tending ever so slightly toward a lisp, Craig sashays his way around a fever-dream...

Japan’s Gaga Corporation has boarded international sales of anthology drama At The Bench and will introduce the starry feature to buyers at the Asian Contents & Film Market (Acfm) in Busan this week.

The cast includes some of Japan’s most notable young stars such as Suzu Hirose, a regular in the films of Hirokazu Kore-eda who will lead the upcoming adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s A Pale View of Hills; Ryunosuke Kamiki, who starred in Oscar-winning blockbuster Godzilla Minus One; Taiga Nakano, who stars in upcoming Tokyo International Film Festival opener 11 Rebels; and Yukino Kishii, who won best...

Japan’s Gaga Corporation has boarded international sales of anthology drama At The Bench and will introduce the starry feature to buyers at the Asian Contents & Film Market (Acfm) in Busan this week.

The cast includes some of Japan’s most notable young stars such as Suzu Hirose, a regular in the films of Hirokazu Kore-eda who will lead the upcoming adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s A Pale View of Hills; Ryunosuke Kamiki, who starred in Oscar-winning blockbuster Godzilla Minus One; Taiga Nakano, who stars in upcoming Tokyo International Film Festival opener 11 Rebels; and Yukino Kishii, who won best...

Throughout our lives, there are moments when we question our choices. However, the ones that result in friendship and love are the ones that stick with us the most. Look Back — adapted from Tatsuki Fujimoto‘s (Chainsaw Man) 2021 manga of the same name — forces us to consider the impact of small moments in our friendships. What might seem like an innocuous moment may change someone’s life, and the ripples of our decisions echo across time. Director Kiyotaka Oshiyama lovingly adapts the heartbreaking tale, making it as impactful as Fujimoto’s initial story.

Related Unlike Every Other Anime, Tatsuki Fujimoto’s Chainsaw Man Desperately Needs a Live-Action Adaptation Look Back Plot

Two young artists decide to draw and write anime for an elementary school newspaper. Ayumu Fujino establishes herself as a popular manga artist amongst her classmates, but despite her success, the teacher running the school newspaper asks if another student can contribute.

Of all the highest-grossing movies, Your Name is popular for dethroning Hayao Miyazaki’s masterpiece Spirited Away. Through its portrayal of romance with intricate storytelling, it sets itself apart from most shojo romances. However, there’s a film even greater than this one which is often slept on.

Taki Tachibana in a still from the film | Credit: CoMix Wave Films

A Silent Voice reflects brilliance in its portrayal of disabilities and human relationships. It handled the heavy themes of bullying and redemption perfectly. While it may not be one of the highest-grossing movies, fans on X deem it far superior to Makoto Shinkai’s film.

A Silent Voice is a far superior movie than Your Name as fans on X point out.

A Silent Voice is a 2016 film directed by Naoko Yamada. It is based on the novel of the same name written by Yoshitoki Oima. While most coming-of-age films are laden with light-hearted themes,...

The creator of the classic manga and anime series Akira, Otomo Katsuhiro, has stirred up a heated debate with his candid disapproval of modern anime’s repetitive art style. Akira has changed the industry with its truly groundbreaking and influential visuals, despite being released way back in 1988.

A still from the Akira movie | Credits: Tms Entertainment

Since he is the mastermind behind this work, his opinions do have a considerable amount of weight. The timeless quality of art in Akira, which has remained longer than many modern mecha anime series, makes his sentiments all the more relevant and worthy of exploration.

Otomo-sensei Does Not Like The Modern Art Style of Anime Kaneda from the Akira movie | Credits: Tms Entertainment

A resurfaced 2017 interview has shed some light on Katsuhiro Otomo’s artistic vision for anime, which offered several insightful viewpoints from this legendary creator himself. During the interview, he made some...

Timothée Chalamet is currently riding high on success with back-to-back successful projects. His last film Dune: Part Two secured the spot of the fourth-highest-grossing movie of 2024. Sadly, the 28-year-old actor also had a chance to star in Greta Gerwig’s highly successful Barbie, but missed it due to scheduling conflicts.

Timothée Chalamet in Lady Bird | Credits: Iac Films

Previously, Timothée Chalamet had worked with Greta Gerwig in 2017’s Lady Bird and 2019’s Little Women. While a cameo in Barbie would have attached the actor’s name to a billion-dollar blockbuster, he did not regret his decision after knowing that his close friend Saoirse Ronan also could not do the film.

Timothée Chalamet’s close bond with Saoirse Ronan eased his regret Timothée Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan in Little Women | Credits: Columbia Pictures

Timothée Chalamet first met with Saoirse Ronan on the set of 2017’s Lady Bird where he played the role of her toxic boyfriend.

Anime is bigger than ever. With each passing year, the industry continues to make a huge impact not only on television but also in movie theaters. From heartwarming tales of love and friendship to epic clashes between good vs evil, Studio Ghibli has solidified its status as a Japanese Animation Powerhouse.

With the likes of Your Name, Suzume, Spirited Away, and many more popular titles earning millions of dollars from their international theatrical releases, Japanese Animation is taking the world by storm.

A still from Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name | Credits: Toho

Despite being recognized as the highest-grossing anime movie of all time, many titles fail to receive a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes focuses less on the quality of a movie itself and puts importance on fans critics’ scores from the community. Interestingly, there are only four anime movies with a 100% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and...

The Venice Film Festival showered Luca Guadagnino’s Queer with lots of love Tuesday night at the film’s world premiere. In particular, the capacity crowd inside Sala Grande went wild for star Daniel Craig, who broke away from his James Bond persona for a provocative and challenging role opposite Drew Starkey, who also earned cheers from the capacity crowd that included Pedro Almodóvar.

The Spanish auteur, who is also in the Venice competition with his buzzy drama The Room Next Door, was seated across the row from Guadagnino and his cast. He embraced them one by one during the lengthy standing ovation. Craig looked emotional at several points as his wife, Rachel Weisz, was beaming and hollering in unison with the crowd while standing on her feet.

Queer world premiere just wrapped with huge 9.5 minute standing ovation for the wild Luca Guadagnino art film. Yes, it has racy elements...

Drew Starkey didn’t audition for Luca Guadagnino’s “Queer” — instead, the project found him.

The 30-year-old “Outer Banks” star was sending in self-tapes for various other projects when Guadagnino was shown one of Starkey’s by a producer friend. Then, Starkey got a call that the “Challengers” and “Call Me by Your Name” director would like to get breakfast with him.

“I was like, ‘Ok, that’s insane,'” Starkey tells Variety over Zoom from his L.A. home. He’s sporting a buzzcut and mustache, and his black tee is contrasted by a psychedelic painting serving as the background. Over the next couple of months, the two shared many more meals as Guadagnino explained his vision for “Queer,” his adaptation of Beat Generation writer William S. Burroughs’ 1985 novel. Eventually, Starkey taped for Eugene Allerton, a young student in 1950s Mexico City who American expat William Lee (Daniel Craig...

When people think of Asian animated films, Studio Ghibli often comes to mind first. With iconic films like My Neighbor Totoro and Spirited Away, the studio has become synonymous with high-quality animation and captivating storytelling. However, Asia’s animation industry is vast and diverse, with many other studios and filmmakers contributing unique and innovative works that deserve recognition. This article explores the rich landscape of Asian animated films beyond Studio Ghibli, highlighting some of the most remarkable productions from different countries.

The Rise of South Korean Animation

South Korea has become a significant player in the global animation industry, producing a variety of films that cater to both domestic and international audiences. One standout is Leafie, A Hen into the Wild (2011), directed by Oh Sung-yoon. This film, based on a popular Korean children’s book, tells the story of a hen who dreams of freedom beyond the farm. Its success...

With each passing year, Japanese anime movies are becoming more recognized globally, captivating several viewers. Your Name is arguably one of the most successful anime movie of all time, which introduced many Western fans to the little-known world of anime. The fantasy drama film is a masterpiece of its director, Makoto Shinkai, that celebrates love, determination, and kindness.

A still from Makoto Shinkai’s Your Name | Credits: Toho

Owing to its immense popularity, Your Name became a box office smash hit and generated enormous revenue with its release in over 100 countries and regions. Besides Your Name, Makoto Shinkai is famous for his other box office hit, Suzume, which became an instant hit in 2023 because of its excellent visuals. Makoto Shinkai is globally recognized for his cinematic movies, which are also widely praised and loved by fans.

Although Your Name and Suzume stand as Shinkai’s biggest hits, the famous Japanese...

Your Name Box Office (China): Finally Crosses $100 Million Mark ( Photo Credit – YouTube )

The Japanese anime movie Your Name has finally achieved a remarkable feat at the Chinese box office after being re-released there. Directed by Makoto Shinkai, it now shares a record with The Boy and the Heron and his other creation, Suzume. The movie collected winning numbers on its second weekend in China, pushing it to cross the milestone. Keep scrolling for more.

Makoto Shinkai is reportedly considered one of Japan’s most commercially successful directors. His movies are almost always met with positive reviews. His first debut feature film was The Place Promised in Our Early Days, released in 2004. The movie that we are discussing in this article was originally released in 2016 and was produced by CoMix Wave Films. The movie received numerous accolades, and according to reports, a live-action movie is in development.

Your Name by...

Rotten Tomatoes does not measure the quality of a movie, no matter what your favorite YouTuber says. What it does measure is the percentage of critics who think a movie is at least decent. The higher the Rotten Tomatoes score, the firmer the consensus is that a movie is at least "good," rather than, say, an exact quality score of the title.

Still, even if it doesn't exactly measure quality, a Rotten Tomatoes score is quite useful to get an idea of whether a movie has a wide appeal or if it's polarizing (meaning different people have vastly different opinions on the title). When it comes to anime, even if the genre is becoming more and more accessible, more mainstream, and more accepted, there are only four anime movies with a 100% certified fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

What's curious is how different, yet very similar, the titles are. That's because,...