If you asked me what my favourite film of the last few years is, chances are that I will say Your Name before launching into a long spiel about how great it is (which I will do right now).
The 2016 anime masterpiece from Makoto Shinkai is not only one of the most visually stunning films to ever hit the big screen, it somehow managed to breath new life into the “boy and girl switch bodies” trope while telling an emotionally-resonant story that made me bawl my eyes out.
Your Name is so good that it quickly became the highest-grossing anime film ever, which is no small feat considering Studio Ghibli held that mantle for god knows how long with Spirited Away.
But it looks like Your Name will face some fierce competition next year because Shinkai-sensei has just released the first teaser of his next project – titled Weathering With You (no relation to Crowded House) – and it is just gorgeous.
Just look at it.
This redefines the word “beautiful”.
For those who don’t read Japanese, the tagline reads, “This is the story of the world’s secret that only she and I know.”
Intriguing…
In addition to the stunning poster, we have some deets about the movie.
According to AnimeNewsNetwork, the film’s story is textbook Shinkai-sensei and revolves around Hotaka Miroshima, a high school boy who moves to Tokyo after running away from his home, and Hina Amano, a girl with the mysterious power to control the weather by “praying”.
There’s obviously more to the movie than that and I’m certain Shinkai-sensei will subvert the usual anime tropes in some surprising way that will ensure the shedding of tears by the bucket-load.
Shinkai-sensei also took to Twitter to give some more deets about Weathering With You, writing:
“‘Weathering with You’s production has been announced. A close yet grand film, it will make many laugh and cry. However, this film will not be a typical film. Instead, it will follow the story of those who do not follow the norms of society. Even so, I hope that it is exactly this type of story which will make people think, ‘this movie was for me.’”
新作映画『天気の子』、制作発表させていただきました。身近で壮大で、大いに笑って泣ける（はずの）ドエンタメ映画です。でも同時に、すこしも模範的ではなく、むしろ社会や規範から外れていってしまう人物たちの物語です。でもだからこそこれは自分のための映画だと、誰かに思ってもらえますように。 pic.twitter.com/w4jwTUw0tB
— 新海誠 (@shinkaimakoto) December 13, 2018
Weathering With You will hit cinemas in Japan only on July 19, 2019, but Shinkai-sensei has confirmed (via Eiga) that the film will get a worldwide release. Though dates haven’t been confirmed yet, releases in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia has already been decided.
Usually this means we’ll get the film a few months after Japan so here’s hoping we’ll see it Down Under towards the second half of 2019.
With the Cowboy Bebop anime and now Weathering With You, 2019 can’t come soon enough.