‘Weathering With You’ is another beautiful work of art from filmmaker Motoko Shinkai

Posted on January 24, 2020

By MARK VIOLA

Japanese director Motoko Shinkai is one of the most talented animation filmmakers working today, producing one movie after another filled with absolutely beautiful animation and emotional, thought-provoking stories.

His last film, “Your Name,” was my No. 1 movie the year it reached the United States, one year after becoming the highest grossing film in Japan at the time.

His latest film is “Weathering With You,” and although it doesn’t quite reach the level of “Your Name,” it is still a beautiful movie that is one of the best films I saw from 2019.

The story follows a 16-year-old boy named Hodoka Morishima who runs away from his rural home to the big city of Tokyo. There, he meets Hina Amano, a teenage girl who somehow has the ability to control the weather, bringing sunshine to the seemingly endless rain falling on Tokyo. Hodoka and Hina strike up a friendship, but Hina’s ability has a hidden cost, one that could prove tragic.

I really can’t say enough about how beautiful the animation is. The backgrounds of Tokyo’s skyscrapers, parks and homes are gorgeous. There really is no equal.

]Shinkai’s films tend to focus on teenagers dealing with romance and the struggles many their age face. Somehow, he continues to find different spins on this concept, delivering fresh and original stories each time.

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