Animated Masterpiece “Your Name.” Opens To Rave Reviews Across U.S. And Canada
The most talked about Japanese anime film in more than 15 years arrives in U.S. and Canadian theaters today as “Your Name.,” the global box office sensation from director Makoto Shinkai, kicks-off its theatrical run on some 370 screens across North America. The film has been universally praised by critics ever since its sold-out, one-week Oscar qualifying run in Los Angeles, Calif. in December so much so that “Your Name.” just earned a coveted Rotten Tomatoes Certified Fresh rating with positive reviews from 97% of all critics reviewing the film. Top critics have lauded the movie as “vividly realized and emotionally satisfying” (Variety), “thrillingly beautiful” (LA Times), “thoroughly charming and gently comic” (NY Times), “highly watchable” (Washington Post), “a beautiful, captivating piece of work” (RogerEbert.com), “the most beautiful anime since ‘Patema Inverted'” (Village Voice) and “simply gorgeous” (San Francisco Chronicle).
“We’re excited to showcase Makoto Shinkai’s animated masterpiece ‘Your Name.’ with mainstream audiences across North America,” said Gen Fukunaga, Founder and CEO of Funimation. “It’s deeply gratifying to see a hand drawn animated film receive such positive reception – mesmerizing both critics and audiences alike. It is a truly special film that you will not want to miss.”
The touching story and beautifully hand-drawn animation of “Your Name.” has captivated mainstream audiences both around the world and in Japan, where it surpassed Hayao Miyazaki’s legendary works “Princess Mononoke,” “Howl’s Moving Castle” and “Ponyo” to become the second highest-grossing Japanese animated film ever released there.
“Fans have been clamoring to see ‘Your Name.’ since its qualifying run in LA last December and we’re thrilled to be bringing it to so many locations across the U.S. and Canada,” said Mike DuBoise, EVP and COO of Funimation Entertainment. “‘Your Name.’ transcends the anime genre and will resonate with all mainstream audiences of all ages.”
Film Synopsis
The day the stars fell, two lives changed forever. High schoolers Mitsuha and Taki are complete strangers living separate lives. But one night, they suddenly switch places. Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body, and he in hers. This bizarre occurrence continues to happen randomly, and the two must adjust their lives around each other. Yet, somehow, it works. They build a connection and communicate by leaving notes, messages, and more importantly, an imprint.
When a dazzling comet lights up the night’s sky, it dawns on them. They want something more from this connection—a chance to meet, an opportunity to truly know each other. Tugging at the string of fate, they try to find a way to each other. But distance isn’t the only thing keeping them apart. Is their bond strong enough to face the cruel irony of time? Or is their meeting nothing more than a wish upon the stars?
