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2025 promises to thrill both anime fans and theater lovers with an iconic lineup, setting the stage for unforgettable moments! Amid all the excitement, Makoto Shinkai, director of the hit 2016 filmYour Name, has confirmed plans to announce his next big film soon.
Shinkai is globally recognized for his cinematic movies, such asYour Nameand Suzume, which are also widely praised and loved by fans worldwide.Your Nameis arguably one of the most successful anime movies of all time, and it introduced many Western fans to the little-known world of anime.
The fantasy drama film is a masterpiece of its director that celebrates love, determination, and kindness. After the buzz surrounding Shinkai’s 2025 film announcement, it’s hard to imagine that the legendary director, who created such iconic and widely celebrated titles over the years, had to leave his home at a young age to pursue his passion.
Makoto Shinkai’s journey: From Heartbreaking beginnings to craftingYour Name
Your Nameis a brilliant and vibrant piece of art that leaves viewers yearning for more. The Japanese movie broke several records back in 2016, instantly becoming a global sensation and box office hit.
Shinkai’s success withYour Namehassolidified his status as a major force in animeover the past decade. Shinkai can be called a revolutionary in the industry due to his depiction of very intricate emotions in his films.
Makoto Shinkai was “Bored of telling a traditional romance story” Because of Your Name
In an exclusiveinterview with BFI, Shinkai discussed his experience working onYour Nameand revealed how much he relates to Mitsuha’s character, particularly one key aspect. He shared:
Mitsuha is pretty much me. Itomori doesn’t exist, but definitely her character is based on my own upbringing. I loved Nagano but I really was dying to go to Tokyo.
Shinkai shared that he deeply relates to Mitsuha’s obsession with Tokyo, as he based her character on his own upbringing. He also opened up about his childhood and the decision to leave his hometown at 18 to pursue his dreams. He added:
My parents used to run a construction company, so there was a pressure on me to take over the business eventually, but I wanted to do something different, and I left home at 18.
Makoto Shinkai is one of the most renowned Japanese anime directors today, and hisinspiring journey to carve out his name, despite facingpersonal struggles at a young age, has made him more influential than ever.
Shinkai also reveals thatYour Name‘s success also brought back the director’s faith in the anime-movie industry. He was totallyawe-struck and inspiredby the film’s influence and how it became a global sensation within just three months of release.
Explore Makoto Shinkai’s favorite title beyondYour NameandSuzume
BesidesYour Name, Shinkai is also famous for his other box office hit,Suzume, which became an instant hit in2023 because of its excellentvisuals.
Interestingly,Shinkai once disclosedhis thoughts on all his films, with one being his most beloved creation.
In aninterviewwith Anime News Network, he named ‘The Garden of Words‘ as his masterpiece, which sadly is underappreciated. Shinkai narrates the story of a lonely teenager who prefers sitting in a lovely garden and missing his morning lessons.
“It really infuriates me”: Don’t Tell Makoto Shinkai How to Make Movies When He Embraced Massive Risk for ‘Your Name’
The Garden of Wordsfeatures Takao Akizuki, an aspiring 15-year-old shoemaker, and Yukari Yukino, a mysterious 27-year-old woman. Besides the two lovely characters, Shinkai’s masterful use of rain and intricate scenes drew fans in,making the movie’s aesthetics unforgettable.
Moreover,The Garden of Wordshighlights the key concept of finding someone in the midst of solitude. Despite being released in 2013,The Garden of Wordsis outshined by popular titles such asYour NameandSuzume. However, fans who have witnessed this masterpiece consider it Shinkai’s best work of all time.
Your Name,Suzume,andThe Garden of Wordsare availablefor streaming on Netflix.
Mehul Rolta
Articles Published :510
Mehul Rolta is a seasoned journalist with over 3 years in esports and soccer journalism. Transitioning to anime writing at Fandom Wire, Mehul shares his lifelong passion for anime about integrates professionalism. Dedicated to connecting the world of anime globally, Mehul shares thoughts and insights, communicating personal passion with professional insight.
