"Your Name." Hits North American Theaters This Spring
Remember this date, Americans: April 7. That's when you can finally see the critically-acclaimed box office smash Your Name. in theaters across the continent.
Makoto Shinkai’s (5 Centimeters Per Second, The Garden of Words) Your Name. has taken the world by storm in ways that no other Japan-based animated film has before, becoming the highest-grossing anime film of all-time (beating Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away just a few hours ago). In its native land, it is the fourth-highest grossing film ever, behind Spirited Away, Titanic and Frozen. Given that it's been months since it's opened over there and is still near the top of the box office, we can somewhat be assured that it's bound to knock off at least one of those other films to take their spot.
Your Name. was selected by the Los Angeles Film Critics Association as Best Animated Feature of 2016 and is on the official consideration list for a nomination in the Best Animated Feature category at the 89th Annual Academy Awards. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will announce final nominations for the 89th Annual Academy Awards on January 24, 2017. Yesterday, the film was also nominated for the catergory of "Animation of the Year" for the Japan Academy Film Prize.
“It’s truly a joy to be part of a film like Your Name. that has surprised everyone’s expectations and quickly captivated the hearts and attention of audiences and films critics alike,” said Funimation Entertainment Founder/CEO Gen Fukunaga. “I have always believed that a touching and beautifully told story can mesmerize mainstream audiences regardless of a film’s genre. Your Name. is the perfect example of this and will be one that journalists will point to for years to come.”
Your Name. follows the tale of high schoolers Mitsuha and Taki, complete strangers living separate lives. One night, they suddenly switch places, with Mitsuha waking up in Taki’s body, and he in hers. This weird phenomenon continues to happen on-and-off, with the two adjusting their lives around each other. They build a connection and communicate by leaving notes, messages, and more importantly, an imprint. With this, the two strangers hope to find a way to meet one another, and see why fate has brought them together.
RADWIMPS, the band responsible for Your Name.'s original score & soundtrack, announced that they'll be providing the English version of all the chart-topping songs in the North American English dub version of the film, including "Dream Lantern" and "Zenzenzense."
“Melody and lyrics must be something inseparable for RADWIMPS. For all that, I cannot respect and thank them enough for making these wonderful English versions to entertain international audience,” said writer/director Shinkai. “In Your Name. songs, lines and the story are in complete harmony. Lyrics represent characters’ cry of the heart. I hope these alternative versions will lead the audience to a better understanding of the world of Your Name.”
Check out the trailer below, and cross your fingers that Your Name. makes as big an impact in the U.S. as it has the rest of the world.
