Summary of the works of director Makoto Shinkai, an artist who continues to explore his own “world”

Director Makoto Shinkai's works summary (2007~2013)

3. “5 Centimeters per Second” (07) 63 minutes

This work served as an opportunity for director Shinkai to make a big leap forward. This is a series of three short stories that depict the transformation of a man and a woman's relationship as they transition from children to adults.

A boy and a girl in elementary school were aware of each other. However, as their respective transfers overlap, the two are torn apart, with only their feelings remaining the same. As they grow up through middle school, high school, and adulthood, the paths that men and women take become clearly separated.

The poetic and introspective monologue that stands out in this film is the true essence of director Shinkai. It has been refined with each successive work and has been passed down to the latest work. Also, at the time of its release, the beautiful yet fleeting final scene received a variety of reviews.

Masayoshi Yamazaki's famous song `` One more time, One more chance '', which colors the work, also lingers in your ears.

Watch “5 Centimeters Per Second” for free! "U-NEXT" is now free for 31 days

Watch “5 Centimeters Per Second” for free! "Hulu" now free for 2 weeks

4. “Children Chasing Stars” (11) 116 minutes

This work is a turning point in which the world drawn by director Shinkai undergoes a minor change. There are many Ghibli-like elements, from motifs such as the countryside and other worlds, mysterious stones, and the underground world, to character designs.

In this work, ``death'' is depicted as an expression that separates men and women, and ``emotional growth'' is reflected in the story of a girl who loses her father and friends, and experiences death and loss through an adventure into the underground world. It is being

Director Shinkai's works have a strong "smell" of Japanese traditional folklore and climate, but in this work, he uses creatures, gadgets, costumes, and battle scenes that are rare in Shinkai's works, but rather a foreign fantasy. It gives me the impression that the essence of this is very much alive. Even if you look at it from that perspective, it's a slightly different work.

Watch “Children Who Chase the Stars” for free! "U-NEXT" is now free for 31 days

Watch “Children Who Chase the Stars” for free! "Hulu" now free for 2 weeks

5. “Garden of Words” (13) 46 minutes

A masterpiece set in Tokyo's Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, which delicately examines the emotional bond between a man and a woman who can only meet on rainy days. From this work to the latest work, ``Weathering with You'', the world view is shared, and with this work, it can be said that Shinkai World has entered a new phase.

A high school boy who aims to become a shoemaker and an older woman who harbors a secret. Unable to find a place in society, the two talk together on a rainy day at Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, healing their pent-up thoughts and loneliness.

There are similarities with Weathering With You here and there, such as the incompatibility between society and the individual, and the positioning in which ``Weathering with You'' has the meaning of ``salvation.'' Symbols are found in the depiction of Shinjuku, camera work, and Japanese poetry. Out of respect for the tradition of ``Your Name.'' ” I can also feel the connection.

This is a work in which director Shinkai's sensibilities stand out, including the breathtakingly beautiful scenery, the emotional rain scene at the climax, and the use of music.

Watch “The Garden of Words” for free! "U-NEXT" is now free for 31 days

Watch “The Garden of Words” for free! "Hulu" now free for 2 weeks

Director Makoto Shinkai's works summary (2016~2019)