As the plot progresses, the audience gradually understands the anime's setting.
Mitsuha's storyline also begins to lay groundwork with kuchikamizake and knot weaving.
The production of kuchikamizake requires chewing rice and fermenting it in a container with saliva.
Most importantly, Mitsuha has to do this in public.
She is very shy and even resistant.
When making a wish, she wishes to be a handsome guy in Tokyo in her next life.
At this moment, the scene shifts.
Mitsuha wakes up.
However, she is now inside Taki's body.
While Taki, in Mitsuha's body, wakes up and enjoys touching her chest, Mitsuha's examination is more direct; she grabs Taki's vertical grip.
The story enters Mitsuha's experiences within Taki's body.
Working part-time, helping Okudera-senpai mend a skirt.
These actions are all aimed at helping Taki pursue Okudera-senpai, and they are making good progress.
"Holy crap, this works?"
"As expected, girls understand girls best. What a great assist!"
"I finally know why I don't have a girlfriend; I'm missing a Mitsuha to help!"
"You're missing Mitsuha? Do you even know what you look like?"
Although the body-swapping trope is a bit old,
and this segment of the plot doesn't have many explosive moments,
it's generally lighthearted and enjoyable, presenting the story's core to the audience in a slice-of-life manner. It's truly impressive that Jiangnan still has this level of skill.
He can bring a fresh experience to an old trope, at least preventing the audience from feeling bored.
As the plot unfolds,
in the movie,
Taki and Mitsuha also gradually realize.
They have swapped bodies in their dreams.
They swap bodies two to three times a week, and the memories of the swap gradually fade after waking up.
Once everyone understands, they naturally set rules to protect each other's lives and record what happens.
This way, they won't affect each other's lives.
Gradually, due to Taki's personality, Mitsuha in his body gains favor with many girls at school, even receiving love letters from classmates.
Meanwhile, Taki and Okudera-senpai grow closer.
Their lives are changing.
Just as the audience expects the plot to focus on the romance between Mitsuha, Taki, and Okudera,
a sudden change occurs.
The news reports a good opportunity to observe a comet.
The scene shifts to Mitsuha's side, where Taki's consciousness is inside Mitsuha's body.
Mitsuha and her grandmother go to the sacred site for a ritual, and on the way, the grandmother explains the meaning of "musubi" (tying).
"The knot cords we weave are also the work of gods, embodying the flow of the divine. We draw threads together, weave them into shape, twist and entwine them, sometimes break and reconnect them again..."
Mitsuha doesn't understand her grandmother's explanation, and neither do the audience.
"To return to that world, you must leave behind your most precious possession as an exchange."
"Ah?"
"That would be the kuchikamizake."
This foreshadowing is actually the most crucial part of the entire film.
However, the audience's focus is not on this.
It's on the breathtaking visual scenes!
"So far, the most stunning aspect of this series for me is the art style!"
"I heard that Jiangnan provided the drafts, and then the artists at Niwei Entertainment produced the animation based on them."
"No way, a screenwriter like Jiangnan understands painting?"
"I think it's very possible. I heard that Jiangnan draws storyboards for every movie. If that's the case, this claim is likely true."
"Then this Jiangnan is too terrifying!"
In terms of visuals, Dongling Entertainment is the top player in the industry.
As a veteran animation company, they have the most skilled artists and many works with distinct personal styles.
But Jiangnan's Your Name makes the audience feel that visually, it can definitely compete with world-class animation companies!
This is the most surprising aspect for the audience.
...
The plot develops increasingly well.
After Mitsuha helps Taki successfully set up a date with Okudera-senpai, she finally sees her own heart clearly.
She realizes that she has unknowingly fallen in love with Taki.
This plot point further heightens the audience's anticipation for their future interactions.
Regarding the comet mentioned throughout the film, many speculate that their meeting should occur at the moment the comet arrives.
"I've guessed the ending. Although it's a bit plain, it's still a qualified work."
"Jiangnan's script is fine. It's quite good as a sweet romance."
"I'm looking forward to Mitsuha and Taki meeting. Although it's a bit cliché, at least the visuals are stunning!"
"I'm still a bit disappointed. Although this plot has a creative idea, it hasn't reached my standards, especially since it's by screenwriter Jiangnan!"
"It's passable, but it lacks something to win the box office championship."
With the preceding setup, and both protagonists now aware of their true feelings,
the next part of the plot is likely to be their meeting.
This is the best possible ending for a body-swapping theme.
Mitsuha cuts off her long hair.
This scene appears somewhat melancholic.
However, for Jiangnan's fans, it's child's play.
As long as no one dies, audiences accustomed to emotional turmoil won't be stirred.
A group of people goes to watch the comet.
"Holy crap, what a beautiful scene!!"
The moment the comet falls,
countless moviegoers involuntarily exclaim!
This film is worth the ticket price for its visuals alone!!
However,
at this critical juncture,
the screen suddenly goes black!
The scene transitions to the male protagonist's perspective.
"I wanted to tell her slowly about this disastrous date experience during our next body swap, but... for some reason, after that, I never swapped bodies with Mitsuha again."
Taki's inner monologue,
causes all the audience members to freeze, and then a chilling sensation creeps up their spines.
"???"
"Why?"
"What happened?"
"Holy crap, a plot twist at this critical point??"
The reason is not explained here.
After discovering he couldn't swap bodies, Taki resolves to find Mitsuha. Both protagonists have faced their inner selves and believe they love each other.
But Taki cannot contact Mitsuha, and he cannot express his feelings to her.
Similarly, he doesn't know Mitsuha's exact location, only the scenery there, so he draws a picture of the landscape and embarks on his journey to find her.
At this time, Okudera-senpai and his friends come to accompany him, and the three set off together to find Mitsuha.
However, everything is too calm, which fills many people with a sense of foreboding.
This feeling is not part of the plot itself, because according to the current storyline, it's still within the audience's expectations.
But Mitsuha's eyes when the comet fell, and the sudden loss of contact, make the audience feel that it's not that simple.
This intuition comes from the scriptwriter of this series, the "old fox" Jiangnan!
Could it be that the old fox is playing another trick?
...