---
title: "Your Name."
year: 2016
kind: "film"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/your-name"
fi1m_id: "your-name"
imdb_id: "tt5311514"
tmdb_id: 372058
wikidata_id: "Q21697406"
fi1m_score: 84
critics_score: 81
critics_reviews: 11
published: "2026-09-15"
updated: "2026-09-18T08:37:50.227214+00:00"
region: "US"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Your Name. (2016)

Directed by Makoto Shinkai · 1h 46m · MPA PG · Animation, Romance, Drama

## Identity

Your Name.

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/film/your-name
- **Type:** Film
- **Fi1m ID:** your-name
- **IMDb ID:** tt5311514
- **TMDB ID:** 372058
- **Wikidata ID:** Q21697406
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5311514/, https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/372058, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21697406

**Fi1m score: 84** · Critics 81 from 11 reviews

*In a sentence:* Swapping bodies seems a rather thorough way of checking romantic compatibility

> Makoto Shinkai’s animated body-swap romance is funny, tender and worth the effort of following its increasingly busy plot. We recommend it for its attention to two teenagers’ feelings, with a caveat about how complicated the storytelling becomes.

## Synopsis

Taki Tachibana (voiced by Ryunosuke Kamiki) and Mitsuha Miyamizu (voiced by Mone Kamishiraishi) are teenagers who find themselves inhabiting each other’s bodies. Each has to negotiate a life that belongs to somebody else, along with the physical confusion of the swap. What begins as an intrusion into their separate lives draws them towards a romance, while raising questions about the connection between them. Written and directed by Makoto Shinkai, this animated film follows the pair through bodily embarrassment, growing curiosity and a mystery that reaches beyond their initial experience.

## Review

Makoto Shinkai’s *Your Name.* makes good use of a ridiculous teenage predicament: Taki and Mitsuha keep finding themselves in each other’s bodies. It is a warm, funny romance, and we recommend it despite a plot that grows needlessly difficult to follow. Shinkai, who directs and writes the screenplay, lets the bodily embarrassment matter before asking us to care about the larger mystery. That patience with adolescent awkwardness is what makes the grander emotions convincing.

Ryunosuke Kamiki voices Taki Tachibana and Mone Kamishiraishi voices Mitsuha Miyamizu, with both performances helping to keep the body swapping personal. The jokes depend on unfamiliarity with a body and a life that have suddenly become somebody else’s responsibility. We laughed at the physical confusion, largely because neither performance tries to make embarrassment look charming. Some of this business hangs about after the joke has registered, and Shinkai occasionally seems reluctant to leave an easy laugh alone. Still, the leads have enough vulnerability to make their discomfort matter.

Hitomi Fukuzawa and Shinkai share the cinematography credit, and the images reward attention well beyond the central figures. The richly detailed cityscapes and natural landscapes make both lives seem worth spending time in. We felt unexpectedly wistful looking at the buildings and open skies. Their careful rendering suggests how much there is to miss even in surroundings somebody else might find ordinary. The backgrounds deserve attention even when nothing important is happening in them.

As editor, Shinkai gives the comic exchanges a pace that keeps the premise from becoming an exercise in explaining rules. The music, with Yojiro Noda among its credited contributors, adds to that forward movement. Its eagerness suits a story in which small personal feelings can seem enormous, and the film earns much of its unabashed romanticism through that match of sound and pace. At times, though, we would welcome a little less encouragement to feel everything quite so intensely.

The more serious difficulty comes in the later plotting, whose developments we will leave alone. Shinkai keeps adding complications when the relationship is already interesting enough to hold our attention. Following the mechanics briefly becomes work, and the two people we care about have to compete with our effort to understand what is possible. It is a real weakness, although calling the whole story incomprehensible would overstate it. We remain clear about what matters to the characters through the more tangled passages.

A body-swap romance could easily use its premise to teach two teenagers a tidy lesson about empathy. What we value here is the space Shinkai leaves for awkwardness, attraction and the sheer inconvenience of understanding somebody else. There is sweetness without the suggestion that these young people are already wise about their feelings. That helps the film survive stretches in which the mystery gets too busy.

At 106 minutes, this is not a film we would shorten by much; we would simply let a few emotional moments stand without so much assistance. Anyone coming mainly for a romance should find enough here to forgive the complications. Allow a little patience for the plot. If elaborate fantasy usually keeps you at a distance, try this one for the two embarrassed teenagers at its centre.

*Fi1m score 84, published 15 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics respond warmly to Your Name., with praise clustering around Shinkai’s detailed animation and the emotional pull of its teenage body-swap romance. The landscapes, cityscapes and skies receive particular attention for making the fantasy feel rooted in recognisable places. The reviews also admire the movement between adolescent comedy, mystery and longing, with many finding the complicated storytelling rewarding rather than merely busy. For its strongest supporters, the humour and romantic feeling keep the spectacle from overwhelming the characters.

Agreement on the visuals is firmer than agreement on the script, and judgements range from enthusiastic to mixed. Several reviews find the later plotting tangled or the pacing uneven. Little White Lies enjoys the early body-swap comedy but finds the second half confusing and drawn out. The Evening Standard is less persuaded by the characters as the story develops, finding that they become blander and that the final act loses momentum.

## Straight answers

**Is Your Name. worth watching?**

*Your Name.* is worth watching for anyone who wants a warm, funny animated romance and can forgive a plot that grows needlessly tangled, and we scored it 84. Makoto Shinkai lets two teenagers' embarrassment matter before asking us to care about the larger mystery, which is why the bigger emotions convince. Allow a little patience for the later complications.

**How long is Your Name., and what is it rated?**

*Your Name.* runs 1h 46m and is rated PG by the MPA in the US. It is an animation and romance film.

**Where can I watch Your Name. in the US?**

*Your Name.* is streaming on HBO Max, The Roku Channel and Amazon Prime Video in the US, and it is also available to rent from Amazon Prime Video from $4.99. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Your Name., and is it suitable for children?**

*Your Name.* is a 12A in the UK and a PG in the US, and our review found nothing violent or frightening in it worth warning about. The humour rests on teenagers waking up in each other's bodies, with some physical confusion and mild embarrassment, but nothing more adult than that. Younger children may find the tangled later plot harder to follow than anything in it upsetting.

**How does Your Name. compare to Whisper of the Heart?**

*Your Name.* is the busier and more openly romantic of the two, while [*Whisper of the Heart*](https://film.one/film/whisper-of-the-heart) is the smaller and more patient film, and we think it the more honest. Shinkai's body-swap fantasy earns its big feelings through two embarrassed teenagers but complicates its plot more than it needs to. Kondō's quieter story about a schoolgirl learning whether she can write moved us more.

**What should I watch after Your Name.?**

After *Your Name.*, try [*Whisper of the Heart*](https://film.one/film/whisper-of-the-heart) (1995, Fi1m 82): For another animated romance that takes adolescent hopes seriously without flattering them. Then [*A Matter of Life and Death*](https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death) (1946, Fi1m 92): Another romance prepared to rearrange the universe for two people’s feelings; and [*Petite Maman*](https://film.one/film/petite-maman) (2021, Fi1m 88): An intimate fantasy about understanding another life, told with welcome restraint.

### Reviews we read (19)

- **The Telegraph** (5/5): The critic calls the film a dazzling, gleaming daydream that is anime at its very best, praising its beauty, raucous teenage body-swap comedy, metaphysical themes and embrace of human helplessness amid cosmic events. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/10/31/your-name-review-this-dazzling-gleaming-daydream-is-anime-at-its/)
- **Empire**, Dan Jolin (90/100, inferred): The critic hails the film as a breakthrough for Shinkai and a worthy successor to Spirited Away, celebrating its richly detailed hand-drawn animation and narrative boldness. They single out the dextrous handling of the lead characters and the film’s genre-blending mystery for praise. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/name-3-review/)
- **Total Film**, Kevin Harley (90/100, inferred): The critic praises Shinkai’s inventive body-swapping, time-travelling teen romance for its emotional depth and visual invention. They single out the film’s breathless pacing, Radwimps soundtrack and satisfying blend of poignancy and plot for particular praise. [Read](https://www.gamesradar.com/your-name-review/)
- **Time Out**, Cath Clarke (4/5): Clarke lauds the staggeringly beautiful animation and emotional resonance of the body-swap story, highlighting its sci-fi fantasy with an apocalyptic twist and the exquisite depiction of nature and cityscapes. She notes some comedy drags but overall calls it a thing of beauty. [Read](https://www.timeout.com/movies/your-name)
- **Little White Lies**, David Jenkins (4/3/3): The review finds the first half's body-swap fun engaging but criticizes the second half for dragging with confusing time-travel elements and melodrama. It acknowledges the film's ambition and slick visuals despite not fully delivering on entertainment. [Read](https://lwlies.com/reviews/your-name)
- **Evening Standard**, Charlotte O'Sullivan (50/100, inferred): The critic finds the animation exquisite and the focus on the physical aspects of the body swap refreshing, but feels the story loses steam once it shifts into eco-disaster territory. They single out the increasingly anodyne characters and weaker third act for complaint. [Read](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/your-name-film-review-shock-of-the-body-swap-a3399266.html)
- **Los Angeles Times**, Justin Chang: The critic hails it as a thrillingly beautiful, expansive achievement that juggles farce, romance, and survival epic with cosmic reversals and sensitivity to young people's fears. Shinkai's hyperreal, painterly visuals and tonal balance from comedy to tragedy are singled out for praise. [Read](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-your-name-review-20170406-story.html)
- **RogerEbert.com**, Brian Tallerico: The critic calls it a beautiful, captivating animated film that starts rocky but builds to an emotional, powerful ending with remarkable visuals. Shinkai is praised for turning a body-swap premise into something with melancholy, honesty, and empathy between characters from different worlds. [Read](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/your-name-2017)
- **Sight and Sound**, Kate Stables: The critic praises Shinkai's body-swap teen romance for its emotional depth and stunning visuals blending sci-fi with Japanese landscapes and culture. She notes it mixes wit, heart, and spectacle but mentions some plot indigestion in the later stages. [Read](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/your-name-review-emo-anime-magic)
- **Slant Magazine**: The critic notes the film's boldly unpredictable storytelling and romantic core but finds the later plot twists desperate after a delicate early focus on longing and character; it remains a passionately beautiful mess of a narrative. [Read](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/your-name/)
- **The Guardian**: The critic hails Shinkai’s body-swap romance as a breathtaking, rip-roaring and heartbreaking YA adventure that confirms him as Japan’s new animation king and a worthy successor to Miyazaki. The film’s thrilling animation, astral magic, natural disaster spectacle and fusion of ancient and modern elements are singled out for praise. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/nov/20/your-name-review-makoto-shinkai)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Deborah Young: The critic calls it a dreamy, entertaining narrative puzzle that sparks imagination through its animation and visuals, but finds the story ultimately incomprehensible and less emotionally stirring than works by Miyazaki or Hosoda. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/your-name-film-review-942290/)
- **Variety**, Peter Debruge: The critic describes an endearingly loopy, enormously entertaining mix of time-travel, body-swap, and disaster elements that is vividly realized and emotionally satisfying. Shinkai's stunning animation, especially the hyper-realistic backgrounds and skies, is highlighted as making him a household name. [Read](https://variety.com/2016/film/reviews/your-name-review-makoto-shinkai-1201880723/)
- **Vulture**, Emily Yoshida: The critic praises the film's assured emotional through line exploring time, memory, and loss, with vibrant characters and hyper-detailed animation that feels deeply lived-in; it is ultimately a romantic, infectious story of connection despite its metaphysical tangles. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2017/04/your-name-movie-review.html)
- **Collider**, Dave Trumbore (A+): The critic praises the film's unconventional storytelling, gorgeous visuals, and tear-jerking romance as a timeless crowd-pleaser that transcends typical anime tropes. Minor flaws are forgiven due to its earnest intimacy and breathtaking animation of real-world inspired landscapes. [Read](https://collider.com/your-name-review/)
- **The Ringer**, Justin Charity (85/100, inferred): The review calls it the saddest and most emotionally devastating body-swapping teen rom-com, conceived in response to Japan's 2011 earthquake and tsunami for catharsis. Shinkai's film tops Ghibli box-office records with its mix of adolescence, history, escapism, and genuine emotional devastation. [Read](https://www.theringer.com/2017/04/12/uncategorized/your-name-anime-japan-national-trauma-3e96cbf9f01d)
- **Den of Geek**, Ryan Lambie (4/5): The critic calls it a funny and moving fantasy romance that is unmissable, praising its intricate plotting, heartfelt emotion, and superbly crafted animation that feels more real than real. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/your-name-review/)
- **HeyUGuys**, Daniel Goodwin (4/5): The critic praises the film's breathtaking animation and epic, magical body-swapping romance between teens that feels grander than some Ghibli works, but notes that complex plotting, disorienting sequences, and subplots slightly slow the pace and distract from the central story. [Read](https://www.heyuguys.com/your-name-review/)
- **The Skinny**, Josh Slater-Williams (★★★★): The critic notes the high-concept body-swap premise is exploited to full comedic and emotional effect, balancing sweet sentiment, romance, existential themes, and a comet-induced catastrophe in a way that explains its massive popularity. [Read](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/your-name)

## Details

- **Director:** Makoto Shinkai
- **Director:** Makoto Shinkai
- **Screenplay:** Makoto Shinkai
- **Cinematography:** Makoto Shinkai, Hitomi Fukuzawa
- **Editor:** Makoto Shinkai
- **Music:** Yojiro Noda, Takahito Sakurai, Natsuko Makino, Akira Kuwahara, Yusuke Takeda, Satoshi Yamaguchi
- **Producer:** Genki Kawamura, Katsuhiro Takei, Kōichirō Itō
- **Cast:** Ryunosuke Kamiki as Taki Tachibana (voice); Mone Kamishiraishi as Mitsuha Miyamizu (voice); Ryō Narita as Katsuhiko Teshigawara (voice); Aoi Yūki as Sayaka Natori (voice); Nobunaga Shimazaki as Tsukasa Fujii (voice); Kaito Ishikawa as Shinta Takagi (voice); Kanon Tani as Yotsuha Miyamizu (voice); Masaki Terasoma as Toshiki Miyamizu (voice)
- **Runtime:** 1h 46m
- **Certificate (MPA):** PG
- **Release (the US):** 7 April 2017
- **Genres:** Animation, Romance, Drama
- **Budget:** $8 million
- **Box office:** $407 million
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYku4P7MHdo

## Where to watch in the US

- HBO Max: streaming, uhd
- The Roku Channel: add-on, hd
- Amazon Prime Video: add-on, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: rent $4.99, uhd
- Amazon Prime Video: buy $14.99, uhd

*Checked 2026-09-15.*

Also available in: AT, AU, BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, ID, IE, IN, IT, JP, NL, NO, TR, US, VN. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## Awards

- Synergy Award 2017: Synergy Award (won)
- Mainichi Film Award for Best Animation Film 2016: Mainichi Film Award for Best Animation Film (won)

## If you liked this

- *Whisper of the Heart* (1995), Fi1m 82: For another animated romance that takes adolescent hopes seriously without flattering them. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/whisper-of-the-heart.md)
- *A Matter of Life and Death* (1946), Fi1m 92: Another romance prepared to rearrange the universe for two people’s feelings. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/a-matter-of-life-and-death.md)
- *Il Mare* (2000): A quieter romance for anyone drawn to intimacy across impossible distances.
- *The Girl Who Leapt Through Time* (2006): Teenage impulsiveness meets impossible opportunities, with consequences that give the fantasy weight.
- *Petite Maman* (2021), Fi1m 88: An intimate fantasy about understanding another life, told with welcome restraint. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/petite-maman.md)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/film/your-name