For more than ten years of living in Japan, last night was my first time to watch a Japanese movie, an anime as we may categorize. I thought I will not be able to understand the story since it didn’t have an English subtitle, but fortunately, I did! (may not be 100 percent though). I was able to prove then that what I’ve been hearing from a lot of people (including my own son) that Japanese anime is marvelous, was definitely true aside from the fact that animation is very popular and distinct in Japan.
The story is about two High school students, Mitsuha and Taki both strangers to each other and living separate lives in a separate place and time. One day, they suddenly switch places. Mitsuha wakes up in Taki’s body, and he in hers. This bizarre occurrence continues to happen randomly, and the two must adjust their lives around each other. It was really awkward for them at first but somehow, it worked and they got used to it whenever they switch places. They leave notes, messages, imprints on their arms and even keep diaries on their cellphones as their communication. When a dazzling comet lights up the sky, something changes over. They seek each other out, becomes curious with how each looks like, wanting something more – a chance to finally meet face to face. But what they don’t know is that they live in a separate time. Mizuha lives and dreams of Taki three years before while Taki is at the present time.
“The day the stars fell, two lives changed forever.”
A nice fantasy movie indeed!
Olga