Latest news with #TheGardenofWords
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
If you loved anime Your Name, these 5 Makoto Shinkai films will stay in your heart too
Source: Crunchyroll When Your Name (Kimi no Na wa) premiered in 2016, it didn't just become one of the highest-grossing anime films of all time; it became a cultural phenomenon. Directed by Makoto Shinkai, the film blends supernatural elements with teenage emotion, stunning animation, and an aching sense of distance. It tells the story of two strangers, Mitsuha, a rural girl yearning for city life, and Taki, a Tokyo boy caught up in modern chaos, who begin mysteriously swapping bodies across time and space. What begins as a quirky, almost comedic premise soon transforms into something far more poignant: a search for meaning, memory, and connection in a world that often keeps people apart. Your Name resonates because it captures something universal, the feeling that someone out there might understand us completely, even if we've never met. The film's unique mix of romance, fantasy, and emotional depth has left many viewers wanting more. And luckily, Makoto Shinkai's other works explore similar themes in equally moving ways. Loved Your Name? You must watch these 5 stunning anime movies by Makoto Shinkai If Your Name left a lasting impression, whether you're drawn to romantic longing, quiet sci-fi, or the emotional weight of time and distance, these five handpicked films by Shinkai offer something just as unforgettable. Suzume (2022) Source: Crunchyroll One of Shinkai's more recent and ambitious works, Suzume follows a high school girl who stumbles upon a mysterious door that leads to a disaster-stricken world. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Doctors Shocked: This Ginger Mix Shrinks Waistlines While You Sleep healthlifeexperience Click Here Undo As she journeys across Japan to close these portals, she confronts themes of grief, resilience, and recovery. Visually stunning and deeply symbolic, Suzume blends heartfelt storytelling with social commentary, particularly around the emotional aftermath of natural disasters, drawing inspiration from real-life events like the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Weathering With You (2019) Source: Crunchyroll From the first frame, Weathering With You feels like a spiritual sibling to Your Name. It follows Hodaka, a runaway teen who meets Hina, a girl with the power to control the weather. As Tokyo faces unrelenting rain, their bond grows, but so do the consequences of altering nature. Balancing light romance, social struggles, and fantasy, this film touches on climate change and urban isolation, all while delivering the kind of stunning animation and emotional highs that Shinkai fans expect. The Garden of Words (2013) Source: Crunchyroll Short, poetic, and emotionally resonant, The Garden of Words tells the story of an unlikely bond between a teenage boy and an older woman, set against the backdrop of Tokyo's rainy season. At just 46 minutes, it's one of Shinkai's shorter works but arguably one of his most visually refined. This film explores loneliness, unspoken connections, and the healing power of empathy, all conveyed through breathtaking imagery of rain-soaked parks, cityscapes, and the silence between words. Children Who Chase Lost Voices (2011) Source: Crunchyroll Often described as Shinkai's most 'Ghibli-like' film, Children Who Chase Lost Voices ventures into myth, ancient civilizations, and the underworld. The story follows Asuna, a young girl who embarks on a journey to a hidden land where the living and the dead may reunite. Though different in tone, leaning more into adventure and folklore, it's still deeply rooted in themes of love, loss, and letting go. This film showcases Shinkai's range and his ability to create entire worlds that feel both fantastical and deeply human. The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004) Source: Wikipedia Shinkai's first feature-length film, The Place Promised in Our Early Days, sets the tone for many themes he explores later: distance, longing, and parallel realities. Set in an alternate post-war Japan, the story follows three teenagers bound by a mysterious tower visible from their town and a pact they made to uncover its secrets. With its layered plot and slow-burning emotional core, this film is more subdued than Your Name, but it delivers a powerful exploration of friendship, lost promises, and the quiet ache of growing apart. Makoto Shinkai's films are more than just visually stunning; they're emotional journeys that resonate long after the credits roll. If Your Name moved you with its tale of time-crossed lovers, these five films offer even more of what makes Shinkai a master of modern anime: beautiful animation, haunting soundtracks, and deeply personal stories about connection, memory, and the passage of time. Also Read: Takopi's Original Sin (episodes 1–2) review (when cute goes catastrophically wrong)
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Popular Japanese anime producer behind Your Name jailed for child prostitution
Koichiro Ito, known for producing some of Japan's most popular and successful anime films Ito, 52, was given a four-year sentence on Friday after he was convicted of 'violating laws on child prostitution and pornography' as well as rape, a Wakayama District Court spokesman confirmed to the news agency AFP. He was accused of paying a 15-year-old girl ¥20,000 (£105) in 2023 for sex; coercing another girl of the same age into taking explicit pictures and paying her ¥12,500 (£66) for them in 2021; and paying a 17-year-old girl ¥30,000 (£158) for having sex with him at his home in December 2023. All of Ito's actions violated Japan's Child Prostitution and Pornography Prohibition Act. The court ruling stated that Ito's crimes consisted of '11 cases of child prostitution, 9 cases of photographing sexual poses and the like, 10 cases of producing child pornography, including those taken at the same time, 1 case of non-consensual intercourse involving one case of child prostitution, and possession of five pieces of child pornography', Kansai TV reported. Presiding judge Keiko Fukushima said Ito indulged in child prostitution repeatedly and knowingly. 'The defendant repeatedly searched for underage women available for sexual intercourse via the internet, took nude photos of them and had them send them, or offered money to women he met in person to engage in child prostitution and secretly photograph images of sexual intercourse,' she ruled. 'He repeatedly offered money to engage in child prostitution and secretly photograph images of sexual intercourse. This has a significant adverse effect on the healthy development of the mind and body of the victims who are immature in their ability to make autonomous decisions. The degree of responsibility and blame is high.' Ito was first arrested in Tokyo in February and told investigators he was unclear as to which girl the police case was about since he had nude images from underage girls sent to him on multiple occasions, a report in The Hollywood Reporter said, quoting NHK. Police had begun an investigation into Ito after his name came up in a separate and unrelated child prostitution case. At his trial, prosecutors sought six years in prison for Ito, who pled guilty at the first hearing. 'He took advantage of the victim's immaturity, seduced her with money, and committed the crime, which is cunning and malicious. The crime was committed at the whim of his sexual desire and there is no room for leniency in the circumstances or motive,' the prosecutors said according to an online translation of a report in NHK. Ito's lawyer requested a lighter sentence saying the disgraced producer had reached a settlement with two of the three victims and was attending counselling. Ito was a producer for Your Name and Suzume, both critically and commercially successful in Japan, as well as for celebrated films like Weathering with You and The Garden of Words. He was also involved in the 2022 TV series Modern Love Tokyo. Your Name, released in 2016, was the second highest-grossing domestic film in Japan, behind only Hayao Miyazaki's Spirited Away. The movie won multiple awards, including the best animated feature at the 2016 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, the 49th Sitges Film Festival and the 71st Mainichi Film Awards. Suzume, released in 2022, similarly opened to majorly positive reviews and went on to become the fourth highest-grossing Japanese movie ever. It was nominated for best animated feature at the Golden Globes, losing out to Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron. After news of Ito's arrest broke last month, Makoto Shinkai, who directed Your Name and Suzume, said on X: 'I was shocked to see the news of the arrest of those involved in the production. First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the victim. I am also truly sorry for causing anxiety to everyone who loves and supports the production.' 'I believe that the value of the work will not be diminished as a result of this incident, but I am sure that it will inevitably be viewed with distrust by the public. This makes me feel very frustrated and sad.'
The Independent
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Popular Japanese anime producer behind Your Name jailed for child prostitution
Koichiro Ito, known for producing some of Japan 's most popular and successful anime films Ito, 52, was given a four-year sentence on Friday after he was convicted of 'violating laws on child prostitution and pornography' as well as rape, a Wakayama District Court spokesman confirmed to the news agency AFP. He was accused of paying a 15-year-old girl ¥20,000 (£105) in 2023 for sex; coercing another girl of the same age into taking explicit pictures and paying her ¥12,500 (£66) for them in 2021; and paying a 17-year-old girl ¥30,000 (£158) for having sex with him at his home in December 2023. All of Ito's actions violated Japan 's Child Prostitution and Pornography Prohibition Act. The court ruling stated that Ito's crimes consisted of '11 cases of child prostitution, 9 cases of photographing sexual poses and the like, 10 cases of producing child pornography, including those taken at the same time, 1 case of non-consensual intercourse involving one case of child prostitution, and possession of five pieces of child pornography', Kansai TV reported. Presiding judge Keiko Fukushima said Ito indulged in child prostitution repeatedly and knowingly. 'The defendant repeatedly searched for underage women available for sexual intercourse via the internet, took nude photos of them and had them send them, or offered money to women he met in person to engage in child prostitution and secretly photograph images of sexual intercourse,' she ruled. 'He repeatedly offered money to engage in child prostitution and secretly photograph images of sexual intercourse. This has a significant adverse effect on the healthy development of the mind and body of the victims who are immature in their ability to make autonomous decisions. The degree of responsibility and blame is high.' Ito was first arrested in Tokyo in February and told investigators he was unclear as to which girl the police case was about since he had nude images from underage girls sent to him on multiple occasions, a report in The Hollywood Reporter said, quoting NHK. Police had begun an investigation into Ito after his name came up in a separate and unrelated child prostitution case. At his trial, prosecutors sought six years in prison for Ito, who pled guilty at the first hearing. 'He took advantage of the victim's immaturity, seduced her with money, and committed the crime, which is cunning and malicious. The crime was committed at the whim of his sexual desire and there is no room for leniency in the circumstances or motive,' the prosecutors said according to an online translation of a report in NHK. Ito's lawyer requested a lighter sentence saying the disgraced producer had reached a settlement with two of the three victims and was attending counselling. Ito was a producer for Your Name and Suzume, both critically and commercially successful in Japan, as well as for celebrated films like Weathering with You and The Garden of Words. He was also involved in the 2022 TV series Modern Love Tokyo. Your Name, released in 2016, was the second highest-grossing domestic film in Japan, behind only Hayao Miyazaki 's Spirited Away. The movie won multiple awards, including the best animated feature at the 2016 Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards, the 49th Sitges Film Festival and the 71st Mainichi Film Awards. Suzume, released in 2022, similarly opened to majorly positive reviews and went on to become the fourth highest-grossing Japanese movie ever. It was nominated for best animated feature at the Golden Globes, losing out to Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron. After news of Ito's arrest broke last month, Makoto Shinkai, who directed Your Name and Suzume, said on X: 'I was shocked to see the news of the arrest of those involved in the production. First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt condolences to the victim. I am also truly sorry for causing anxiety to everyone who loves and supports the production.' 'I believe that the value of the work will not be diminished as a result of this incident, but I am sure that it will inevitably be viewed with distrust by the public. This makes me feel very frustrated and sad.'
