***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for Tenki no Ko. Reader discretion is advised.***
As a reminder: THIS IS NOT A REVIEW. Films and other posts under the Out and About: Eigakan label are watched in Japanese with NO English subtitles. Therefore, misinterpretations and misunderstandings are possible. With that said:
I just got out of Tenki no Ko…
And for a bit of backstory, this film was from the same director, Makoto Shinkai, who gave us 2016’s mega-hit, Kimi no Na wa.
There is quite a bit to unpack with this movie, so for a brief synopsis:
This was the story of Hodaka, a high schooler who ran away to Tokyo, and Hina, a girl who could manipulate the weather.
The two managed to find each other, and together they created an internet sensation by marketing Hina as the Sunshine Girl who was capable of clearing away the never-ending rainfall.
Unfortunately, Hina’s gift came at a cost.
That was probably the most minimalist overview I could have given, but that is where I must stop.
Recalling my experience with Kimi no Na wa, which I did see in theaters, I remember it being a much more straightforward film than Tenki no Ko. I’m not suggesting that was a negative element to this movie (we’ll save that determination for its review), but from this point on, know there was a lot to this story that went over my head.
What I can say is:
Although it was abundantly clear Tenki no Ko was made by the same director, the film itself was not a rehashing of Kimi no Na wa. I feel you should know that if you decide to watch.
Granted, Tenki no Ko’s ending felt very familiar, and there was one scene(s) where [SPOILER] happened. But on the whole, I was watching a different movie, and that’s a good thing. After all, if I want to watch Kimi no Na wa, then I’ll just watch Kimi no Na wa.
Now, I said that to say this.
Once again, because of the language barrier, I could be wrong, but my gut is telling me Tenki no Ko was not as solid as its predecessor. Mainly, this film’s beginning didn’t seem to fit with the rest of the story. In fact, the opening act felt like a different narrative altogether, and it was simply forced in to serve as the start of the Tenki no Ko plot.
Don’t get me wrong, the events of the beginning did come back to play a significant role later on. However, coming from someone who had to rely on the film’s tone and atmosphere to understand what was supposed to be going on because I didn’t know the words, it was hard not to notice when something appeared off.
But there is a high chance I could be way off the mark, and I honestly hope I am. If nothing else, I am more intrigued with Tenki no Ko now than I was when I walked into the theatre. I cannot wait to watch this film again.
To conclude this post, there’s actually one point I won’t wait until my official review to comment on. Visually, Tenki no Ko was superior to Kimi no Na wa, and I can’t believe I’m saying that. If there was just one talent that could be attributed to Mr. Shinkai, he knows how to use light. There were several drop-dead gorgeous shots in this movie.
I remember the first time I saw Kimi no Na wa, and throughout the film, I was blown away by how amazing it looked. But there was maybe only one or two scenes that left me speechless. Tenki no Ko made that a persistent habit.
Put everything together – an interesting story and remarkable animation – and you have yourself a pretty awesome flick.
But you know what? I could be wrong. We will just have to wait and see.
Thank you all so much for reading. Please comment down below if you have anything to say —positively or negatively — about this post. Also, if you have seen the film, I would love to hear your thoughts.
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For Anime Hajime, I’m LofZOdyssey, and I’ll see you next time.
