Summary
Makoto Shinkai is one of the greatest anime directors of all time. He started directing in 1998, and since then, he has produced many outstanding movies that have been nominated for multiple awards.
Makoto Shinkai’s movies are relatable as they contain a tinge of his own personal experiences. Alongside his role as director, Shinkai has also worked in several other positions, which shows his dedication to his craft. Makoto Shinkai has an amazing catalog of movies under his belt, but which is his best one?
UPDATED on February 8th, 2024, by Suzail Ahmad:Makoto Shinkai is a genius who has been making animated movies for decades. He has been involved in some of the biggest and most successful anime movies in recent years.Makoto Shinkai’swork is celebrated around the world, which is hardly surprising given its quality. His movies help viewers to dream on a grand scale.
A lot of his work revolves around romantic themes, and they resonate with the audience. The success of his latest project, Suzume, will only propel him forward and give him the confidence to pursue even bigger projects. It is going to be a while beforeMakoto Shinkaidrops a new project, so until then, fans can spend their time revisiting the greatest works ofMakoto Shinkai.
11Other Worlds
IMDb Rating: 5.7
Other Worldswas Shinkai’s first-ever work. It has a very short runtime of one minute, and it covers a conversation between a man and a woman. While the movie does not have an engaging plot, the animation has a certain charm that draws in the viewers.
While mainstream anime fans might not find it appealing, Shinkai fans will definitely want to check it out. As Shinkai’s first piece of work,Other Worldsholds a certain degree of importance that cannot be overlooked.
10Someone’s Gaze
IMDb Rating: 7.2
Someone’s Gazeis a short movie with a run time of only 7 minutes. Despite its brevity, the movie managed to captivate the audience with its quality. The movie is set in the future, and it follows Aya Okamura and her family.
The movie masterfully shows the difference between Aya’s current and past selves. Throughout the movie, she reminisces about her childhood and how she became the woman she is now. She tries hard to understand what caused her to grow apart from her family.
9She and Her Cat
IMDb Rating: 7.1
She and Her Catis the first movie in which Makoto Shinkai was also involved in voice acting. It came out in 1999, which is why the style of animation is quite different from the other Shinkai movies.
The plot ofShe and Her Catrevolves around a woman and a cat. After being rescued by the woman, the cat falls in love with her. The movie is quite imaginative and impressive at the same time, considering Shinkai did most of the work.
8Voices of a Distant Star
Voices of a Distant Staris a short movie that was released in 2002. It gained a lot of popularity within a short period, and it even earned multiple nominations. The movie went on to win the Animation Kobe Award and the Seiun Award for Best Media. The movie follows the lives of two childhood friends, who are separated by fate. One of them is sent to space to fight aliens, while the other is left pondering what to do. The two try to keep in touch with texts, but as the distance increases, so does the time it takes for the messages to reach the earth.
7The Place Promised In Our Early Days
IMDb Rating: 6.9
The movie isset in an alternate worldwhere half of Japan is occupied by the Soviet Union. In the midst of the growing tension, three friends try to find a ray of hope. They are fascinated by a mysterious tower being built in Hokkaido.
The three promise to fly to the tower in the future, but tragedy strikes when one of them mysteriously vanishes. Distraught by the loss of their friend, the two remaining individuals decide to give up on their dream.
6Children Who Chase Lost Voices
Children Who Chase Lost Voiceswas released in 2011, and it was quite different from Shinkai’s5 Centimeters Per Second. The movie was more energetic and adventurous in comparison to its predecessor.
It follows a 6th grader, Asuna Watase, for whom life moved quicker in comparison to her classmates. The death of her father and her mother’s long working hours meant that Asuna had to learn things quickly. After encountering a mysterious boy, Asuna’s life changes drastically. With so many unexplained incidents taking place around her, she decides to set out to look for answers.
5Weathering With You
IMDb Rating: 7.5
Weathering With Youcame out in 2019, and it earned US$ 193.8 million, which made itthe highest-grossing Japanese filmof the year.Weathering With Youtakes the viewers to present-day Tokyo, where a runaway high school student, Hodaka Morishima, tries to experience a new way of living.
Due to his age, Hodaka faces trouble finding a job. Luckily, he finds a job as a personal assistant for a local magazine. Hodaka’s new job causes him to run into a girl named Hina, who has the power to change the weather. The two become close friends, but disaster strikes when Hina disappears without a trace.
4Suzume
IMDb Rating: 7.7
Suzumeis undoubtedly one of Makoto Shinkai’s best projects to date. The story follows Suzume Iwato, a high school student living in a tranquil place. One day, as she makes her way to school, she bumps into a guy. The person is investigating an abandoned site. Initially, she pays no mind, but her curiosity gets the better of her.
Suzume decides to head to the location and finds an unusual door. After entering, she realizes that it is a gateway to another dimension. This starts the adventure of a lifetime for the young girl. Following the discovery, Suzume understands that she has a big role to play.Suzumeearned a lot of praise for its visuals and music, although some were unhappy with the plot and considered it too reminiscent of his previous works.
3Your Name
IMDb Rating: 8.4
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration tosay thatYour Nameintroduced mainstream anime fans to Makoto Shinkai’s work. The movie was released in 2016, and it shattered numerous records. The film grossed over US$ 380 million in sales, making it the third-highest-grossing film of all time.
The movie is set in Japan, where two teenagers suddenly begin to swap bodies with each other. They are perplexed by the phenomenon, and it takes them quite some time to figure out what’s happening. Like every Shinkai movie,Your Namehas stunning artwork and soundtracks.
2The Garden of Words
IMDb Rating: 7.4
The Garden of Wordswas released in 2013, and it received a manga and light novel adaptation in the same year. The movie has beautiful imagery, and it makesexcellent use of the theme song, “Rain,” sung by Motohiro Hata.
The Garden of Wordsfocuses on a 15-year-old boy, Takao Akizuki, who aspires to become a shoemaker. On a rainy morning, as Takao goes to Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden, he comes across a woman. After a few meetings, the two start to get to know each other. The movie highlights the problems associated with loneliness and how different people deal with it.
