So, You Bought the *Kimi No Na Wa* Visual Guide Book...
Let's be honest. You're a fan. A BIG fan. You probably cried during the movie. Twice.
And now you own the Visual Guide Book. I get it. I do. But let's talk about it. In a fun way, of course.
The Obvious Appeal
Okay, first things first: the art is STUNNING. Makoto Shinkai knows how to make pretty pictures. No arguments there.
Seriously, the backgrounds alone are worthy of framing. I would unironically hang a picture of that comet in my living room.
My unpopular opinion? Sometimes I think I prefer the background art over the character designs. Fight me!
Deep Dive... Or Is It?
The guide book promises a "deep dive" into the making of the movie. Interviews! Storyboards! Behind-the-scenes secrets!
And it delivers... sort of. There *are* interviews. There *are* storyboards. But is it *really* that deep?
Maybe I'm just jaded. Maybe I expected them to reveal the secret formula for making everyone weep uncontrollably. They didn't.
Character Analysis: Are We Overthinking This?
The book dedicates a good chunk of space to analyzing Taki and Mitsuha. Their motivations! Their dreams! Their fashion choices!
Look, they're teenagers. They're confused. One of them is literally switching bodies with the other. Isn't that enough of a character arc?
Do we really need to dissect every single one of Taki's awkward phone calls? I'm not so sure. Probably not. It's a cute movie.
That Pesky Timeline
Let's be real. The timeline in *Kimi No Na Wa* is... a bit of a mess. It's timey-wimey stuff, and my brain hurts just thinking about it.
The guide book attempts to clarify things with diagrams and charts. Bless its heart.
Did it help? Slightly. Do I still have questions? Absolutely. Will I ever truly understand the space-time continuum? Probably not in this lifetime. Maybe in the next.
The Unsung Heroes
The book *does* give some love to the supporting characters. Yessss! Okudera-senpai deserves recognition for putting up with Taki's nonsense.
And what about Tesshi and Sayaka? Loyal friends 'til the end. They should get their own spin-off movie. Seriously.
They add so much flavor and heart. I always love these characters, who are often less flashy and more 'real' to me.
So, Was It Worth It?
Here's the million-dollar question. Did you get your money's worth? If you're a hardcore fan, probably. It's a nice collector's item.
If you were expecting groundbreaking revelations about the universe, maybe not. But if you wanted pretty pictures and a deeper appreciation for the artistry behind the movie? Then definitely!
Ultimately, the Visual Guide Book is like a really fancy fan magazine. Embrace it! Enjoy the pretty pictures! And don't overthink it too much. Unless you want to, of course.
And remember, the most important thing is that you love Kimi No Na Wa. Guide book or no guide book.