Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		4.0
Overall		4.5

Weathering with You Blu-ray Movie Review

A must-see anime gem receives a first-rate Blu-ray release

A mega box-office hit in Japan, the internationally acclaimed filmmaker Makoto Shinkai (Your Name.) returns with his latest smash success: the science-fiction romantic-drama Weathering With You. Produced by Yoshihiro Furusawa (Psycho- Pass, Haikyuu!!) and Noritaka Kawaguchi (5 Centimeters Per Second, Children Who Chase Lost Voices), the unique combination of stunning animation and exquisite storytelling once again proves that director Shinkai is one to watch.

High-school teenager Hodoka Morishima (Kotaro Daigo) decides to move on to something bigger and better in his life: Tokyo. Yet a fast-paced life of fun and adventure seems to be at a standby: Hodoka can't even seem to find himself work or something fun to do in his summer interlude. Struggling to even get by in his new surroundings in Tokyo, Hodoka is pushed to his limits and must find a way to overcome the obstacles in his way. While he eventually finds himself writing for a magazine, Hodoka can't seem to overcome the dreary weather.

The weather has become disastrous over the past several weeks and has turned to a bleak day-to-day reality of non-stop rain. As if the weather was set to match Hodoka's gloomy new circumstances, a yearnful summer of fun turns to mush. Until... Hodoka meets the charming girl, Hina Amano (Nana Mori). Hina is unlike any other girl Hodoka has ever met. She even might have a special ability that could save the summer. The girl of Hodoka's dream's can stop the rain and bring out the beautiful rays of sunshine. Yet danger looms around the corner...

Stormy weather... no more.

The most impressive element of Weathering With You is the exquisite animation. The art work is so intricate and well thought out that every scene seems to have a unique purpose in the course of the storytelling which unfolds from moment to moment. The art direction by Hiroshi Takiguchi (Ajin, Blame!) gives the film a distinctive flavor that is downright charming and exciting at the same time. The visuals are so thoughtfully composed by cinematographer Ryosuke Tsuda (My Bride is a Mermaid, Inari, Konkon, Koi Iroha) that it is easy to be pulled in to the intoxicating landscape of the filmmaking.

Another compelling component of the filmmaking is the original music score. Composed by Radwimps (Your Name.), the pitch- perfect music score elevates the material to even greater heights. The score has a way of giving the scenes an extra sense of depth. The tender score will pull at the heart-strings while giving the film an exciting pulse during the action sequences. There are so many moments during the film where the music made a huge impact (especially during the climatic final scenes).

Written and directed by the critically acclaimed filmmaker Makoto Shinkai (The Garden of Words, 5 Centimeters Per Second), Weathering With You is an amazing showcase for the talents of this often under-the-radar director. While Shinkai has made a name for himself with anime fans, the general population outside of Japan might be a little less familiar with his name and body of work. Yet it is clear that Shinkai remains a special filmmaker: a director who is well worth following with his unique visual aesthetics and storytelling sensibilities giving viewers a truly unique and special film-viewing experience.

Weathering With You is a special gem. An instant classic. Something about it grabs hold and the story never wants to let viewers go. This is a magical cinematic journey and one that is well worth discovery. For anime fans (and fans of great cinema regardless of the art form or genre), Weathering With You is must-see entertainment.

Weathering with You Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Arriving on Blu-ray from Gkids, Weathering With You has received a 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high definition presentation in the original 1.78:1 widescreen theatrical aspect ratio. The animation astonishes with its remarkable clarity and detail. Weathering With You is an outstanding, visually sumptuous anime production: the colors are vivid and immersive throughout the entire cinematic experience. The lush colors make the world of the screenplay come to life. The encode is top-notch with a high bit-rate encode and there are no issues with regards to compression artifacts and other such woes. There were never any moments during the presentation where the transfer seemed to struggle to convey the animation. The video presentation is nearly perfect and it is hard to imagine viewers being left disappointed.

Weathering with You Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release has two lossless audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (with English subtitles). The sound-stage on either audio track will leave viewers quite impressed: the audio track is immersive, dynamic, and compelling. The surround sounds are truly effective in implementation. Even the most subtle of sound effects can make a huge impression with this top-notch surround track. It is enormously enveloping, engaging, and beautiful to listen to – for sound effects, ambiance, and score. The track is so nuanced, clear, and detailed, that there is no doubt that this audio presentation deserves the highest of praise.

Optional English SDH subtitles (for the deaf and hard of hearing) are provided. In addition, lyric tracks for the Japanese music songs highlighted throughout the film are available on the English dub viewing option (and can be turned on/off via a selection in the menu). I found the song subtitles handy as there are several songs with lyrics that seem to tie in to the main storyline.

Weathering with You Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Interview with Director Makoto Shinkai (HD, 11:14)

Talk Show: Makoto Shinkai and Yumiko Udo (HD, 1:10:02)

"Weather Front" Featurette (HD, 24:08)

Exploring Makato Shinkai's filmography (HD, 13:00)

Theatrical Trailers & TV Spots (HD, 10:35)

Weathering with You Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

I was blown away by the breathtaking filmmaking on display in Weathering With You. Without a doubt, the film stands as one of the best achievements in modern anime. It has been some time since I was so impressed by a non-Ghibli work. The combination of great storytelling and visuals make it a rare cinematic delight. The production values are outstanding and viewers won't want to miss out on this experience. The Blu-ray release feature top-notch video-audio and there are plenty of extras to keep fans entertained. Highly recommended.