Start free10 free scans

Your Name.

Name: Your Name. - Christian Parent's Review
Item: Your Name.
Rating: 1
Author: StoryScanner

Here's what we found in Your Name.. Every family is different — get a report that reflects yours.

Screen for YOUR family

General Review

Parent's Guide to Your Name.

Your Name. (2016) is a critically acclaimed Japanese animated romantic fantasy film by Makoto Shinkai, renowned for its stunning visuals and emotional storytelling. The narrative centers on two high school students, Mitsuha Miyamizu, a girl from a rural town, and Taki Tachibana, a boy from Tokyo, who mysteriously begin to swap bodies intermittently. This body-swapping phenomenon leads to humorous situations, personal growth, and a deepening connection as they navigate each other's lives. The story evolves into a race against time to prevent a catastrophic natural disaster threatening Mitsuha's hometown, exploring themes of fate, memory, and the power of human connection. The film is generally recommended for teenage audiences (12A/PG) due to its complex plot, some suggestive content, mild language, and intense scenes related to a natural disaster.

Things to Consider

High3

LGBTQ & Gender Identity

The film prominently features gender-bending elements through its central body-swapping premise. These instances include explicit self-exploration of the swapped body, same-sex flirting, and are interpreted by various sources as having 'queer' or 'transgender allegorical' aspects, despite the director's stated intention not to focus on gender issues. While often played for comedy, some actions occur against implied consent, leading to significant parental concern.

1. When Taki (male) wakes up in Mitsuha's (female) body, he repeatedly gropes 'his' breasts, often played for comedic effect. Mitsuha explicitly leaves messages warning him not to abuse her body, highlighting the non-consensual nature of these actions. 2. Mitsuha, while inhabiting Taki's body, flirts with Taki's female co-worker, Ms. Okudera. The film includes scenes where Ms. Okudera is presented in a sexualized way (e.g., camera pans up her body), and she appears more attracted to 'Taki' when Mitsuha's personality is present.

Witchcraft & Occult

The film is heavily steeped in Shinto mythology and spiritualism, which is central to its plot and themes. This includes ancestral worship, rituals involving a local guardian god, and the preparation/consumption of 'kuchikamizake' (sake made from chewed rice), which serves as a spiritual connection mechanism. These elements are presented as intrinsic to the characters' culture and the supernatural events.

1. Mitsuha and her younger sister Yotsuha, guided by their grandmother Hitoha, perform traditional Shinto rituals as 'miko' (shrine maidens). This includes the ceremonial braiding of 'kumihimo' and the preparation of 'kuchikamizake,' an offering to the local guardian god made by chewing and spitting out rice for fermentation. Taki later consumes this sake to reconnect with Mitsuha. 2. The body-swapping phenomenon itself is a supernatural event tied to the comet and the spiritual practices of Mitsuha's family, implying a spiritual dimension where connections between humans and across time are governed by a divine or mythical force. Hitoha explains God's sovereignty over time and human connections.

Scary & Intense Content

The film contains significant intense and disturbing content, primarily revolving around the impending and actual natural disaster. Scenes depict the destruction of a town, implied mass casualties, and the characters' desperate race against time to prevent further loss. The emotional distress and suspense are central to the latter half of the movie.

1. The movie features the graphic depiction of a comet fragment striking Mitsuha's hometown of Itomori, leading to its near-total destruction and the implied death of a large portion of its residents, with a specific mention of 'a third of the townspeople died.' The ruins are later shown. 2. Taki experiences intense distress and sadness upon discovering that Mitsuha and her town were destroyed three years prior, and the narrative builds considerable suspense as he and Mitsuha race against time to warn the inhabitants and prevent the disaster.

Would these 3 concerns matter to your family?

Get a report based on your values — not generic ratings.

Medium6

ViolenceRomance and Sexual ContentProfanitySubstance UseDisrespect & RebellionAnti-Christian Themes

Medium6

Violence

The movie contains scenes of natural disaster and implied mass casualties, which can be intense and disturbing. While graphic depictions of gore or direct violence are minimal, the threat and realization of a meteor strike destroying a town and killing a significant portion of its population is central to the plot. There are also moments of mild physical threat during an evacuation attempt.

1. The catastrophic meteor strike on Itomori village is graphically depicted, showing the destruction of the town and stating that 'a third of the townspeople died.' The ruins of the village are later shown, and Taki is distressed by the realization that Mitsuha is dead. 2. Taki, while in Mitsuha's body, orchestrates an explosion at an electrical substation to create a blackout, intending to force an evacuation of the town before the meteor impact. This action, while non-lethal, is an act of property destruction under duress.

Romance and Sexual Content

The film centers on a romantic connection between the two protagonists, featuring implied physical intimacy through body-swapping. Specific scenes involve exploration of the opposite gender's body, implied sexual awareness, and suggestive camera work. While not explicitly graphic, these elements contribute to the PG rating.

1. Taki (male) frequently touches or squeezes 'his' breasts when inhabiting Mitsuha's (female) body, often played for comedic effect. Additionally, Mitsuha (female) when in Taki's body, touches between her legs and expresses shock upon discovering male anatomy. 2. Mitsuha (in Taki's body) sets up a date for Taki with his female co-worker, Ms. Okudera, and there are scenes presenting Ms. Okudera in a sexualized manner, such as the camera panning up her body. Mitsuha later expresses wanting to go on this date herself.

Profanity

The movie contains infrequent instances of coarse and moderate language. While not pervasive, several distinct curse words are used, contributing to the PG rating.

Substance Use

The movie depicts several instances of alcohol consumption by adult characters, including men drinking at a dinner table and patrons drinking red wine in a restaurant. Additionally, the film's central spiritual ritual involves the creation and consumption of 'kuchikamizake,' a fermented alcoholic beverage. Smoking by an adult character is also mentioned.

Disrespect & Rebellion

There are elements of mild rebellion and defiance in the film. Mitsuha expresses a desire to escape her traditional rural life, and both protagonists engage in 'rebellious' actions, such as Taki's physical exploration of Mitsuha's body against her wishes and later, Taki's efforts to save the town which involve breaking rules.

1. Mitsuha openly expresses disinterest in her family's traditional Shinto rituals and her father's political campaign, longing for a different life in Tokyo. This showcases a defiance against expected societal and familial roles. 2. Taki, when inhabiting Mitsuha's body, ignores her explicit messages not to interfere with her life or abuse her body. Later, in an attempt to save Itomori, he engages in actions such as causing a power outage and other forms of disruption, which could be seen as 'breaking and entering and other rebellious behavior' as noted by one source, albeit with a benevolent intent.

Anti-Christian Themes

The film is deeply rooted in traditional Japanese Shinto beliefs and mythology, presenting a worldview that centers on ancestral spirits, local deities, and cyclical notions of time and connection. While it doesn't actively mock or denigrate Christian beliefs, its strong emphasis on an Eastern pagan spiritual framework, without reference to or integration of Christian doctrines, may be seen as contradictory or concerning from a Christian worldview.

1. The film extensively features Shinto rituals, beliefs in guardian gods, ancestral ties, and a spiritual understanding of time and human connection, particularly through the 'musubi' concept. This forms a pervasive non-Christian spiritual foundation for the narrative. 2. One Christian review outlet explicitly states that the movie's 'moral and spiritual content occurs mostly in a context of false pagan religion from the East' and that 'The Bible speaks clearly against pagan religion,' deeming the movie 'unacceptable' from a media-wise perspective.

Want these personalized to YOUR family?

From a Christian worldview, "Your Name." presents a captivating story of love, fate, and perseverance, highlighting universal virtues such as fighting for what you believe in, the importance of relationships, and the impact of individual actions. Characters like Taki and Mitsuha demonstrate self-sacrifice and a deep commitment to one another, aligning with biblical calls to selfless love and compassion. The pursuit of connection and meaning, even across time and identity, can resonate with the Christian understanding of humanity's yearning for God and meaningful relationships. The idea of not taking loved ones for granted and living in the moment also aligns with Christian principles of gratitude and stewardship of time and relationships. However, the film's underlying spiritual framework is distinctly Shinto, with concepts of ancestral worship, local guardian gods, and spiritual rituals like "kuchikamizake" being central to the plot and the characters' actions. This presents a worldview fundamentally different from biblical Christianity, which emphasizes monotheism and warns against idolatry and pagan practices. While the film does not actively denigrate Christianity, its presentation of an alternative spiritual path as the means for supernatural events and resolution may be concerning for Christian parents who seek media that aligns with their faith. The morality of characters is generally positive in terms of their goals and affection for each other, and they are rewarded for their perseverance and self-sacrifice. However, the means by which they achieve their goals sometimes involve morally ambiguous acts, such as Taki's initial violation of Mitsuha's body or acts of rebellion to achieve a greater good, which may warrant discussion from a Christian ethical perspective. The film's perspective is more transcendent in its exploration of fate and unseen connections, but within a non-Christian spiritual context. Family values are present, especially in Mitsuha's relationship with her grandmother and sister, though her father is portrayed as somewhat distant. Faith is depicted respectfully within the Shinto context, serving as a powerful force in the characters' lives.

Additional Context

Best For Ages

Ages 13+ is recommended due to the film's complex narrative, supernatural themes, suggestive content, mild coarse language, and intense scenes depicting a natural disaster and its aftermath. Younger children may find the story confusing and some themes upsetting.

Good to Know

The film's visual style is highly praised, combining realistic details with fantastical elements. 'Your Name.' is the first in director Makoto Shinkai's 'disaster trilogy,' which also includes 'Weathering with You' (2019) and 'Suzume' (2022), all sharing themes inspired by natural disasters in Japan. There are no direct narrative sequels, but a light novel, 'Your Name: Another Side – Earthbound,' explores parallel events from other characters' perspectives. A live-action Hollywood adaptation is currently in development. A specific detailed review from Common Sense Media was not located in the provided search snippets.

Related Reviews

View all movie reviews →

How does this review compare?

This review

9 standard concerns
General sensitivity level
One-size-fits-all perspective

Your report

Concerns you choose
Sensitivity levels you set
Tailored to your family

What are you watching next?

Screen any title in seconds — even ones no one else has reviewed.

Personalized to your valuesDetailed findingsAny title, instantly

Start with 10 free scans

No credit card required — join hundreds of families

Start free — 10 scans included