So then, why does "Kimi no Na Wa" seem so shallow to me in comparison to its art?
Under the catching appeal of its art style is its unfortunately mangled and somewhat tedious story. The characters are ultimately forgettable: some could argue that this is the point, as the protagonists are supposed to be ordinary school children struggling against an unknown and mysterious force of 'nature'. However, I would attribute their lack of memorability to both the plot and the protagonists' characters.
The plot sets up a great sense of mystery and discovery, but fails to address overarching questions that are integral to the story's development. In addition, the story is all over the place: it is not evident what the driving force of the two protagonist's dilemma is, but concludes without addressing major plot points that leaves a bitter and confusing taste in the viewer's mouth. As such, a plot can carry a character and is the driving force of their development; a protagonist cannot carry the plot. Therefore, it would seem impossible for the protagonist to be better than their plot. That's not to say that the plot of "Kimi no Na wa" is bad by any standards; it's a heartwarming and wholesome story that concludes with a good theme that would become applicable to any viewer's life (a very important thing to do). However, and perhaps most importantly, the story has no impact and is ultimately forgettable.
"Kimi no Na wa" deserves its hype and rating on a technical scale, raising the standard of anime to a level it hasn't achieved before. It has the beautiful movement of a Studio Ghibli movie while containing art that would take conventional artists endless hours to create. However, its plot is lackluster, with unanswered crucial and pressing questions that are utilized as a driving force to the plot, but is ultimately still enjoyable.
A 6 on my scale is what some would conventionally consider a 7 or 8 (refer to profile). Therefore, I would recommend this movie.
