Your Name.

You hear the words “Body Swap” and you think you know everything that’s coming. Yes, we’ve seen the premise done before. Just when you think it’s tired, that nothing new can be done… here comes “Your Name” with an inventive, interesting take and a plot that goes in directions you’ve never seen before.

After a series of strange dreams, Mitsuha (voiced by Stephanie Sheh) and Taki (Michael Sinterniklaas) realize that something is causing them to swap bodies. Inconvenienced at first, the two strangers find ways to deal with their situation, but when they try to meet face-to-face, things prove to be very complicated.

I can’t emphasize enough that you should not let what seems familiar turn you away from a movie that I found to be an unexpectedly delightful. Once the film gets the obligatory “I’ve woken up in a body with boobs” and “Oh no, you mean I have to get used to peeing standing up” gags dealt with (I had no problem with them; who WOULDN’T react strongly to swapping bodies? ), in comes the freshness. Firstly, the switching doesn’t happen just the once and then get resolved after some amulet or curse gets broken, it happens a couple of times a week. Our protagonists essentially have to live two lives while trying to figure out how to deal with the fact that once in a while, they’ll come back to their home and find that the other has done something that’s completely screwed up their budget, family dynamics, etc. Then it goes on to be even more inventive.

As the film progresses, the comedy begins to dial back and is instead replaced by a very sweet romance (not the one you expect either) and a strange mystery to be solved. I don’t want to say too much but at a couple of points I thought to myself “wait a second, how does that work? ” only for the film to spring on a new development, one that made it all make sense and opened the doors to a veritable library of intrigue. By the time “Your Name” concludes (with an ending that had me very nervous and totally engrossed) it has taken you through a full gamut of emotions.

“Your Name” is anything but what’d expect. The story is smart, engaging, emotional and fresh. In a few scenes, the animation is downright stellar, a perfect example of what the hand-drawn medium looks like at its best. The music used throughout (mostly original pieces as far as I can tell) grows on you, the characters are compelling and filled with surprises. You may have to do a little digging to find “Your Name” playing in a theater near you, but it’s worth seeking out, even if you’re not a fan of anime, I think you’ll be pleased with this creative tale. (English dub on the big screen, April 15, 2017)