“A Song of Your Name” is a soulful tribute to the subtle anime “Your Name. – Yesterday, Today, and Forever (in Japanese, Kimi no na wa)” – which makes for a compelling story. It tells how the machinations of a Local Deity, a kami, bring a boy and girl together across an unimaginable gulf of space and time, helping them rewrite history and save an entire village from death due to the cosmic catastrophe of a falling comet fragment.
Makoto Shinakais animated coming-of-age film was named the highest-grossing film of 2016 in Japan and the third most successful anime film of all time. This is due in no small part to the poignant story and stunningly beautiful images that have captivated millions around the world. Inspired by such breathtaking and fascinating original stories like this, which can only be found in Japanese anime and manga, Baltes & Zäyn decided to produce songs about Neon Genesis: Evangelion and Kimi no na wa. Steve Baltes‘ stirring, melodic instrumental and Lucian Zäyns fragile vocals in English and Japanese congenially embody the heartbreaking beauty of Kimi no na wa, setting musical highlights that evoke key scenes from the anime. Voice samples of our future young lovers Taki and Mitsuha from the English dub of the anime unfold their full magic in the interstices of the song.
In contrast to the gloomy glittering apocalypse that characterizes the image of the previous Neon Genesis: Evangelion-inspired singles GODSHATTER and APOCALYPTECH, “A Song Of Your Name” atmospherically captures the warm evening glow of innocent and unconditional love of youth followed by a night of fireflies and shooting stars.
“A Song Of Your Name” tells the animé story of two teenagers, Tokyo boy Taki and country girl Mitsuha, who inexplicably swap bodies. They get to know each other’s lives, forge their first tender bonds, and dare to try meeting in real life. Back in his own body, Taki discovers to his horror that Mitsuha lives in a village that was wiped out by a crashed comet three years ago. Everything that happens in Mitsuha’s life while he is in her body takes place in the past. All the villagers, including Mitsuha, were killed. Now both are fighting against time to change history and keep Mitsuha’s people safe. In the course of this complicated dance of souls through space and time, they fall in love with each other. They exchange bodies and time periods and finally meet at the magical hour of dawn when the comet breaks and the village is devastated. When our heroes meet in the flesh for the first time, they manage to lure the villagers out of the impact area. But they forget each other’s names when they are transported back to their correct time – the price the kami demands for allowing them to change history. But what is a romantic fantasy without a happy ending? Escaping doom, Mitsuha moves to Tokyo and, as fate would have it, meets Taki. The film ends with tears of joy when they recognize each other and both ask for their names at the same time.
“Discover the wonder of your great love’s life on a night filled with fireflies as shooting stars light up the sky …”
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