Animation director Shinkai Makoto took to X on August 26, 2026, to mark the 10th anniversary of the release of his landmark film Kimi no Na wa. The post drew an outpouring of gratitude from fans, with many calling the work “a very special film.”
Released in 2016, Kimi no Na wa. became a cultural phenomenon, earning 25.03 billion yen at the Japanese box office—the fifth-highest total in Japanese film history and third among domestic productions. The film also achieved massive success overseas, sweeping major awards and turning Shinkai—previously known for 5 Centimeters per Second (2007) and The Garden of Words (2013)—into a globally recognized name.
The story follows a boy and a girl who mysteriously swap bodies in their dreams, unfolding a tale of love and miracles. With Ando Masashi on board as animation director and Tanaka Masahiro handling character design, the film rendered the emotional distance between two people from different worlds with breathtaking visual beauty and scale.
In his X post, Shinkai wrote: “It’s been ten years since Kimi no Na wa. was released. Time flies. I’m very happy that this story still remains in someone’s heart. Our production team was also able to have many happy experiences through Kimi no Na wa. There are no particular 10th anniversary events, haha, but the team continues to work to deliver a new film. Personally, I don’t think my skills have improved over these ten years—film production is still a very difficult job. It’s still an unknown and exciting job, just like ten years ago. I’ll do my best to deliver an interesting film soon. The image is a teaser poster concept we were considering around autumn 2015. I sincerely thank everyone who has watched Kimi no Na wa.“
The attached image reveals a teaser poster concept from before the film’s release, depicting a beautiful scene of a comet streaking across the sky.
Fans flooded the comments with heartfelt messages: “It’s still my favorite movie!” “My life might have been completely different without Kimi no Na wa.” “A wonderful story I’ve watched many times that stays in my heart.” “This teaser poster design is too good… it really hits.” “No movie has ever hooked me this much.” “I remember talking about it for hours with friends after leaving the theater.” “The beauty of the visuals and the lingering story from the first time I saw it—I’ll never forget it.”
(C) 2016 “Kimi no Na wa.” Production Committee
