'Your Name' (Kimi no Na wa) News & Updates: Director Shinkai Says He Wants To Explore The Future; Oscar Nomination Sure?

"Your Name" director Makoto Shinkai admits he always gets nervous standing in front of a crowd who are also fans of his movies. But in a screening, he admitted that he is shocked to see American audience who are also fans of "Kimi no Na wa" film. He also said that he wants his film to be a unique story for the audience.

Shinkai said in a panel discussion moderated by TheWrap Awards Editor Steve Pond that he is almost shocked of the moment. "Your Name" arrived at the US after experiencing a surprise box office success in Japan and China. This week, it surpassed the legend Hayao Miyazaki's Howl's Moving Castle, becoming the second-highest grossing animated film in Japanese history, behind only Miyazaki's classic Spirited Away.

Out of all animated films released this year, "Kimi no Na wa"  won Best Animated Film from the Los Angeles Film Critics Association, making its race on the Oscars in the Best Animated Category fiercer. "Your Name" or "Kimi no Na wa", in its Japanese name, is all about unexpected events and happenings. The film is a love story of two teenagers who have never even met but uncontrollably swaps bodies and lives every day.

"Kimi no Na wa" Shinkai said he wanted to pursue these themes because he feels that everyone is always looking at tomorrow wondering who we're going to meet. He said he wanted to explore the future. He also said he wanted to avoid the story of un-swapping bodies predictable, and the film uses a series of twists and plays on audience expectations that give the movie a fresh meaning.

Before it was a smashing box office hit, Your Name first arrived as a novel, and just like its film's performance, the book was a success. Shinkai spent six months on storyboarding, turning the Kimi no Na wa  around in roughly two years. That may be fast using the U.S. standards, but Shinkai said an inability to work quicker could be problematic to his creative process. Your Name is in limited release now in US.