← Back to results
The Garden of Words
言の葉の庭
2013 46 min Japan PG-13 18+
★7.6
Animation, Drama, Romance
Director: Makoto Shinkai
Trailers
Description
Takao, who is training to become a shoemaker, skipped school and is sketching shoes in a Japanese-style garden. He meets a mysterious woman, Yukino, who is older than him. Then, without arranging the times, the two start to see each other again and again, but only on rainy days. They deepen their relationship and open up to each other. But the end of the rainy season soon approaches.
Worldwide:
$820,165
Starring
Miyu Irino
Actor
Kana Hanazawa
Actor
Fumi Hirano
Actor
Awards
2 wins & 2 nominations total
Key opinion
The Garden of Words is widely celebrated as a visually stunning, poetic exploration of melancholy and connection. While critics and audiences admire its immersive atmosphere and emotional depth, opinions are divided regarding its short runtime and the narrative impact of its character development.
| Cinematography | The animation features hyper-detailed, photorealistic scenery that masterfully uses rain and light to establish a sense of tranquility and isolation. | |
| Score | The piano-heavy score and atmospheric sound design perfectly complement the film's tender, lyrical, and melancholic mood. | |
| Theme | The film functions as a poetic, contemplative study of loneliness and soul-deep connection rather than a traditional romance. | |
| Runtime | The 46-minute runtime is a point of contention: some viewers appreciate the focused, "real-time" storytelling, while others find the narrative too brief and the character arcs underdeveloped. | |
| animation | While the background art is universally praised, the character animation and facial expressions are occasionally noted as lacking or inconsistent. |