Makoto Shinkai animates commercial that makes us want to go to Canada

Makoto Shinkai - Canada

This has been circulating the web for a few days now: Your Name director Makoto Shinkai is behind the new Canadian tourism commercial. The beautiful 30-second short sets out to depict Canada as a destination of choice. In this they succeed brilliantly.

You might also be interested to know that the main characters are Yuya and Satsuki, who are visiting Canada for the first time. Highlighting major tourist destinations like Niagara Falls and Nathan Phillips Square, it almost makes us wish that we were two dimensional animation characters as well. Sort of like a prettier version of A-Ha’s ‘Take On Me.’

Shinkai, whose film Your Name was one of the highest grossing anime films at the box office in the last couple of years, is also responsible for Children Who Chase Lost Voices and 5 Centimetres Per Second. He has rapidly become one of the leading names in Japanese animation. Indeed, Your Name became the fourth-highest-grossing film of all time in Japan and, as of 16 January 2017, the highest-grossing anime film of all time, overtaking Hayao Miyazaki’s Spirited Away.

The filmmaker is currently working on a new film as writer/director, although there is no release date or details posted yet. Sounds like a perfect time to visit Canada while we’re waiting.