probably surpasses "look back" as anime film of the year. yamada continues to prove that she is the best working anime director. i don't even think it's close. the colors here are gorgeous and so full of life. but it's not just that. the way yamada captures each moment between her characters is unparalleled. there's no artificial drama; it's simply characters enjoying being in one another's orbit. maybe one could argue it's all a bit slow, but i loved the pace. everything feels genuine and develops naturally. i'm also always a sucker for films that deal with finding one's place, and the way each charactergoes about this and gradually accepts themselves is so genuine. the music also slaps.