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The Garden of Words

Play trailer Poster for The Garden of Words 2013 46m Drama Anime Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 2 Reviews 84% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
No one seems to understand a teen and his future dreams -- until he meets a troubled and distant girl in the park one day.

Critics Reviews

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Rachel Wagner Rachel's Reviews (YouTube) A beautiful love story without the supernatural elements of some of Shinkai's more popular films Jun 29, 2020 Full Review Tim Brayton Alternate Ending Its short running time and total lack of genre trappings give it an intimate simplicity that Shinkai's more sprawling, longer films struggle with. Rated: 4.5/5 May 23, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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tarkhgar g for me this movie is rubbish. The anime doesn't even last an hour, the secondary characters are uninteresting and have no interest in the story. The romance between a student and his teacher where they are 12 years apart is quite gloomy, and for me and the end doesn't fly high. Why a star simply, for its music of the end credits was beautiful and the animation too and these are the only things I can say good about this movie And it's not because it's a Makoto Shinkai movie that it is justified I have a deep respect for Makoto Shinkai he made very beautiful works Such as Your name, the children of time or more recently Suzume, but there were movies that for me did not work and the worst of all is this one and what surprises me the most is that it was successful Rated 1 out of 5 stars 08/04/25 Full Review Brad M The Garden of Words (Kotonoha no Niwa) is a visually stunning and emotionally profound film that captures the beauty of fleeting connections and unspoken emotions. The story follows Takao, a 15-year-old aspiring shoemaker, who skips school on rainy mornings to sketch designs in a quiet Tokyo park. There, he meets Yukari, a mysterious woman with her own burdens. As the rainy season unfolds, so does their unique bond. A connection that feels both delicate and deeply moving. What sets The Garden of Words apart is its breathtaking animation. Every raindrop, every leaf, every reflection in a puddle is rendered with such meticulous detail that the film feels almost photorealistic. Shinkai’s signature use of light and atmosphere makes each frame a work of art. The film’s pacing is quiet and introspective, allowing the emotions to build naturally. It doesn’t rely on grand dramatic moments but instead focuses on subtle gestures, unspoken words, and the weight of longing. Complementing the visuals is a beautiful score by Kashiwa Daisuke, which enhances the film’s melancholic yet hopeful tone. The soundtrack lingers like a memory, much like the film itself. At just 46 minutes, The Garden of Words is a short but deeply affecting experience. It’s a story about finding solace in unexpected places, about love that transcends circumstances, and about the quiet beauty of rainy days. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/07/25 Full Review Kieran B I think it such a beautifully written movie with even more beautiful animations. It is so serine but so deep at the same time. It’s perfectly displays love through personality. Right person, wrong time. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 12/31/24 Full Review Basu D The garden of world love not in matter this aygh Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/29/24 Full Review Holly S é o filme mais lindo da minha vida toda. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/05/24 Full Review Idan Charles L Very emotional ❤️😭👍 Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 11/09/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Garden of Words

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Movie Info

Synopsis No one seems to understand a teen and his future dreams -- until he meets a troubled and distant girl in the park one day.
Director
Makoto Shinkai
Producer
Noritaka Kawaguchi
Screenwriter
Makoto Shinkai
Production Co
CoMix Wave
Genre
Drama, Anime
Original Language
Japanese
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 15, 2019
Runtime
46m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)