Makoto Shinkai started to show his potential with "She and Her Cat", and with this film he solidified it before anchering it to the ground with "The Place Promised in Our Early Days". He's a talented guy, a multi-talented guy in fact as he both directed, wrote, and co-produced this movie. He makes it seem like high budget studios are producing his movies, even though that isn't the case, especially in this instant, where it is a wonder that the film looks this beautiful. Just check out his movies, you won't regret it I'm sure.