New genre grabs attention

Makoto Shinkai in Beijing for a promotional tour.[Photo provided to China Daily]

For diehard fans, Xu's comments resonate wide.

Shinkai's nickname among Chinese fans is "emperor of wallpaper", a tribute to the scenes featured in his movies. They are seen as good options for screen savers.

Unlike most Japanese animators who started their careers as apprentices following a veteran, Shinkai began as a graphic designer in a video games company.

His early works were mostly one-man projects using personal computers.

One of the highlights of his work is that he digitally transfers photos to create picturesque scenes in the animated world, which are real and fantastic at the same time.

On a promotional tour in Beijing, Shinkai, the director, says his scenes are not created to meet aesthetic demands, but for the story.

"I want audiences to believe that everything is possible. Tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow, you may meet the most important person in your life," says Shinkai, while speaking about his filmmaking.

In the 107-minute tale, two teen protagonists - a schoolgirl from the countryside and a Tokyo boy - unexpectedly swap bodies, which gives both fresh experiences and a chance to explore new lifestyles.