Though beautiful, in terms of execution, this is Makoto Shinkai's roughest work. It's like an unpolished gem. However, it's also my favorite, as I find the brevity and open-endedness of it to be like a fine lyric poem. There is nothing extraneous, but it powerfully conveys the characters' loneliness, longing, and a love for the beauty and physicality of life. As the main character says, "I want to be hit by the rain." She wants to experience the beauty of the world viscerally, not just watch.

I watched this anime so many times I lost count, and I think I might have cried every time. If you like this, be sure to also check out "She and Her Cat," which has a similar theme of love for the beauty of the world and an attentiveness to the transient beauty that can be found in the present moment, which is very Japanese.