Your Name Another Side: Earthbound promises the story of the movie told from the eyes of some the side characters. Fortunately, at least in my opinion, the manga starts from Taki’s point of view. The entire first half of the manga takes place in the day-to-day life of Taki living as Mitsuha.
If you think of this manga in terms of film, I’d describe this as less of a “movie” and more of a “behind-the-scenes featurette;” We get to know more about things like Taki’s thoughts on life in the country compared to the busy life in Tokyo, Mitsuha’s dynamic with her classmates, how Taki handles the snide remarks about her family’s culture, and – most importantly – Taki’s thoughts on possessing breasts and braziers.
One thing I thought about when reading this book was different societal expectations of genders. Observing Taki trying to pass as Mitsuha, you notice that his mannerisms alone are shocking and appalling to Mitsuha’s friends. Even something as simple as sitting in a chair sounds the alarms – you could see how Taki’s natural casually-spread legs simply do not fly in a high school uniform skirt. Besides that, consider Matsuha’s typically impeccable and carefully styled updo: It’s essentially a trademark of her appearance, but Taki can’t be bothered to manage anything more than a loose ponytail. That last part also speaks to the cultural differences between the two (Matsuha’s life as a shrine maiden vs. Taki’s as a city dweller).
Your Name Another Side: Earthbound is a bit of a slow ride, but it’s because of this that we get to appreciate and take the time to consider all of those little details. If you’re thinking of picking up this manga with the expectation that you’re about to read a thrilling spin-off from the movie, or some kind of additional sci-fi sub-plot, this isn’t the right choice for you. But for fans of the movie who want to learn more about the characters, fill in some holes, and experience the story of Your Name for just a little bit longer, I’d recommend this book.
Your Name Another Side Earthbound Manga Volume 1
During the events of your name., Mitsuha and Taki's miraculous encounter forever changed their lives. But they weren't the only ones affected by their body swapping -- Mitsuha's friends and family have their own sides of the story to tell!
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