Exploring Urban Resilience through Makoto Shinkai’s ‘Disaster Trilogy’

Makoto Shinkai’s animation ‘Disaster Trilogy’–comprising Your Name, Weathering with You, and Suzume–has gained global recognition for its exploration of natural disasters and their societal impacts. This study examines how the film trilogy reflects evolving paradigms of urban resilience and disaster management. By utilizing observational analysis, critical textual analysis, and hermeneutics, the paper investigates the films’ depictions of natural hazards, societal responses, and the broader cultural context in which they were produced. The trilogy demonstrates a shift from a technocentric approach to a more holistic understanding of urban resilience that embraces concepts of the Anthropocene and postmodern animism. It critiques Western-centric views and highlights the importance of inclusivity, adaptability, and the voices of marginalized groups and regions. Through Shinkai’s works, this article contributes to the discourse on resilient cities, and suggests that effective urban resilience strategies must consider the interplay of cultural narratives, social structures, and environmental challenges, thus moving the academy towards a more inclusive and adaptive approach that values the experiences and contributions of diverse communities.