I seldom do blogging on anime but I made an exception for this which I felt it is worth my time and effort. Some heads up to this anime movie. It was directed by Makoto Shinkai. True, I have no idea of who he is, but with the rave and publicity other blog have given. I decided to give it a try even though I am not much of a fan of "emo" genre like Sola and Clannad. It based on 3 stories duration 1 hour 3 minutes. About how Tohno Takaki, Shinohara Akari and Kanae Sumida from young to adult change on the perspective of life with factor of time and distance. The impression was deep enough to warrant a type down as I screen it the first time in my stuffy office at 3am in the morning. Another plus, the music is great !
Another thing that wows me is the cinematic visual effect and the eye candies. The excruciating details were almost closed to realism which watching Sola after 5cm afterward look awkward.
Chapter 1: Oukashou
Takaki and Akari were both transfer student in primary school, they eventually clicked together because they were simliar and often got teased by other childrens.
However, as time went by. Due to their families, Akari had to move elsewhere for secondary school. Takaki watch helplessly as he couldn’t do anything about it and reluctantly they become further apart. The have deep feeling for each other and maintain contact with letters. But it seem the number of letter have gotten less frequent as the time went by. 1 year later, they promised to meet at Akari’s nearest train station and Tataki embarked on a journey in a snowstorm.
Due to the snow, Tataki reach around 11 pm instead of the promised 7pm and found Akari still waiting for him.
And of course, they eventually went all out. The feeling of irretrievably lost something and dwelling on the possible outcome of what I could have did. I supposed everyone have their share of heartache.
Chapter 2: Cosmonaut
Set in the secondary school days, Kanae was constantly watching Tataki aka as long I can see him, I am happy. It clearly show another aspect of love, unrequited. Kanae was bright but down to confusion with hearts matter. I supposed all girls do. Tataki as faithful as he is to Akari, he miss out on the various opportunities as he shut out his heart.
Kanae mastered all her courage in order to confess to him and in the end never did anything as she realised Tataki would never look at her and never would.
Aren’t this another common aspect of can’t be help scenario in life. Another take on the widening relation, Tataki was typing mail on his cell all the time but eventually never get to send it.
Another one of those awesome landscape cinematic
Chapter 3: Byousouku 5 Centimeter
Back in Tokyo, everyone get back to their working life. Akari was getting married to someone else and Tataki was dating someone else but the girl eventually give the SOS signal. Event though they were adults, they still think of the time when they are young from time to time and the occasionally meet-up but unable to talk to each other. Maybe regrets and shame or pity araise, time to time reminisce on those time.
I particularity like the cut scene with the music with their day to day flashback.
Tataki went back to where they (with Akari) used to see each other. I don’t really understand this part where they turn around.
Overall, Chapter 1 and 2 were good setting the pace and character. However I am a bit unsatisfied with the ending or maybe hate the open ended ending. (Another one of those can’t-be-help? It does give me those feeling though). Kanae Sumida wasn’t narrated which I find it quite a shame. Was eager to find out what was her ending like.
This anime quite hit me. The same thing happened. It went through the same way as what the anime did. Totally lost contact but still happen to see each other but never get to talk. I think I will break the chain when I go back the next few week time.
Lastly, this is the awesome song insert by Mazayoshi Yamazaki.
Hey caught your post from otadesho from a random comment lol.
Just wanted to say when I saw this a few months ago I was hit pretty hard too! Couldn’t stop thinking about this for the next few weeks! I watched it a second time the next day after work cuz I couldn’t stop thinking about it all day lol. I even wanted to make a music video for it (my first anime music video) and started to, but I stopped working on it eventually after a few more weeks passed…I think I should start working on it again (if I still remember how to use video program lol)
Nice screenshots
Watching Byousoku 5cm makes me want to live in Japan lol
The lifestyle there will get your a$$ kick ~~~
i did kinda got lost in the anime. The last chapter where the glases girl who keeps mailing Tataki, yea i kinda got lost in that part. OH well, i still enjoyed the whole anime movie. Ill rate it 8.5/10 and the insert song was great too. Maybe i should watch the anime again lol.
The poor glasses girl was somebody who Takaki went out with for a few years while he was working in Tokyo. Though they’d broken up, she kept emailing him her feelings for him, even though she already understood that he was thinking of someone/something else.
The last part at the end when Takaki and Akari crossed the train tracks again as adults was kind of the sign that Takaki needed to be able to move on. Somehow he realized that it was Akari that crossed the tracks, so he turned around but his view was blocked by the trains. It was like “if she’s still there, I want to be with her, and if she’s not, it might have been my imagination and I think it’s time to move on with my life.” Since Akari has already moved on with her life, she didn’t stick around.
I think I’ve been affected by this movie more than I should be lol. I’m a real sap for stories like these.
lol now thats one hell of a description you got there. Thanks ^^ but i still may watch it again since its only a 1hr series
haha ya I got pretty into it after I watched it so I went on this whole looking for more information/spreading the word phase, just looking for some place to let it all out lol. Even now I think it ranks as one of my top favorite anime movies/series ever.
didn’t bare to watch it again
open-ended? looks pretty closed to me since akari is already married.
makoto shinkai created a few more movies similar to this (this story line got a bit over-used =/ but still ok to watch though). i showed this movie to some people who havent seen anime all their life, and some of them actually cried lol.
watch: voices of a distant star, the place promised in our early days and watch toki wo kakeru shoujo (a girl who runs through time) as a bonus
Actually i prefer a more concluded ending. Best is a happy ending ~~
Akari x Takaki or Kanae x Takaki. Thats why i hate emo anime.
hmm I haven’t watch this anime yet, the anime looks pretty. Added to watch list
hey does anyone noes whr i can get byousoku the dvd in singapore, i dun mind ordering it through some websites.thx alot.if u noe can plss contact me through my mail magierkampher@hotmail.com. plS use it discreetly