After hearing about and seeing images from 5 Centimeters per Second, I decided to sit down and watch it a few nights ago. And I’m glad I did take an hour out of my time for it because it is absolutely gorgeous…
First of all, I’m sure just about anyone who’s seen 5Cm/Sec will agree that the art and animation are some of the best (if not, the best) to come out in any hand-drawn animated movie. The vibrant colors and fine details stand out beautifully in just about every scene. Everything from the shades of color in the sky, the shine of the stars, the snow, the rain, etc., was all carefully placed with amazing depth and precision. There’s also very little music in the movie, which I think helps make the stunning artwork stand out even more. This is a movie whose aesthetics and animation quality can be appreciated by not just anime fans but anyone interested in art or cinematography.
The movie is divided into three 22-minute “episodes” giving it a relatively short run-time of 62 minutes. This is a bit unusual for a theatrical movie but 5Cm/Sec manages to pull it off without the three parts seeming too disjointed. The first episode does a great job establishing the relationship between Takaki and Akari; the words in the letters that they write to each other together with the emotion of their voice actors really gives a sense of the strong longing they have. The pacing of the episode is also well done and the viewer can almost feel the anxiety and disappointment that Takaki feels as his meeting with Akari is delayed for hours on end. After watching the first episode, one gets the idea that the two of them are truly in love and will probably live “happily ever after” in the end. But as we see later on, 5Cm/Sec does not follow this stereotypical formula and instead gives us a more bitter-sweet ending.
The second episode shifts perspectives to that of a third character, Kanae. In this episode we’re only exposed to Kanae’s thoughts and actions as she observes Takaki. As with the first episode, this one still gives the impression that Takaki is in love and in contact with Akari, again making the ending of the movie even more surprising. This episode could almost be skipped, since very little is focused on Takaki and Akari, but it’s a necessary “break” in between the beginning and end of Takaki and Akari’s relationship. Jumping from one extreme (them being desperately in love) to another (them moving on without each other) would make the movie seem too rushed so watching them from an outsider’s point of view really helps the flow of the movie.
The third and conclusive part of the movie takes a totally different tone as we now see that distance and time have indeed brought Takaki and Akari apart, resulting in Takaki becoming a depressed and bewildered computer programmer. Akari on the other hand seems to have let go of the past and is happily moving on with her life with the man she has chosen to marry. All that’s left is for Takaki to also let go of the past and move on, which he finally realizes at the very end of the movie. The railroad crossing scene at the movie’s closing is the perfect symbol of 5Cm/Sec’s message and Takaki’s realization that he must forget the unchangeable past and move on with his life.
The only thing that bothered me a bit in 5Cm/Sec is that I think it would have been better if more focus was put on exactly how Takaki and Akari drifted apart to the point that they did in the third episode. In the first two episodes we get the impression that they’re so madly in love, so even if they couldn’t see each other in person, if they really did love each other couldn’t they call or e-mail each other all the time or something? What exactly happened for them to reach the point where they would start going out with someone else? Their relationship seems to give the impression that two people have to constantly be together physically or else they drift apart. This is a pretty strong message (though I’m not saying its totally false because it definitely isn’t) so I think it would have really helped if perhaps one more episode was added to show the steps leading up to them eventually not having any contact with each other at all (maybe from Akari’s perspective since Takaki gets most of the focus in the movie).
Besides the outcome of Takaki and Akari’s relationship being a little unclear, the overall message of the movie is very memorable. Instead of the romance between the two protagonists being unfaltering, 5Cm/Sec gives the much more realistic view that love does not always stand the test of time and distance, and people’s hearts change over time. Takaki comes to realize this in the end and he also learns that one must not dwell on a past that cannot be returned but must instead move forward and make an effort to find other and perhaps better things in life. Thus, when the trains pass and the girl is no longer there, he realizes that he is wasting his life simply waiting for the past to return to him; just as she has moved on, so must he. But if true love is supposed to conquer all, even time and distance, then were Takaki and Akari not really in love with each other? If they had been able to see each other regularly, would they still have ended up drifting apart? These are some questions that the movie gives us to ponder.
In conclusion, I think 5Cm/Sec is a must-see for any anime fan, especially those who love beautiful artwork in their anime. Since it’s only about an hour long, it couldn’t expand too much on any one subject, such as each character’s development, but that’s its only flaw really. With its high-quality animation and unique, universal message, I think 5Cm/Sec can be enjoyed by just about anyone who enjoys thought-provoking and aesthetically pleasing movies.
wow thats how i really feel to when i watched the movie months ago i couldn’t get it out of my head! Btw i really love the review!
I just watched this movie a minute ago. I really love it and i also like the review. I thought they’ll be together..but..its doesnt happen….how sad…..
i’m curious if takaki and akari were in touch during the second part. despite us seeing him e-mailing all the time. there was a scene where takaki asks something like, “when did i get in the habit of writing messages to nobody?”
akari and takaki did drift apart in the 2nd episode. that was the whole point of the 2nd episode. he was constantly thinking of her and writing messages meant for her, but could never bring himself to actually send them. i can definitely relate to that, since i have the same habit as well of typing messages and never sending them, especially if i feel i’ve drifted apart from that particular person..
also i don’t think that what they experienced wasn’t “true love”.. it’s hard for even “true love” to withstand distance and time. particularly because they were so young when they fell in love, coupled with the circumstances surrounding them.. they just couldn’t be together. so i wouldn’t say that their love wasn’t “true”. it just wasn’t meant to be. and that’s what i thought was really sad…
I agree, I thought it was sad but it was real. I didn’t really get the last episode because Akari sends Takaki that text after she finds the letter. Did she tell him what she had always wanted to, what was in that letter, or just dream about it and smile and move on?
Actually in the last episode, the person who sent Takaki the text was his ex-girlfriend and not Akari. Translated, the text says:
“Hello Takaki. Its been a while, hasn’t it? How are you? Although I’ve been extremely confused, I realized that there are some things I have to tell you.”
So my interpretation is that as Takaki is unable to move on with his life, he broke up with his girlfriend of 3 years, completely removing her from his life. The final message he sends her, which says that although they’ve sent 1000s of messages to each other they couldn’t even get even 1 centimetre closer to each other confirms this I guess.
If Takaki and Akari actually had the means to communicate with each other through their cellphones… could the ending have been better? But I guess the best things are left in memories :)
moving at 5 centimeter per second, whereever is close enough for “I love you.”
Okasho
The gorgeous cherry blossom at …what a scene to capture in an instant but yet only for awhile then something gets between you, something not in your control, stepping over you 5 cm per second or vice versa? Pulling you down like a eternal pendulum. But this is gorgeous? Those two were gorgeous. It was a blossom!
As it flourished, all the other things seems less important. Why is that? She forgot about her very own letter too. Why is that?
Why taking the solitude trains back to the distance. Why is that?
Cosmonaut
“It will be just fine,” you said. “Do your best! I know you can…” as you said… They are claiming a centimeter by a centimeter. Aimed and set. Getting closer and closer? Closer to where? Like where is the rocket is: nowhere.
Byōsoku 5 Centimeter
Five centimeters per second vs an expanding worldS going at speed you attempt to keep up…oh man..!!! T.T
I really did agree in this film its feels like “two people have to constantly be together physically or else they drift apart”. but then i realize that this film didnt mean it at all.
maybe its nice if there’s a chapter from akari’s prespective, but im afraid that would make this film too clear so the film would lose it artistic sense.
well,from my prespective it goes like this :D
at chapter 1, the author really wants us to think that takaki and akari are really in love, and theyre love is true and pure. but after all, theyre just a kids ‘thought’ theyre in love. there’s a big difference between before and after the kiss, thats true, moreover, takaki is so-o-o naive that he think he would inside akari’s warm forever. and he thinks akari really needs him to not be alone.
at chapter 2, however, theyre just start their relationship and unfortunately they separated so far. so, although they sent letter to each other for some time(in the ending song, takaki and akari both happily receive a letter, but then, the letter is no longer come.), at some point, both takaki and akari dont know anymore what to say(in the ending song, akari confused what to write to takaki and i think that when takaki–too– start writing message without sending it, even he wanted to tell something, he dont know about akari anymore.), because they both changed, and they slowly dont know each other anymore. however, its akari whom takaki always wanted to see, from the first chapter, i somehow realize that takaki is the one who didn’t want to lose akari very much. and for me, this chapter is really an important chapter, in this chapter, theyre feelings start to separate, which is the meaning of the film /:s…
so, that’s true nat said that theyre just wasnt meant to be together. and, yeah, thats sad… well, i really glad to see takaki’s smile at the end of the movie xD though i think that akari is so mean to choose to forget about takaki, that even she dont wait the train to make sure that the man is takaki??
well, its maybe just to send the real message from the film after all :D i want to believe that akari find that takaki is precious as well.
this film is reaaallllyy awesome!!! xD
I keep seeing this talk about “physical closeness”, but that’s not what I got out of it at all. Nor was it just puppy love. I hate to sound cliche, but the fact is that real life rarely works out according to literary themes like “love conquers all”. Long distance relationships don’t tend to work out well, especially amongst younger people. If they had been able to see each other regularly, it is quite likely they would still be together. But situations change. In the beginning, they were alone with each other, and didn’t really have any other firends, and didn’t seem to get along well with their peers. So it made sense to develop and keep a strong attachment with only each other. But after seperating, they entered situations where that wasn’t always the case. People aren’t always the same. A lot of behavior is situational. So when they got the oppurtunity to drift apart, it would be more work NOT to go with it. Especially considering the lack of communication oppurtunities.
This is such a great movie. I can’t even begin to describe how I felf after watching it. It led me in retrospection about my own relationships. I tell you, watching a movie like this is enough to send you thinking about the bleak realities of life.
It makes me really sad to think that two people who are THAT in love still can’t be together. *sobs*
I enjoyed reading your review, thank you. I for one thought the ending was perfect. It’s something that really sets this movie apart from the others; not another cliche’, and that’s one of the main reasons I can’t stop thinking about it. I agree completely that the Japanese voice actors really helped convey their love and longing in the movie, I loved their voices. I didn’t really notice that their wasn’t much music in the movie, but now that you’ve mention it, I think maybe that’s the reason why I have the ending song playing in my mp3. ’5 Centimeter Per Second’ really is an inspirational work of art.
I really loved this movie.
A friend of mine told me to watch it, and boy, it was amazing.
The ending was unexpected. It was sad, but, hey, it’s life.
Also, I am NOT an anime fan. When I first saw that the movie was animated, I was a little disappointed- but after I saw the BEAUTIFUL animations, the sky, and everything else, oh, it was all so beautiful. The soft music, I loved that too.
It was a great movie, sad in the end, but it’s life, and we all have to move on.
I do have to say though, the skies, and the overall animations were really appealing to the eye.
very nice review and a great movie… i do agree that the third episode was kinda unclear and a bit frustrating but the entire movie was great… though ultimately i would have preferred for takaki and akari to end up together… because the first episode was too damn good!!!!!
I agree with Ilasir – I think the point was that physical separation strains love. I think one of the reasons Takaki didn’t contact Akari was that distance. He didn’t know what she was like anymore, which scared him. So he’d write messages, but couldn’t bring himself to send them.
Now, certainly, long-distance relationships can work. I think this is an example of one that didn’t, and how long one person struggled with it. One of the problems here was that Takaki kept himself in limbo — unable to start a new relationship, and unable to re-connect with the old one. And he ultimately lost a lot of time that way.
I and a compatriot talk about this in great detail on our podcast at http://brentnewhall.com/otaku_no_video/archive.php?id=34 if you’re interested.
In any event, thanks to Yumeka for the review! Great to see a long, thoughtful, and emotionally involving review.
First off…great movie. I loved the art, it was amazingly beautiful and very detailed. The story was so brilliant and real. Just Amazing.
I believe that the ex-girlfriend mentioned in the 3rd ‘episode,’ was Kanae. My reason to believe is a half second image in the third episode where it seems that Takaki and Kanae were on the same bed. You have to pause it just in time to see it.
Great review, it made more aware of the things that a missed.
Thanks
Just finished this movie, and I don’t think I have been so touched by such a realistic anime, or movie in general.
To the dude above me, I doubt that it was Kanae in bed with Takaki. Throughout the entire third episode you get to see a black haired women, who is Takaki’s ex. That’s who is in bed with Tohno.
This movie is so grounded in reality that it makes the movie even more depressing, and I know for sure that this movie will be among my top rated DVD’s ever, period.
this was perhaps the most stunning and beautiful movie I have ever seen and it wouldn’t stretch the truth if I said: ‘I have never been as moved by any movie or anything else of the sort’, this was also a stunning review and comments page because what i didn’t get in the film was made clear on this page and it made the movie all the better (although a little sadder).
“This movie is so grounded in reality that it makes the movie even more depressing, and I know for sure that this movie will be among my top rated DVD’s ever, period.” -Joedaman (post above)
I cannot agree with you more. This will also be among the greatest movies I will ever have the privilege of watching. I was so moved by this movie that if I so much as see the movie case it pulls at my heartstrings.
Thank you so much Makoto Shinkai, Yumeka and all the people that posted you have made my week and my top rated DVD’s all that much better
this movie was definitely one of the best anime ever in my opinion.
it touched me just as much as a movie with live actors.
i loved the ending too, it’s cool how takaki decided to move on after not seeing akari on the other side of the train. beautiful.
I have a different take on why and how Akari and Takaki drifted apart and never got back.
my reasoning: In episode 3 during the theme song, it shows Akari and Takaki both checking mail box for each other’s mail and neither of them got any. Then notice in episode 1, Takaki promised to write and call(not cell phone) to Akari but we all know Takaki never did that. Akari wanted Takaki to move on since she and Takaki think they will never meet again, as she said in the end of episode 1 that Takaki will be fine with out her, but ofcourse Akari didn’t mean it. Takaki is nervous to write just like the girl who is nervous to confess in second episode that’s why he never wrote but he waited for Akari to write to him as he also did not know if Akari really meant that He will be fine with out her(you will be fine with out me seem to me as a break up sentence). So Akari was waiting for Takaki to contact her the whole time, she even try to write a mail to Takaki on the same pink clove letter as her first letter but she was too sad to finsh it(episode 3 theme music part)because she told him to move on in episode 1. So if she is not contacted as promised, i guess she really thought Takaki has moved on and feel bad if she did send him a letter. Where as Takaki think and took Akari’s word to heart “you will be fine without me”.
So my take is they were both still in love with each other, but hassertation, miss judgement of words and time( time because they only have each others contact when they were 13 years old ) broke them. I bet that when Takaki was writing all those text message he wished that he knew Akari’s number.
This, I believe, is the most touching thing I’ve ever seen. I was so inspired by the first episode. Not knowing anything like this myself, the first episode made me feel so hopeful and emotional. I quickly continued to the second episode, where I was deeply touched in a completely different way. The second episode related everything I had felt to real life. It sort of depressed me, but really integrated my feelings into my reality. Then when the third episode ended, I got temporarily upset with whoever it was that made this movie. It was thoroughly depressing and sad; it made me cry. But overall, after reading the great review at the top of the page, I am so glad that I watched this movie and I enjoyed it so much. I just finished about half an hour ago, so my mind is spinning. I probably won’t think of the right things to write in my comment until tomorrow morning but as is the message of this movie(at least to me), life doesn’t always work out. My least favorite thing about it is directly tied the my most favorite. It ends in sadness, but it helps me to understand life and love. Love can be so strong, but it doesn’t always work out, and that’s life. It’s just a part of living and learning. We’re all meant to love and to be happy, but that doesn’t mean that we won’t have sadness. Just thinking about this movie gives me all sorts of emotions. Truly inspiring and touching. 10 out of 10 and 3 thumbs up.
There are a few puzzles that I don’t understand. From the series of flashbacks at the end, it seems that Takaki (nearly) came across with Akari several times after they parted at the end of the first movie.
In one scene, Takaki seemed to be riding on his motor scooter (somewhere in Tanegashima presumably), where he saw a girl with long hair walking on the beach. Is she Akari?
Another one happened in Tokyo when Takaki was on the train and a girl looked Akari was standing on the opposite platform, reading a book.
I didn’t really like this movie too much. I watched it because it was pretty highly rated on anime news network so I wanted to give it a try. I guess my main problem was that it didn’t feel like there was any meaning behind anything that happened in the movie. I felt like the movie was attempting to seem like it had a message and some a deep meaning but nothing was really there.
However, I thought the whole part with the train in episode 1 was extremely well done. I felt like it was sort of ruined by the ending though because as great as that first part was the ending really took away any value it had to me.
@Joe:
Takaki didn’t see the real Akari, he was just obessed with Akari that he saw Akari in people who looked like her…
There is no doubt about the animation (it is great) and music. But, the story is depressive. In the end of the story, they can not fulfill their love or another word is no happy ending. There is ture love between two people? Today, It is not dfficult to find your lost love. Anyway, the director tries to emphasize on distant and time instance of the relationship between two people. One prides their love forever. For, another one can let it go and move forward. What is the meaning of love anyway? Maybe, this is the way a classic love story look like. I like your review. For someone likes this kind of story go see or read Bokura gai ta (We were there).
I agree with a lot of the review and with a lot of the following comments. However I hope your wrong, especially about the ending.
Yes, it is certainly true that the ending is sad. And it’s also true that this is the bitter-sweet reality in which we live in. Many people come to our lives and drift away, and we just let go of them. I think the most important lesson of the movie is that if you want to keep the loving someone close to you then let them know about your feelings and go after them. If you express your feelings and go after the person(s) you care in your lives then at least you won’t regret for the rest of your lives and maybe this one action can change everything; who knows. And don’t forget the ends lines of the movie that “…we both believed without any doubt that someday, together, we will watch the cherry blossoms fall again…again.”So, there is still hope!!
The movie was one of a kind! The plot was excellent, the artwork, the characters not to mention the soothing yet emotional music. The conclusion was a bit twisted in the sense that they did not end up together but went their separate ways. This made the film unique. I would have loved though to see that Takaki and Akira actually meet at sometime when they were adults. However according to MR. MOKOTO SHINKAI; ‘the theme of the story is “distance” hence the reason why he could not bring the characters together and if they were brought together, they would have to be separated again in order to stick to the subject.
We can see that the cherry blossoms played a major role in the film. It was a symbol of friendship(at the start of the movie) , it was a symbol of love(ending of the first chapter when they confess their love and they kiss) and finally, a symbol of strength and hope – at the ending when they both say: “……………we both believed without any doubt that someday, together, we will watch the cherry blossoms fall again….” It’s a symbol of strength since it gives them both the ability to move on with their lives (the cherry blossoms is also a symbol of their memorable times together and so they would never forget eachother) along with the hope of seeing eachother again- maybe to relive that time in the past.
EXCELLENT WORK MR. MOKOTO SHINKAI AND STAFF!!!!!!
I’d go as far as to suggest that their relationship was distanced not only because of the physical distance between one another, but the distance they have within them. In this, neither can recognise or accept themselves as being in love with one another until they’re physically with one another. That is when they finally let go of their self-doubts. Which would explain why in the last scene the viewer can see that their discontent with their jobs is mirrored with their inability to be together. Takaki appears to be more disheartened by his job than Akari, perhaps this is why he does not reply to her message. He is somewhat ashamed by what he has become/becoming and does not want her to see that. Their relationship is frozen in time, isolated to certain moments, though their own development is forever in motion.
Just an idea.
It is indeed a very interesting movie, in the sense that although one might not like the ending, one still feels emotions stirred. Maybe it is sadness or maybe it is the over all sensation of being in love, whatever it is, the movie is effective in prompting it. I really liked this movie but must also say that Ocean Waves left me with a more optimistic and happy feeling.
I guess the reason why some people (I am) are deeply touch by this movie might be because they identify at some level with the feeling of “silent love” or unreciprocated love. However, I also think that Takaki as a young man might not be the ideal guy who deserves a fulfilling love life. It is fine to be an outsider or bohemian while in middle and high school, but as he was growing up and developing as a grown up, how come he was not able to develop significant friendships? Why didn’t we see in the collage the happy parts of his life where he is indeed a well adapted young man with rowdy friends and healthy relationships with other females? Do we have to imagine he went through 10 years of constantly not being happy?
Maybe this movie indeed show us the difference between (some) boys and (most) girls, the way boys will always hold dear their first love and have it in high significance while girls will move along and enjoy fully the love that is offered by other suitors at different stages in life.
How appealing would an adult Akari found a unhappy and unsmiling adult Takaki? How compatible would have they been had they found each other?
I would have like and enjoyed a “typical ending” of having them found each other and lived happily ever after, but I also appreciate the emotions stirred by the real ending (can’t always win). However, I would have enjoyed more a clearer signal that Takaki FINALLY puts it together and is able to be the happy, manly, friendly young man that he should be. The smile Takaki cracks at the very end gives me hope, but I wished I could be sure. I wish him and his girlfriend good luck.
Roberto, I just wanted to say how insightful I thought your post was. In the end, happiness is a choice and sometimes it is a long process that we go through to find it.
About your observation: “Boys will always hold dear their first love and have it in high significance.” Definitely true for me. I never got over my first love. I thank God that He eventually blessed with with her hand in marriage. But I put myself through a lot of what Takaki did and can identify with him far better than I’d like to admit.
Which leads to your other observation: “How appealing would have an adult Akari found an unhappy and unsmiling adult Takaki? How compatible would have they been had they found each other?” The answer is not very, as you implied. Takaki obviously cultivated an unhappy outlook of self-pity. He could have pursued Akari but didn’t. Instead, he made himself miserable, lived in fear, and passed up one opportunity for joy after another. Bad enough if were just him, but he broke at least three girls’ hearts in the movie due to his self-absorption.
Everyone take heed: our poor choices almost always end up hurting the people we care about.
One more point you made: “I also think that Takaki as a young man might not be the ideal guy who deserves a fulfilling love life.” I’m agreed that his frame of mind is incompatible with a fulfilling love life. But I can’t quite bring myself to call him undeserving, no matter how silly he acted. He seemed a kind and gentle man at heart. I think he deserved a fulfilling love life as much as any of us do. He just needed to work harder to get it.
To me, the most lovely characters in anime and manga have always been the cheerful, resilient, encouraging, and forgiving ones. We are not perfect. But we have some idea as to what that perfection is and can aspire to it. I took away from 5cm/s this ideal: clear message we are surrounded by opportunities to embrace joy. Hold on to them for their season, and learn to let them go when it is time. Only that way will you have room to take the next wonderful blessing you are meant for. And remember that sometimes the real barriers are only in our minds.
I wanted to take a brief moment her to salute the cast. Takaki was played by Johnny Yong Bosch and couldn’t have been better. You might recognize his broody voice from Bleach’s Ichigo or Last Exile’s Claus. It was delightful to hear Erika Weinstein again as young Akari. Her sparkling voice talents gave life to the captivating Iori from I”s. And finally a warm thank you to Makoto for making this film. You created something so beautiful and so touching. Thank you.
~Brian
This movie is exactly my love story. I just want to send the copy of this movie DVD to my ex-lover whom I still like and love of course but its unfortunate we cannot get together. But this movie still does rejoice my past memories with her and time I spent with her.
Thanks for this nice review and its a nice movie really. I would take this movie more personally than just another movie in my life. :)
I agree with everything everyone has posted. I can’t add much more to what people have already said, but I will say this movie has stirred with my emotions on so many levels. I can relate to all of the characters in different ways. I have been in each of their situations. I can relate to Takaki the most. It’s so difficult to get over your first love. I know I’m young (almost 16), but I was in a relationship with someone I cared about dearly for over a year. We broke up two months ago, but I still think about him constantly even though he doesn’t care about me in that way anymore. I try to hide my feelings about that from people, but it still hurts so badly. I want to be with him despite my circumstances, but I know this isn’t possible. Moving on is the message in this movie, but it’s harder than anything to accomplish.
with the passage of time, we tend to meet a spectrum of people and circumstances who will either make us long for the past or move on towards the future.
the movie pertains to the biting reality that nothing is permanent and with that, acceptance is the key to build another relationship. It teaches us that sometimes, I love you is goodbye.
For the main characters, probably… they knew that their love is transitory in motion just like the passing trains at the end of the movie. But then, it is eternal. Their love lives on inside of their hearts just like the star-crossed characters of The Age of Innocence (wherein the man chose not to see his lost love because he knew that their love was more certain and realistic in their spirits).
..how i can sooooo relate… :(
I found this movie title on an anime site (can’t remember site name right now) about a week ago and decided to check it out. I have to say that I was just blown away by this movie. The animation is the best I have ever seen and the script is very true to real life.
I have never before felt so much emotion when watching any movie, but this one moved me to tears. I was recently in a situation before where the girl I was in love with moved away and we have drifted apart. Like Takaki I have not fully moved on with my life, though I am not as bad off as he was.
This moved has inspired me to look for my lost love, not to go back to the past, but so I can make peace with her and our past and move on with my life.
My most sincere thanks to everyone who was involved with this movie.
The movie was an emotional masterpiece encompassing 60 minutes. I agree with the beautiful animation and art, but I also think that although minimalistic, the music score greatly accentuated the movies overall feel and quality.
The division of the movie into three segments was also done well. Through the first episode the characters love and innocence can be felt. However it is also accompanied by a sense of foreboding since the main character himself believes that they will not stay together. The second episode offers a well needed, and no less touching respite. I was really thrown off by the text messages the Takaki writes, since I believed they were to Akari (but found out otherwise). The final episode was simply heart-rending as Takaki leads a rather unfulfilled life (although I personally don’t believe that Akari is completely satisfied either) The emotional connection established since the first episode makes it all the more tragic yet beautiful.
I personally don’t think that the love felt by the characters is fake, or in any way short of true love. Nor do I believe that the movies ending is a harsh display of realism. To me, at least, the movies (incredibly sad) finish was simply the best ending possible due to the sheer emotional weight it carries. Although the ending isn’t a happy one, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
if you speed up this movie 1.5 times, the whole plot sounds alot better. Maybe cuz you hear typos. Idk. but grab a ps3 and watch it sped up. You dont fall alseep then, but just in case, i recommend playing a video game while watching. then you wont get too bored.
if you really like the art, that fine. its nice. but falling asleep kinda makes you neglect looking at the art. so…..
this whole movie is a conflict, if you ACTUALLY understand it, you are a little bit TOO into anime and plotlines and droll movies. Get a life. Draw a manga. Get laid. just…. dont…. waste…. your life on this…..
Most importantly- if you like the art so much, go on google images, and look up ‘pretty anime pictures’ :D maybe you’ll find something.
thank you for your time and attention, i know you all hate me, love,
Lena.
I love this movie in every way, except how they didn’t end up together! I know everyone who seen this feels the same way, but I had high hopes for them both. I wish they had seen each other for the last time, but no the train had to be in the way. (adult scene)
The anime is flawless. I would recommend it to any Anime fan or AMV maker. 10/10
As for your last paragraph……
Its easier to understand the third episode of 5CMPS if have experienced a failing long distance relationship. When you care so much for a person that it hurts to be away from them, you are faced with the doubt of if you will be together once more. I have discovered that time will eventually degrade the quality of words or letters, making it very difficult to cultivate love in a relationship. The two exchanged a thousand words, but there hearts did not grow closer by so much as a centimeter.
A MUST SEE!