Byousoku Go Sentimetoru (5 Centimeters Per Second), the new short Animated movie by Shinkai Makoto is a movie that was released earlier this year (but I’ve only got around to watching it subbed last night). The title of 5cm/s refers to the speed of falling sakura (cherry blossom) pedals, the opening sentence of the movie. It also refers to the speed at which the two main characters of the movie are separated, slowly drifting apart until their distance is so far from each other that their relationship can no longer be maintained. (Minor spoilers ahead)
The presentation is divided into 3 short stories, revolving around 3 different eras of the main male character: Takaki. In the first episode the male lead meets his girlfriend Akari for one last time and mark a page in both of their memories. They are both forced to move further and further away from each other as their parents are required to move for work (tho actually, they are both still in Japan).
The second episode is about a girl who has a crush on Takaki during his stay on an island in southern Japan only to realize that he is in search of something “over the horizon” (Akari), with Takaki referring his own life as a trip in outer-space.
The third episode is about Takaki’s work life after graduating from university. He does get into a relationship with another girl, but only to break up with her after her realizing that their relationship is getting nowhere.
If you’ve watched any of Shinkai’s earlier productions, you’ll recognize his style right away. The first episode is very typical of his works: monologues and scenery. The presentation actually starts really slow and the first episode is 30 minutes long. The second episode is also 20 minutes long and contrasts the first episode’s winter theme with the hot summer beaches of southern Japan. Up to this point the feelings for the movie really aren’t that strong.
The 3rd episode, albeit only 10 minutes long, is the gem of the movie, it puts together everything in the preceding 50 minutes and throws all of the feelings into a concentrated 10 minutes with a beautiful song to end it all.
One thing that I must note is Shinkai’s amazing art. The attention to detail of each scene is amazing. While the character design is not the best of anything you’ve seen, the backgrounds are astonishing. The balance of light and shadow, and choice of angles are very very beautifully done. Even if you don’t like romance movies or anime, this movie is worth watching just for it’s artistic value.
