(L) 5 Centimeters per Second

[WanderingKnight]

Oh my god, that was freaking awesome. It reminded me quite a bit of Kumo no Mukou, but this gave me a much better impression (not that I didn't like Kumo no Mukou). The backgrounds were beautiful, the direction flawless, and the tempo was handled perfectly. And I 'kind of' got related to the main character, because I've suffered those kinds of 'delays' before... but not to that extent, of course ^_^.

Beautiful, beautiful first part, and I can't wait until the fansubbers get a hold of the DVD releases.

[Lost]

Makoto Shinkai has 10 pages worth of awed praise in this thread. It even started before the stream was aired! I salute him.

[Quajafrie]

I wonder if there will be a DVD or HDTV version of the three stories together with the theater version of the movie... or we'll have to wait till summer or so? I'm dying to watch the next two movies. Makoto Shinkai is so great.

[Guardian Enzo]

Originally Posted by Sushi-Y

The popular Japanese movie review site 超映画批評 has given 5 centimeters per second an 85/100, quite an impressive score by the site's standard.

It seems like the movie's portrayal of a man's straight yet complicated feeling of affection towards his first love hit a good note with Maeda-san, who loved the human drama of the movie, on top of the beautiful artworks.

One interesting line,

"Although it's a short story, the 60 minutes it lasted probably carried enough value to rival many pieces of your everyday anime creations. In particular, the few minutes past episode 3's title display can move you to a point of giving you shudders."

Bloody teaser...

While translation sites just don't do well with Japanese to English, I think I agree with the gist of the review - at least as it pertains to chapter 1. Straightforward yet complicated is a good way to describe the emotional content of that part of the story.

Man - I can't even fathom waiting until summer - at least - to see the rest of this thing subbed. Life is indeed cruel...

[Cal-Reflector]

Has anyone seen the subbed version that's been made available on BT? How is the quality of the translation? Resolution of the video?

Also, Who enjoyed the Theme (ED) Song for Byousoku 5CM: One More Time, One More Chance? I've listened to it... 56 times, by WMP's count.

[Samatarou]

The translation is generally fine, a few lines could be phrased better and there are a couple of errata to be found on the Bikasuishin site where lines were misheard, but frankly the same issues are true of most fansubs, and the translation of the misheard lines is immaterial to the story.

I just used the ssa file with the wmv raw instead of downloading the divx/mkv so I don't know for sure what the video quality is like but screenshots I've seen which I think may have been based on the sub suggest it is similar to the original and the same 640x360 resolution.

[Guardian Enzo]

I concur - I didn't see any major problems with the sub, either visually or linguistically. I was just ecstatic to have it, frankly. And yes, that ED is pretty damn catchy.

[NoSanninWa]

Originally Posted by Cal-Reflector

Has anyone seen the subbed version that's been made available on BT? How is the quality of the translation? Resolution of the video?

Subbed version!??!?!? Why wasn't this in our Torrent Submissions Forum?!

Wow! Time for me to download it, watch it again, and then add it to the main site's database!

Edit: Already found the torrent. Since the sub has been vouced for, I'll add it straightaway.

[Vexx]

pardon me whilst I squeal in a most unmasculine fashion and race for the torrent.... please stand by.

[Lost]

Meh, I'm waiting for DVD release and Triad.

[ZeRoGravity]

Man, when I first saw the release, I gave a blank stare then quickly dled the torrent and every a few minutes I would update my tracker because I was so damn desperate to watch this.

It was indeed really beautiful. Just like his previous works, very poetic and emotional. Very dionysian. Also, for this one, very unrealistic in the way they communicate with each other. I mean, with modern technology in communication they can easily see each other when they have days off school - Ok, maybe not when they were young - internet - webcam, messengers, and telephones. Well they did use the phone, but during the movie it wasn't use very often except the good old fashion mail. I know that mail is more personal, and I know he used that as his theme for this movie but really it just seem too unrealistic. I guess thats the selling point here. If its too realistic than it wouldn't be any different than those drama on T.V.

This first part of the movie mainly consist of monologue done by the main male character, which I didn't find boring at all. I can't think the reason as to why I didn't. I think I might watch it again just to find out and just for the sake or re-watching it again because its beautiful.

Can't wait for the next 2 parts of the movie. I hope this gets licensed quick so I can buy the DVD.

[[ ]]

Speechless. After watching it. It was beautifully done and directed and completely succeded in conveying the mood. The art was stunningly detailed and so much feeling was put into it as well. Even small scenes like the wristwatch or the lights of the train going over the signs were executed to perfection/ But most of all i absoloutly loved the mood, setting and story it conveys.

[Vexx]

<sigh> at this point, I'm just dittoing the acolades. It was mesmerizing. The pacing and timing of his "now" to the flashbacks was just about perfect in that I didn't move for the entire presentation (usually I start fidgeting at some point in anything I watch if they over-defer events).

This would have been a great story even with *half* the animation/art quality but with it .... "moving pictures" in the original sense - art that moves. This may be my R2 purchase of the year (I assume they'll dvd it) since I seriously doubt a trio of short stories of this nature will get picked up in R1.

[Cal-Reflector]

I just realized something: When was the last time you guys saw an anime or movie or ANYTHING where the product itself was actually BETTER than the previews?

Makoto Shinkai wins.

Well, the Animate (Asian anime cable channel) previews for Mushishi might work for this example as well, so that makes two.

[Kaoru Chujo]

Originally Posted by ZeRoGravity

...very unrealistic in the way they communicate with each other. I mean, with modern technology in communication they can easily see each other when they have days off school...

Earlier in this thread, people said that the story is set in the early 90s, when this kind of technology was not so available.

[aliensporebomb]

A beautiful story - I was totally sucked in by the increasing nervousness and
desperation the protagonist felt as the increasingly bad weather was whittling
away at the precious time he would be able to spend with Akari - would she
be there? If she would, would she still feel the same?

Spoiler:

The crushing hopelessness of the long thought-of letter disclosing Takaki's
hard to utter feelings lost in the wind, the super long delays with the
beautifully realistic art reached a stunning and poignant conclusion
with the inevitable meeting between the fated couple.

The other bit was - we find that Akari had written her own letter to
him that was not presented to him. Maybe they both realize it is
hopeless after all and they are like ships in the night. Still...

I suppose if it were me, I would have found some way to make it work-
planning for college or something to give them hope - it was like their
fated meeting was like the fall cherry blossoms, a brief, brilliant, beautiful,
poignant and short duration experience that they will remember all of
their lives.

And yes, I like to look at this story as if it was taking place in the 1980s
or the like - no easily accessible telephone or e-mail service. A friend of
mines wife is out in California and he's here in Minnesota - he's waiting
for his pension to vest before he moves but she lost her job here and is
working in her parents shop and doing well out there - he will eventually
move there but I am thinking that without e-mail, cell phones, webcams
that things would be pretty dire. It's stressful, but not as stressful as
life without these conveniences.

I hope our two star crossed lovers who were meant for each other will
find a way to make it work.

Life isn't always like that though. I sometimes wonder about my own
"Akari" and how she is doing and where she is and if she is happy.

I'm married myself and happy. But you can't help but wonder what
might have been.

Another scene I liked - in the beginning when they are in school and
their classmates are noticing their closeness and of course you see an
ai-aigasa with their names under it - Takaki erases it in a swath and
takes Akari's hand and runs out of the classroom with her - it was
almost like "say what you want, I'll be with who I want, your kiddy
games don't affect us like you think they do."

Now, I must comment on the art - absolutely stunning - the impressionistic
and moody lighting effects and the overall quality was just unbelievable.

[ZeRoGravity]

Originally Posted by Kaoru Chujo

Earlier in this thread, people said that the story is set in the early 90s, when this kind of technology was not so available.

Thx for the confirmation. I wasn't actually too sure about the time set for this movie.

The 2nd time around I just realize something so obvious. The closer Takaki got, the longer it took him. The biggest hit was the 2hr delay in the middle of nowhere. Really adds into the helplessness Takaki was in. Also, this made me remember the quote from the first trailer of the movie "How fast must I live, to be able to see you again?"

Ah, I really want to watch the 2nd part.

[MrProphet]

Well, the film premieres in the cinema today!

If anyone is going to see it, give us a shout and your honest opinion afterward, k? 8)

[mit7059]

That was amazing, the storyline animation all of it. The only thing that bothered me was that they didn't really seem like 12/13 year olds, I can't really see kids of that age really acting like this.

[aliensporebomb]

They seemed more like 15/16 to me, perhaps a little older. Remember they were
sort of portrayed as weaker/frail bookwormy types so they might actually have
been older than their appearance would hint.