Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo

If you suddenly gained the ability to quite literally leap through time, what would you use it for? The sheer fun of it? Getting better grades? Or something else? What if you merely wanted the present to continue; to still live out those memorable days with your friends, playing around and having fun; rejecting the future and not wanting things to change? In Toki wo Kakeru Shojo, a girl is presented with this exact possibility. She suddenly finds out that she has been granted the ability to travel through time, and uses this ability for the purposes mentioned above. At first she tries to correct ... all the mistakes she made that same day she got the ability; from preventing making a mess out of things in cooking class to dodging people being hurled towards her. And before soon, she tries to keep the times from changing, undoing love confessions and other events which can change her and her two friends' lives.

However, everything has a consequence.

Even the seemingly most insignificant and puerile of acts can have grave consequences, as such acts are often made out of ignorance or selfishness; both which are traits that rarely bring out a good result if actions are based on them. Our heroine has to learn this the hard way, as she sees how fateful her so-called insignificant acts are, and how wrong she is in her childish beliefs. What she want is merely to keep the fun times around; with her and her two beloved friends. She wants time to stop, to remain in the present. However, time is inexorable; the future is relentlessly closing in on us. And she has to learn this the hard way. But she learns. Through hardships, through death, and most important of all, through love, she learns that the future is not something to be avoided. Rather it is something to be cherished; something one should embrace.

And that is the basics of the plot and characters in this story; a girl who repeatedly travels back in time to keep the times as they are, and actually learns during this process that it is better to look forward and into the future rather than intransigently dwell on the present. Her two friends aren't focused on that much, but both are portrayed beautifully when they are, both the though-shelled Chiaki and the obliging Kousuke. Accompanying the beautiful plot is a standard-fare movie animation; which means beautiful and detailed landscapes, cityscapes and backgrounds. And while character movements are fluid, the designs themselves are a bit lackluster, and should have been more detailed. The soundtrack which follows on top is equally beautiful, with serene piano tracks accompanying the at times laughter-provoking and at times melancholy story, and a somewhat expected, yet beautiful ending theme.

Toki wo Kakeru Shojo is a beautiful movie, which is good for many things, but especially its underlying hints about looking towards the future and accepting that the present will change as well as the simple message that every act has a consequence; especially childish and ignorant acts at that. And even if such themes does not interest you, I think this beautiful story is well worth spending one and a half hour of your life watching.

Hands down the best movie (animated or otherwise) I've seen in at least five years.

Although the character art is simple, I love it <i>because</i> it is simple and clean. The backgrounds, environment, and special effects are a different thing entirely. They are rendered in such gloriously realistic detail. The landscapes, the classrooms, the streets -- I have never seen such detail in an animated film. It makes things like Beowulf and Final Fantasy: Advent Children look really silly.

The movie also has such beautiful sound. The effects are perfect and clear. This is topped off by one of the most ... beautiful soundtrack and score I've ever heard outside of...well, nothing! The music is so appropriately poignant at times that I almost cried from it, fifteen minutes into the movie. I actually knew, glowing reviews aside, fifteen minutes in, that it was going to be a wonderful film. I mean, if the music can make goosebumps rise on my arms, then it can probably save even a disaster of a film -- which this is certainly not. The ending theme is the most appropriate song ever written for any anime. Ever. Just listening to it makes me go "awwwww" and I really want to find it. I'm making it my mission. It's like a direct line to Makoto's head at the end, and made me cry all over again. I'm really not normally a sap, but I'm very sensitive to music, and this movie's music is just so awesome. Not in a grandiose and sweeping sense, but in a gentler, more subtle way. (In fact, subtle describes this whole movie: subtle but effective.)

The characters are also very well-written, complemented by good voice actors. Chiaki's has a tendency to mumble so much, I can barely understand him sometimes, but it actually fits his character well. They're quite convincing as high-schoolers, though, and I love how they were all created so realistically, without following any staple formulae or types. They're all just...normal, even though two of them can do very abnormal things.

Though the plot itself is very simple, the way the characters develop throughout the seemingly minor conflicts (and that big, heart-pounding one toward the end) gives the story incredible depth. And when it reached the ending, I didn't want it to end but, at the same time, I felt the ending was perfect. I'm a sucker for this type of ending: very, very hanging. Like most of the novels and movies and anime I like, the movie ends just when another story is about to start -- the rest of Konno Makoto's life. I mean, the movie is set within two or three days, I think, though with the time leaps it may feel like it takes place for a much longer period of time. Those days are when Makoto is merely poised at the threshhold: summer is drawing near, school is almost out, and they have to decide on their majors. Yet what happens in that short time is so profound that I'm sure it will affect the rest of her life.

Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo also drives home a message. The line "time waits for no one" is mentioned several times during the course of the film, and by the end it makes sense why the writer chose that line. That there is no time like the present seems like such a cliche, but when we can't leap through time and change events to suit us, the present is all the time we have. We have to cherish each day as it comes and each person as they are, for how do we know that by tomorrow they won't be gone?

Whereas I had watched the movie because of its high recommendations, I was disappointed to find out that Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo is very lacking in many regards, in my opinion.

The story wasn't very new (character finds out can travel back or forth in time, uses it, abuses it, and learns - the end), but I did enjoy the approach taken by <i>this</i> particular anime. Featuring some interesting plot developments and approaches to how the time travel was "invoked," it did feel fairly fresh. However, other than that, most of the development in the film was mainly comic relief and I didn't feel like I ... got much from the story. What truly disappointed me most about the story, however, was its ending. The plot twist which was introduced also introduced with it a myriad of plot holes and inconsistencies which I felt very letdown by because of the earlier lack of them. Additionally, the ending just did not suit me and the way the conclusion of the story changed the main character seemed fairly ... hollow. I won't say anything else other than that, but for those who have seen this movie:

I didn't really understand the sudden hollowness we find from Chiaki's character at the end of the movie. His motivation to return to the future was very foolish, in my opinion, and lacked any true explanation for it. What was he going back to if he was losing what seemed to be something extremely precious in the present? I felt his going back was simply a badly used plot device to "change" the main character and their coming together would have achieved that same sort of thing much better.

I suppose you can make your own conclusions about that.

Continuing on, I felt that whereas the story seemed somewhat mediocre, the art in this movie was pretty special. Featuring what seems to be simple character work, yet extremely detailed environments, you begin to feel sort of immersed into the characters because of discerning features, particularly of their personality, rather than by simply their appearances alone. I actually felt the artwork was very easy to watch and very crisp and clear.

The sound utilized in this movie was pretty good. Character sounds were clear and distinct and there weren't any parts of the movie where I felt that the music interfered, but neither were there any parts where I felt the opposite.

In respect to the characters, I believe that they were very fleshed out in general and that all of the facets we see of them were very intriguing. However, the character development is what made me decrease this score so. I felt that the development that was apparently supposed to be experienced by Makoto was badly done, and that the conclusion failed to really deliver to me the realism or achievement that was done on her and her character's behalf.

Overall, I enjoyed the first hour or so of this movie immensely because of its fresh and interesting approach and delivery. The last bit, however, disappointed me and made the story and everything else feel... incomplete and not satisfying.

I found no problem with the movie at all, other than the melodramatic overstated mood they went with for the ending considering the natural and low-key presentation they used for most of the running time, although at least they left the science fiction concepts as a subtle wink and kept it as just a medium to the true story of character interaction. It’s amazing how entertaining and delightful the overall product was, and with my words here I am doing no justice to the real feeling behind my statement but want to avoid needless hyperboles and keep this the more down-to-earth I can for now. ... Safely can be said that as a whole, be it for artistic attributes, good story telling or the really lovable protagonist and those charismatic personages surrounding her, this is seriously one of the most enjoyable films in recent years, animated or not.

As a “time-traveling” tale the script does has it share of faults but even so I can’t find any as idiotic as what we could already see in “Back to the Future 2”, which even when finding itself in the middle of such paradoxes managed to keep itself a classic thanks to the fact that it can be resumed as juvenile yet somewhat meaningful fun from beginning to end, and by the finale the point of the plot wasn’t really to develop the whole physical mechanics of moving in a temporal plane but rather how such an ability, in a metaphorical sense, affects the life of a young girl, who is by the way one of the most wonderfully done and likeable female teenagers in the medium.

Interesting was also to see how the directorial maturity of Hosoda is much more firm now, the melancholic stylishness is still here but for some reason with a major focus when compared to his still brilliant Digimon movies. He remains both trendy and lyrical but perhaps now he turns out even more restrained and introspectively social than before, probably a reflection of the natural movement beyond Tai and his pubescent friends, or the Superflat Monogram girl, towards a state that borders adulthood.

Besides Hosoda’s firm commandment the other incredibly remarkable technical aspect was the graphical design, which turns up as pure urban magic achieved through visuals, a thoroughly endearing representation of youthfulness, with simplistic and amazingly humane movement that retains a cartoon-like expressiveness that helps it in going beyond the representation of reality and achieving much more aliveness through un-noticeable and at the same time deeply underlying exaggeration. The team went with a very modern interpretation of what “old-school” signifies and they did a brilliant job at that approach.

As a whole TokiKake is as a film unpretentious and sincere, eradiating enchantment in every minute it is shown on the screen. Besides, even if you can’t empathically sympathize with the characters you can’t deny their charisma, the entirely believable naturality of the presence they represent as individuals. Go watch this now, at worse you'll be entertained.

If you haven't already heard, this film Toki o Kakeru Sh?jo (a.k.a. The girl who leapt through time/Tokikake) was awarded "Animation of the Year" by 6th Annual Tokyo Anime Awards/Fair in 2007. Now that that's down, this anime appealed to me because of the interesting concept and theme of "going back in time". I really enjoyed it but, not as much as I should have for some reason. The animation and sounds were theatrical and sufficient. Characters were interesting and easily affected by what is happening. There were some moments however, where the story seems to recount another story and expect you to know it. ... This is in fact because this film is a continuation of a book, that was only written in Japanese, called Toki o Kakeru Sh?jo (unofficial translation: The Little Girl Who Conquered Time). Plot twists, great SFXs, and a good concept to begin with, are what makes this movie great.

"Time waits for no one."

If you haven't ever wanted to go back in time and change something in your life, then congratulations, because you must have one of the most flawless and happiest lives ever. Konno Makoto is not one of those kinds of people. On a particularly bad day full of sleeping late, failing a test, and getting a guy thrown on top of her, Makoto wanders into a science lab after she thought she heard someone in there. After falling and having a "trippy" experience, Makoto goes about the rest of her unlucky day only to have a near death experience. But she ... can't figure out how she's still alive. And somehow it seems like she went back a little in time. After some experimenting, Makoto discovers she can literally leap through time. So what does she decide to do with her new time traveling ability? Just a bunch of dumb stuff to make her unlucky life a little luckier. However, her time traveling has some unexpected results on the people around her as well as herself.

The story of "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" starts off a little slow with Makoto's normal school life, but where it truly shines is in the drama built up due to the changes made because of her time traveling ability. She begins to realize that the slightest changes in her life can have drastic impacts on the people around her (and you'd think she might have some back problems as well due to all the rolling into walls and other things).

The characters mostly consist of Makoto and her two best male friends, Chiaki and Kousuke, as well as some of the minor characters affected by her time traveling. Makoto is a great lead character. She's extremely relatable and goes through an amazing amount of development during this hour and a half movie. All she wants is to just enjoy her life with her two friends without anything changing. From playing catch after school, to her and Chiaki being scolded in the morning by Kousuke for being late, she enjoys her life despite how unlucky she is sometimes. Chiaki and Kousuke are both popular guys, and they tend to spend most of their free time after school with Makoto. Despite being main characters, I felt these two didn't get quite as much development as they should have, but some of that is because it's a little difficult to develop when everything is unknowingly being repeated many times. There's also Makoto's female friend named Yuri, a group of girls in the Volunteer Club, and a few other supporting characters who are all good despite not getting much development at all.

The animation is good and poor at the same time. Characters in the background tend to be very poorly detailed, but the scenery always looks gorgeous (though it does make the strange-looking characters look a little worse by comparison). However, up close, the characters are well drawn and look great. Due to the time traveling aspect, several scenes and locations are shown multiple times, but it's necessary for the story and the repetition never becomes annoying. The soundtrack didn't stand out very much since there's a lot of time in the movie without any background music. When it was there, it added nicely to the scenes, though, and especially to the dramatic ones. On the other hand, the movie also uses a lack of any sound at all to add a nice tension to several suspenseful scenes.

This is an excellent, dramatic movie with a small amount of romance thrown in. The movie can actually be quite funny at times, especially with Makoto's priceless reactions to some things. With a great lead character and a good supporting cast, good animation despite some issues in the background, suspenseful moments, surprising plot twists, and an interesting look at time travel, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is an excellent movie which anyone who has ever wanted to turn back time and change their lives like Makoto does should watch.

This movie caught my attention way back when it first came out, due to the interesting premise of a high-school drama played out to the tune of quirky time travel - a fascinating combination of genres and concepts. Where time-travel is usually limited to the geekdom of science-fiction, and as such is used as a platform for (often overly) serious storytelling, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time whacks it onto an otherwise basic drama story to create a fresh, accessible movie with a gratifying romantic plot, and a zany, time-leaping twist. The protagonist, Makoto, has as much fun with the idea of time-travel as her ... audience, abusing it for the frivolous and the trivial, as a source of unending entertainment, which leads to a whole slew of amusing scenes toward the beginning of the film. However, it is not until she begins to utilise her ability to travel back in time to avoid responsibility, particularly in avoiding being asked out by someone she considers a friend, that the consequences of her selfish antics begin to accumulate to disastrous effect. This leads the film in an emotionally gripping and turbulent direction as she begins to regret what she has done.

The dramatic themes of the films are juvenile in nature, that is, they deal quite simplistically with the indecision of youth, the inability to look to the future, and unrequited high school love. Some people above this age-group may be hesitant in this respect, but I found it wholly enjoyable because of a strong sense of Nostalgia. I found that it was disturbingly easy to relate to these characters from my memories of how I felt then. Makoto’s emotional immaturity and short-sightedness felt very familiar to me.

The main theme of the film revolves around the line “Time waits for no one”, which Makoto reads on a blackboard the day she gains the ability to leap through time, and is an understated strength of the film. The romantic aspects of the film perhaps are allowed to overshadow this theme, but the very end of the film delivers a strong conclusive moral; it is not until Makoto has well and truly learned her lesson from her obsession with shaping the present, that she is able to look to the future and truly appreciate the meaning of the phrase “time waits for no one”. It was interesting to see time-travel used in this respect, by this kind of character. Whereas the consequences of time-travel are usually dealt with in terms of the dangers of changing the future by changing the past, this movie deals with the idea of consequences resultant of using it to try and avoid changing the present. Makoto’s desperation to maintain the status quo of the life she enjoys so much ultimately proves to her that it’s better to face the future.

The romantic aspect, thanks to very believable characterisation and sharp dialogue that doesn’t pander to soppy romanticism or employ passionate monologues of profession, is very satisfying. For most of the film, love is approached in a realistic day-to-day-life approach that lends it an engaging sincerity. Clichés of romance, begone! More anime need to adopt the concept that you don’t need to look like a French aristocrat and carry a rose to fall in love. The central romance between Makoto and Chiaki is given above average depth by her initial obliviousness to his interest, which, through the challenges the film hits them with, turns to a believable yearning. The network of crushes and adolescent infatuations built up by the supporting characters is perhaps a bit tiresome and needlessly melodramatic, but the relationship between the two lead characters certainly elevates the film from interesting to engaging.

The music, while far from bad or intrusive, is entirely forgettable, employing the time-old (and sufficiently effective) use of violins and piano to back the emotional scenes. The animation is nothing spectacular for a movie anime at all, but because we can’t grade all cinematic anime with the high-budget Ghibli productions, I don’t really have any complaints. The cel animation is very simplistic, but also very fluid and colourful, which may well be a style that is more fitting of the energetic youthfulness of the protagonist. It is an attractive film nonetheless, with really fantastic character designs (particularly Makoto) that don’t rely on stupid hair colours or styles to differentiate characters. The background art is high quality, as should be expected at the movie level, but is nothing exceptional. The element of the production that most seduced me was the seiyuus; Makoto’s seiyuu, who appears to be relatively new to the anime scene, was a perfect casting choice, and put in a strong performance. Without her performance bringing Makoto to life with such vibrancy and gusto, the film could have very easily been quite dull. Chiaki’s seiyuu was also notabley well-cast and was a perfect match for Makoto’s voice, making their interplay very fun to listen to.

When all is said and done, this film is not the kind of film that will go down in history, or leap to the forefront of people’s favourite anime lists; it is not an exceptional movie, but I think anyone who enjoys a well-written drama will agree when I say it is a good film. If anything, it is a film that will be remembered for its sincerity and its quiet originality. Older fans may not appreciate its immature themes, but for the rest of us, this is a very hard film to dislike. It is perhaps bogged down in the middle of the film with Makoto’s frustratingly silly actions and the unnecessary complexion of the many romantic interests, but it is, for the most part, fun and engaging.

‘Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo’, or ‘The Girl Who Leapt Through Time’ as it is known in English, is one of the first anime movies to grab my attention. The story of a girl who gains the ability to travel through time, and then faces the consequences of using it, is pretty well known among anime fans. The question is though, is this anime chronology hopping anime a future classic? Or is it an unoriginal, repetitive timewaster?

This is not the first incarnation of the story; in its native Japan it has been adapted into several films and TV dramas. This animated version is actually a ... sequel to the original story, but don’t worry- you don’t need to have seen the original version to make sense of it all.

The films storyline takes the fairly basic idea of taking a normal person, and bestowing them with powers which they are unable to control. In the case of ‘Taki wo Kakeru Shoujo’ this works quite well. The main character, Matoko Konno is a tomboy who enjoys baseball, does poorly in school and is a bit careless, so when she becomes able to travel backwards in time, she mostly uses it for trivial things without considering the consequences of her actions. Like most other stories involving time travel though, there are consequences.

We can relate to Matoko’s naive, but generally innocent fun. If all the little mistakes we make in our day to day life- the things which embarrass us and cause us a little grief- could be taken away, most people would be only to happy to put an end to them. Matoko is a likable character and, for the most part, realistic.

The other characters are just as good. Chiaki and Kousuke are both believable and the rest of the cast fit nicely into the normal Japanese high school.

The character design is a realistic but relatively simple style, similar to the more ‘adult’ Studio Ghibli titles such as ‘Only Yesterday’ and ‘Ocean Waves’. But make no mistake. This is not because the animators are lazy, as illustrated by the wonderful CGI effects used in the time leap scenes, something I normally meet with scorn. We are treated to a wonderful show of times progression, including an homage to Van Gogh’s “A Starry Night”. The backgrounds are well drawn, too. The baseball field, the city streets and even a motorway overpass shine with beauty.

In fact, I find it ironic that the painting is actually not very attractive to look at.

Of course, beautiful art should come with beautiful music. Classical piano music is predominantly the music of choice throughout the film, and it works petty well. Unfortunately it’s not up to the standard of the artwork, but good nonetheless.

The voice acting is excellent. For this review I watched the Japanese version with English subtitles, but those who prefer an English Dub need not worry as it is very high quality. No matter what your preference, you are well catered.

The Girl Who Leapt Through time is a thoroughly enjoyable anime movie, an ideal choice for someone who is either relatively new to anime, or for someone who a seasoned fan who has let this gem slip into the wayside.

I’m sceptical that people will unravel the mysteries of time travel; even more so that such a powerful thing would ever fall into the hands of an ordinary teenage girl. However, one thing that I can be a lot more certain of is that ‘Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo’ is a title that you will be leaping back to again and again.

I put this movie on with absolutely no expectations, as I had read nothing about it nor read any reviews. And, I was very pleasently surprised. Of course, pleasent surprises sometimes shift appraisal drastically, so take my review with that as being a possibility.

Despite the aforementioned, the animation/art was absolutely fantastic. Visual effects were tastefully intermixed with standard animation bringing what might have been trite visuallizations to rather astonishing moments, if brief, to colorful life. Although I was not particularly fond of the background used during the main character's many "leaps". Accompanied soundtrack was nothing extraordinary, as I can hardly remember it. Though it may ... have simply been overshadowed by the story and art.

If there was something truly enjoyable, it was the character interactions and scripting. Within such a brief span you could become enamored with several characters, laugh at their hysterics and cry through their moments of loss and frustration. This accomplishment alone deserves praise, by comparison many serialized anime fail to do this in even quadruple the time given.

Also making this title shine was its conclusion; it perfectly avoided the trap so many anime fall into, thinking they must throw in a dramatic twist simply for a dramatic reaction, regardless of how it affects the overall story and audience's emotions. My own personal afterthought was of a euphoric and character involving story that left me with a smile and a regretless time well spent!

"When you're enjoying yourself, doesn't that mean somebody else is suffering as a result?"

Every person in this world had wished to go back in time at some point; whether it be to fix a mistake or to experience an event again, it's all the same. Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo is about a girl, Konno Makoto, who obtains the ability to leap back into time. At the beginning, she uses her newfound powers for trivial things to make her life more fun and exciting. However, as she changes events that were supposed to happen, she creates more problems, uncovers secrets, and experiences more pain than satisfaction. ... Through her course of actions, she learns that changing the past causes drastic consequences. As she attempts to fix her wrongs, it may be too late since "time waits for no one".

This is a simple story about a girl who learns that "with great power comes great responsibility". The beginning is lighthearted and joyful. It seems to be an ordinary slice-of-life. Somehow, she stumbles upon a device which allows her to time leap; however, she does not know she has this ability yet. After an extremely unlucky day, she accidentally uses her powers to prevent her own tragedy.
There are many questions that are not answered. As expected from a show about moving through time, there are many possible plot holes and unless otherwise explained, remain plot holes. Unfortunately, this show is no exception and contains many unfulfilled questions; about the characters and concept of time traveling.
The conflicts that arise for the protagonist, Makoto, are well developed. It greatly illustrates the butterfly effect of the chaos theory (for anyone interested in time traveling). For a simple explanation, it shows changing one small thing in the past can create a great change in the future. The conclusion was not satisfying. As stated before, there were many questions unanswered and the ending did not clarify much.

For a movie aired in 2006, there was not much expectations for the art, but it was surprisingly fresh and alluring. The animation of body movements was smooth and seemed natural. The designs of the characters were not extravagant but they differed and had their own unique traits that it was easy to differentiate among them. The setting is well-done and even people in the background are animated nicely. However, it was noticeable that some actions seemed awkward but they are usually short and can be overlooked. Whenever Makoto time leaps, she enters what I will call a "time warp area" which seems to illustrate the various timelines. Although this representation is nice, it was a drastic change in art style and elicited more questions about time traveling.

The music reflects the tone of the plot. As the plot progresses, so does the music. All the music choices were enjoyable and pleasant to the ear. Sound effects were detailed and placed meticulously at the right time. The voice acting was incredible and it was especially appealing to hear the emotions shown through the voice of the protagonist. It can be evident through the pitch and tone of her voice of exactly what she is feeling. Tension was also built by the absence of a lot of noise. By creating an almost silent atmosphere, the audience's attention is drawn to what the characters are saying.

Konno Makoto is an easily liked protagonist. She is innocent, fun, and outgoing. She is supposed to be the dynamic character, the one who learns something and changes for the better through experience. However, this change was too sudden and did not gradually happen. The beginning showed no growth and rushed it at the end.
Mamiya Chiaki is one of Makoto's closest friends. He is shown to be joking, playful, and stubborn. Although it may not be obvious in the beginning, he greatly cares for Makoto, her well-being and her feelings. However, later in the story, something is revealed about Chiaki that the audience may assume is a plot twist. The movie does take a few minutes to explain this but it did not settle well.
Makoto's other close friend, is Tsuda Kousuke. He is extremely friendly with everyone and is presented as the nice guy. With Makoto and Chiaki, the three of them form that perfect trio. They always hang with each other and have fun. Although Kousuke does not contribute to the plot until the end, his existence was necessary in order to move the plot forward.
Minor characters display a seemingly small role in the overall story but what they say at the beginning and the end of the movie is perhaps what completes the change for Makoto's character. There are many minor characters in the movie. Notable ones being, Kaho, Yuri, and Takase. Kaho is responsible for the change in the tone of the plot, Yuri is the person who reveals the change in Makoto, and Takase is the one who exhibits the consequences of Makoto's time leaping.

Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo was an enjoyable anime. The theme may not be original but the delivery is there. Consequences were the highlights of the show while explanations of time were the downfalls. The art was suitable and relatively delightful and sound was fine. Overall, it was -time- well spent.

Being an avid fan of both sci-fi and romance, especially when presented in a glamorous and genuine style, I naturally didn’t think twice about watching it. Now considering that this is indeed the eight adaptation of Kakeru Shoujo I will make no comparisons or any relations to other versions of this film, since the others are non-anime anyway.

This film ostensibly presents itself to be a forthright tale on the ability of time-travel and the inevitable ramifications that result from it. To fully appreciate the magnitude and prudent motif the viewer must be astute and open minded. The predominant message carried throughout plot is allusive ... rather than straightforward but not to the extent of being incomprehensible or enigmatic.

Story: The story begins with our primary protagonists, senior high classmates Makoto, Chiaki, and Kousuke, who have sustained a close friendship together for the past year. It’s very obvious that they are very inattentive and remiss to their rapidly altering lives as they reach a critical point in their till then static lives, adulthood. Makoto in particular evidently is eager to undertake any bizarre drastic measures to prolong her tranquil life, remaining inattentive to whatever outcomes may arise.

As if devised by fate, her life is radically changed forever, as Makoto stumbles upon this exotic divine contraption that grants her the ability to time-travel into the past. From then on every memorable and joyous experience transpiring is replayed ceaselessly, Makoto’s life couldn’t be more blissful. However she gradually comes to shockingly recognize just how conceited and narcissistic she has become. As Makoto was relishing in hypnagogic wonderland, those dearest to her were suffering as a direct result.

Makoto’s aspiration for a utopian and insouciant lifestyle that is eternal brought about a calamitous and dreadful result. Degradation and contrition now engulfed her as she discerns how the lives of those precious to her have been unknowingly been tampered and dismantled time and time again. As Makoto deduces how to resolve this complication, she will soon also come to the astonishing revelation that she isn’t the only time-traveler out there.

Art: The quality of the background/landscape animations are on par with the preponderance of today’s top quality animation films. The background settings are elegant and quite exquisite, it really does portray a realistic environment effectively. The character designs themselves are peculiar to say the least, they aren’t precisely realistic or innovative but certainly aren’t cliché either.

Sound: The music and background sounds aren’t top-level perfection grade, but are still exhilarating and breathtaking to listen to. The sound is quintessential for constructing and setting the ambiance.

Characters: The character development is what excels vigorously in Kakeru Shoujo over the vast majority of standard anime that desperately strive to do so. The fundamental reason for this being the diverse array of exceptional characters. It’s commendable just how divergent yet analogous each protagonist was to one another. The principal changes and internal conflict that drove this intense story and carried it to such perfection was all due to their contrasting and adamant personalities. Of course none of this could’ve been accomplished without the absolute fabulous and impressive cast of voice actors chosen for this film, and it’s a shame they haven’t voiced much since.

Enjoyment: An underlying reason why this movie achieved and prospered as much as it did was because it was designed for and utilized a considerable diversity of themes and genres, but in a conservative manner. By executing the film in this particular way you can appeal to all audiences/viewer types, just makes a well diversified, gratifying and compassionate film even more groundbreaking. Still the most gratifying and crucial aspect from Kakeru Shoujo it so elegantly conveys to us is the manner in which we as people should live. I would readily and eagerly divulge that message to you but then that would ruin your experience of the film (even though some other reviewers might already have SPOILER). That about concludes my review, Kakeru Shoujo is a genuine distinguished masterpiece(well almost 9 out of 10) that is appealing for all viewers to enjoy, so don’t miss it.

First, let me just say I tend to enjoy watching/reading stories that involve the theme of time travel. Going back in time to fix things and relive various moments in our lives has always intrigued me, as well as the consequences behind doing those things. Every little thing we change in the past may adversely affect our futures/present, kind of like the butterfly effect. Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo takes these ideas and themes and creates a very enjoyable film.

Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo is a modern reinterpretation of a well known Japanese novel of the same name. The original protagonist ... makes an appearance in the anime adaptation as the Aunt of the main character, Makoto.

Makoto is quite a likeable character that has problems and worries that your average high school student may have. In addition, she is a very energetic person yet isn’t the bit annoying, perhaps this is due to the more subdued nature of the film. Sadly the other characters weren’t as interesting or charming as Makoto. However, for a film that’s 100 minutes long this is to be expected as they don’t have time to delve into the other characters.

In terms of technical merit there isn’t anything to complain about. The animation was done by Madhouse as well as being a movie, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that the quality was top notch. Music and sounds while not as good as the animation it was nevertheless very good. The only thing I can mark down it terms of technical merit would be the voice acting of Makoto. Mind you that I rather liked Makoto’s voice actor. Her voice reminded of Kana Hanazawa (CV Ryoko from Zegapain) and it was enjoyable to listen to. However, I wasn’t convinced when some of the more emotional scenes came up, especially when she cries. For the most part Makoto’s voice actor did a very good job with the charming and very energetic character. The other roles really didn’t stick out as Makoto really stole the movie.

As I mentioned before, Makoto is your typical HS girl and uses her newfound powers to solve her mundane problems. This is to be expected, as when your in HS the problems we had were typically small in scope. I’ll be honest, when I was in HS my biggest problems were not embarrassing myself or doing well on some random quiz. So it was quite entertaining to watch Makoto abuse her powers on the most ordinary things. From helping her friends love life to reliving your favorite meal. Ok going back in time to relive your favorite meal is simply brilliant and if I had time traveling powers I probably do that.

The pacing of the movie was nearly flawless. Each time she jumped the consequences escalated and peaks around 2/3 of the film. At this point the movie falters quite a bit. I’m not saying the last third was bad its just nowhere near as good as the first 2/3. The science fiction part became more apparent, but that that didn’t really annoy me as it never became the focus. Most of the problems stem from Chiaki, in particular the questions that arise from him as well as his motivations. I find it extremely difficult to talk about the last third without spoiling some things so you’ll have to live with my ambiguous comments.

In the end, Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo is a very enjoyable film that stumbles a bit in the end.

"Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo" is not the anime I thought it was going to be. It's actually a very well done coming of age love story. If you are not into this type of story, you may still want to watch this show.
It has a beauty to it that is done really well.

As you're reading the synopsis, that is really the whole story. How it is executed is very well done.
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, and that is true in Makoto's actions.
Selfish action usually come with regret, especially regret you wouldn't come to expect or be aware of most of the ... time.
That is captured very well in this film.

For it is a love story between many characters in this film, it tries to get it wrong with all of them until the end, and with good reason.
There may be plot holes due to the time travel aspect, and it could be confusing at times, but that's not the point of the series.
If you had the ability to turn back time and do something over again, would it really turn out better than what has already surmised?

The art in this picture is quite unique when it comes to animation. The movement is realistic, despite the obvious reduction in quality at times on the characters. The backgrounds are always detailed and beautiful. The animation is never confusing, or a mess. All the work of fine hands.

The sound in this picture. The music is some of the best you may hear when it comes to anime film and adaptation. It's actually one of the reasons why this film is so memorable to me, I immediately looked for the OST as soon as I was finished watching the film, I just love it (Who dislikes Bach in the first place?).
Like with many anime films, the Seiyuu that were chosen for the main and supporting characters don't usually do voice over work. Despite this, the seiyuu are all excellent, and act their characters flawlessly.
Makoto's hint of immaturity is captured in her voice.
Chiaki's delinquent like attitude is captured.
Kousuke's calm and worry are captured.
Kozuko's understanding and acceptance shine through.
SFX are well done as well.

There are not many characters in this series despite it being about :Spoiler: simultaneous love triangles.

The thing I like the most in this film is the realistic character interactions between these characters, especially Makoto and her family when they are on screen.

Makoto is the girl who leaps through time, she is quite an immature little bugger.

Chiaki and Kousuke are Makoto's close friends (they never refer to each other by their last names, shows their relationship together).
I'll just leave it at that.

Kazuko Yoshiyama is a very mysterious character, she's the one Makoto reconciles to after her Time Leap events. :Mild Spoiler: She becomes very mysterious after explaining that she has time leaped as well in the past. It is never explained.

---

This is a beautiful film.
The realistic character interactions, well paced, well acted, and perfect score, all come together to create a great adaptation!

“Time is the most indefinable yet paradoxical of things; the past is gone, the future is not come, and the present becomes the past even while we attempt to define it, and, like the flash of lightning, at once exists and expires.” – Charles Colton

In Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo, or TokiKake, you follow Makoto, a high school girl who struggles to understand that time is the one thief that we cannot get justice against. One day, after a series of unfortunate events, she realizes that she has the ability to (literally) leap through time. Wanting to fix every little thing that bothered her, she uses ... her ability to her heart’s content until she realizes that she might be doing more harm than good and that a butterfly that flaps its wings in Brazil causes a hurricane in Texas.

While I’ve complained time and again on how many anime start off on a sour and unpromising note, I’m happy to say that TokiKake is not one of them. The movie grabs your attention as soon as the opening credits roll (which, by the way, is presented in a mesmerizing manner) and it stays just as gripping for the entire 90 minutes it runs. If you were to ask me to isolate a moment where I felt the anime slackened in its pace, I would have nowhere to point my finger at. The plot is kept fresh with events that spring up from nowhere and take you completely off guard.

Makoto, the protagonist, is an ordinary high school tomboy, except that she’s a bit of a delinquent and hangs around with two senior boys all the time. Full of zest and zeal, she gives even hardcore Haruhi Suzumiya fans a run for their money. Makoto does not want to make history or even make her own life perfect – she just wants tomorrow to be better than today. Now, being the narrator of a movie, Makoto carries the whole story on her shoulders and this puts an enormous amount of pressure on the seiyu. But Riisa Naka manages to pull it off with ease and plays her role to perfection.

The animation was perfect. The simplistic character designs enhance the authenticity of the anime. Backgrounds are drawn neatly, with nothing extravagant. Overall, a neat job with art that is perfect for this kind of movie.

The soundtrack too, is superb. The melancholy and drama in music add to the ambience.

Which brings me to the feel of the show. And this is the glue that holds all the other elements together. The movie successfully captures the school atmosphere. While time travel is a concept often associated with prophecies, mad scientists and other dramatic events that control the fate of the world, TokiKake, once again, takes a unique and natural stance by limiting the time travelling to a teenage girl’s mindset. It is able to tell you a tale of Slice of Life, without diving too deep into the Supernatural aspect. And by doing so, your experience is enhanced tenfold as the viewer is able to connect on an emotional level with a normal high school student.

Overall, this show is high school anime at its best. It looks and feels very natural and takes a complex concept such as time travel and portrays it in a simple, but effective manner.

[ THE WRAP-UP ]
Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo is a heartwarming tale about a high school student with the ability to travel through time. Instead of creating an adrenaline pumping thriller, it uses the concept of time travel to weave a story of love, jealousy, redemption and most importantly, salvation and thus making it action packed in its own right. While the characters are nothing completely out of the box, it is their normalcy that gives movie an air of authenticity. The animation is simple and the soundtrack is a wonderful aural experience. While keeping your eyes glued to the screen for 90 minutes, it also manages to teach you that it is impossible to plan the future through the past. This is not just one of the best anime, but also one of the best movies I've ever seen. It is truly “timeless”.

THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME: Perfect balance of exposition and plot development

What I really like about this story is that it presents the clichéd concept of time travel differently. Most time travel stories don’t even consider time travel its core concept. The concept is just there to add an impression of historical fiction. But The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a different case. All of the plot elements revolve around time travel.

Speaking of plot elements, this anime clearly knows how to establish them without appearing to be information dumping. They are interwoven with the actual plot development, meaning that they are presented while ... the main story is progressing. It makes the show a lot more fun to watch, because from the very start, something is actually happening, and it’s not just bombarding the viewers with boring exposition. In this sense, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is much better compared to Steins Gate.

What makes everything better, even suspenseful, is when these plot elements create a butterfly effect. One change through time travelling could have tremendous repercussions in future events.

But as much as I like the story, it’s not perfect. There are instances that I felt that it has been dragged out. There are plot elements that could have been removed and nothing would change in the overall story. Aside from that, I also didn’t like that concept about Chiaki being from the future and everything else about that big reveal. It just spoils the magic for me. And the ending is a bit lacking as well, maybe because it has not much cathartic value, considering everything Makoto has been through.

I really like Makoto Kanno as a character. But this is biased -- I just like characters that are naive. I find it fun to see their good intentions result into tragedy. As for the other characters, there’s really nothing much to say, because this anime is mostly focused on Makoto. The only other character that has a fair share of screen time is Chiaki. I admit that their hints of a romantic relationship are interesting. They add to the seemingly plot-oriented nature of the story.

The art style is also unique. It’s not very detailed but not very bland too to appear uninspired. The music is not amazing, but I admit that there are soundtracks that deliver the emotions that the show wants to present.

Overall, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is of above average quality -- almost amazing, if not for the lacklustre ending. The story is very unique, and sometimes it could even be too hard to understand for those who are not very bright. It doesn’t take a genius to understand the story, but it does require some thinking to follow through. But the best part of this story is not the story itself, but the lessons that are hidden between the lines. I recommend this anime to those who are not bored with anime that are not too flashy with action-packed sequences, and to those who believe that the true entertainment value of a great story is how the plot elements are interwoven to create suspense and drama.

Whenever it flows, something withers in return. Its unforgiving nature permits one’s existence to substantiate, but never does it show a flare of sympathy. The movement of its hands is a constant reminder that life is a pulpit for irreversible processes. And ultimately, it is a treasure box of triumphs and mischiefs.

From a splendid novel written by the revered Yasutaka Tsutsui, the original creator of the psychologically stimulating Paprika which was also adapted into an anime film in the same year, comes the tale of Makoto Konno, a puerile high school girl who has accidentally obtained the ability to “literally” leap through time. She ... initially uses her power to time-travel for her own egotistical desires, but as she continues to descend through the past, she gradually learns of the drastic consequences her naivety ramifies to. Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo is absolutely one of the most illustrious flicks that have reigned Japan’s animation industry as it is maneuvered by the highly acclaimed Mamoru Hosoda and visually supplemented by the ever so majestic Madhouse Studios. The film magnificently brings us back to our youth, nourishes every corner of our emotions with a strong affinity to its characters and flourishes our minds with the underlying significance of the spontaneous ticks of the clock’s hands.

Although the perplexing concept of time travel is employed in the stream of events of the film, TokiKake adheres strongly to the consequences and mishaps the aforementioned phenomenon forks to rather than furrowing meticulously the science which triggers the ability. The flick places our perspectives to the expounding vision of Makoto as she incessantly leaps through time to feed her narcissistic delights and fix the mistakes she had committed. However, the aftermath of her slaphappy concerns to the tread of seconds is what disjointed her from her mundane life. The composition heartily resonates the naivety we’ve had as teenagers and the incautious decisions we often made whenever scarce chances fall before us. Furthermore, it foregrounds the most essential platform in which every form of existence in this planet revolves around which is “time” and manages to invoke its theme from the very first second down to the last drop. There is an absolute blithe atmosphere of realism housing the film all throughout which makes more gratifying to watch. It also manages to warmly captivate the viewers with the accurate depiction of youth in the stage of life in this story of puerility.

“Time waits for no one.”

Despite the number of times Makoto has to spring herself back to the past, one thing remains constant in TokiKake, and in life per se- the perpetual flow of time. The plot impeccably encapsulates the reason why the ceaseless and inexorable ticktocks of the clock should be provided with utmost heed in the splendor of the film’s remarkable writing. Moreover, it never digresses from its path and it consistently conjures the crux of the composition regarding the aforesaid adage.

Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo’s most eminent component is definitely lodged in its characters. Whilst the film takes most of its time investing ourselves to Makoto through her self-serving deeds, it also excellently introduces us to the other casts who also play crucial roles for the development of the story itself. These main ensembles include two of Makoto’s best friends Chiaki Mamia, an externally thickened compassionate person, and Kousuke Tsuda, a complaisant one. Additionally, the other casts like her aunt and her classmate recur time after time yet they’ve only gotten to furnish themselves through a short span of significant exchange of words. The few count of characters also allows the crafty portrayal of naturalism to strikingly wallop the viewers in sheer amazement. In addition, although the entire plot only circulates around a constant repetition of three days, everyone gets to have their characters meliorated, but not as much as the centerpiece, Makoto.

There is an impinging sense of realism in the depiction of TokiKake’s characters which resplendently forbids the viewers from sorting them to the formulaic pieces of most of the anime series out there. Makoto’s personation in the film precisely limns every tad of naiveté crafted from an adolescent’s innocence. And with the attachment of time travelling, the viewers are stipulated to relive their high school lives through the bitsy merriment of experiencing the amusements over and over again. Having these naturalistic portrayals of sappiness in the characters, which are rarely exhibited in animated media, definitely brings out an exceptional beauty in TokiKake.

As far as the production goes, Madhouse Studios emphatically brought out their staggering capabilities in aggrandizing this flick. The intricate creation of the backgrounds absolutely augments the essence of actuality. In addition, they have served splendidly as the picturesque platforms for the fluidity of the animation during the events in the film which radiate the pleasing and melancholic experiences. Yoshiyuki Sadamoto’s character designs, on the other hand, doesn’t seem to dazzle as much as his previous notable works like Neon Genesis Evangelion and the .hack// franchise. However, provided with the fact that TokiKake endeavors to fortify realism through its characters, the designs perfectly beseem the persona of the casts. The direction helmed by Mamoru Hosoda as his first major project is overwhelming and brilliant in spades. He succeeds in enamoring the viewers with his prowess to portray real life’s mundaneness and the characters’ naturalism even in a film which involves the concept of time travelling. And fortuitously after his success in TokiKake, he continues to attest his brilliance in his succeeding films like Summer Wars in 2009 and Ookami Kodomo no Ame to Yuki three years after.

Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo’s soundtrack magnificently embellishes the scenes in which they were rendered. They easily set the ambience of the situations and simultaneously tunes the modality of the characters to befit themselves stronger as they depict their roles in the plot. To boot, both of Hanako Oku’s song contribution to the film, “Kawaranai Mono” and “Garnet” overpoweringly intensify the melancholy of the viewers. With the former used as an insert song during the juncture, it splendidly triumphs in intertwining the varying emotions and potently exalts the viewers in a tremendous awe. Whilst played during the ending credits, the latter capsulizes everything in the film and caters the viewers the time as well as the beautiful melody to contemplate with the movie.

Regarding the voice acting performances, they all sound as natural as the crafted personas of the characters. And despite having Japanese actors and actresses rather than professional seiyuus, the way Riisa Naka, Takuya Ishida and Mitsutaka Itakura (Makoto, Chiaki and Kousuke respectively) enunciated their lines certainly isn’t jarring and provides life to the characters they play.

On the whole, Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo foregathers the puerility and naivety during our adolescence and recaptures it astoundingly through a brilliant film execution. I have seen this work of magnificent artistry numerous times already, and every moment the flick rolls, it is as though I’m also leaping through time with Makoto to remain in an unchanging chain of youthful mirth.
But alas, time continues to wait for no one. Its flow withers all forms of existence. Its unforgiving nature allow us to grasp delights momentarily, but never does it show a flare of sympathy. The movement of its hands is a constant reminder that life is a pulpit for irreversible processes. And ultimately, it is a treasure box of triumphs and mischiefs.

Unlike Makoto’s tale, this world’s reality keeps the time travelling concept beyond humanity’s reach, and hence we can only embrace the present and look forward to the future. Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo resplendently renders this theme and within a span of an hour and a half, it will surely toss you back to your early days.

Overall: This movie, after watching it, immediately became one of my favourites with a high rewatch value. Why? The film, in my own opinion, is a masterpiece. The story is brilliant, the art is simplistic in terms of characters and realistic in terms of scenery. The soundtrack is wonderful, Hanako Oku, is a wonderful singer and an excellent composer. The characters are good as they shows how human they actually are, they aren't anyone special(apart from the obvious) but that is how they create such a good impact. I enjoyed this movie so much I can't even express the words to say how much I ... enjoyed it!

Story: You've all read the synopsis for "Toki wo Kakeru Shojo", so you know they basic plot. But just remember this, apart from having the ability to leap through time it is meant to symbolise ordinary life. Keep that in mind. Regular life, regular friends, regular non enjoyment of school, the whole lot of it. That is what makes this story better, because take out the time leaping and you have an ordinary story which is still enjoyable. I can't say much, cause of the guidelines, but I can tell you to pay attention to the art gallery, that's all I'm gonna say(and don't worry, nothing scary happens there! ^^) Overall Story is Outstanding!

Art: As I said before. The character art is simplistic, I thought that it was better that way, I have no idea why, so I'll let you decide that on your own! The scenery design is realistic, the art for the scenery is terrific because it looks so real(well, as real as 2-D animation can look). Overall, Art is Outstanding!

Sound: Don't get me started with the music. It is wonderful. Hanako Oku, as said, is a wonderful composer and a good singer. Her songs fit perfectly in the movie. The ending theme "Garnet" is like a window into Makoto's thoughts, it describes her feelings perfectly. Hanako's insert song for the film, "Kawaranai Mono" or "Unchanging Things" is a wonderful song, although the title is contradictory to the film, most likely for good reason. The soundtrack used in the film is wonderful, at times making you want to cry. The voice acting is terrific, the seiyuu's completely fit the characters. Naka Riisa, her voice perfectly fits Makoto mainly because it isn't some old woman voicing a young character but it is a young girl voicing a young girl(personally I love that fact)! Overall, Sound is ABSOLUTELY Outstanding!

Character: I love the character of Makoto and of the others. Makoto's character is just so likable partly because she is an ordinary high school girl but mainly because her personality is so... good. (I'm sorry! I'm not good with character reviews!) Kousuke and Chiaki fit the role of her friends. They just get along so well with her. Makoto's auntie is a good character as Makoto is able to confide in her and she will listen and hand out advice. Overall, Character is Outstanding!

Enjoyment: I enjoyed this film very much. I just clicked with it. Don't get me wrong, it isn't my first animated movie, I have seen many before it, but this one immediately became a favourite of mine. I just clicked with it, I'm not sure how to further that, but it is a very enjoyable film. Overall, Enjoyment was Outstanding!


Notes: A message is present throughout the film. "Time waits for no one". As you can guess, it means that we only get one chance at life because we can't leap through time. So we need to live life to its fullest and have fun!

Hope you enjoyed my review! It was my first so it probably isn't that good, but hopefully it was helpful! ^^

Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo, or The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is the simplest masterpiece I have seen yet. It was so simple, and yet so deep at the same time. When I first started watching it, I was like, okay it's just gonna be another movie about a girl who can go back in time and in the end messes a lot of things up because of what she does. And it kept true to the point. But the development between the characters is what kept me leaning in my seat.

The character art is nothing to brag about, but the story doesn't call ... for spectacular characters. Its simplicity is what makes it something you have to see.

The characters are very believable as well. There just ordinary high school students, coming to the end of the year, summer ahead and deciding what they want to do with themselves. Well except for the very obvious 'time leap' which is not ordinary. But the relationships and the kids themselves are so ordinary and so real. I found myself immersed in how each interaction was going to play out. Sometimes I cried, or I yelled out in frustration, or I laughed at how ridiculous they could be. And how Makoto reacts to Chiaki is exactly how I imagined a girl her age, in that position might do. But she grows because of what happens.

The sound was perfect.Especially at the end. The song fit exactly with Makoto and how she was thinking. Personally, I loved the music.

I didn't care much for the scenes of when Makoto time leapt. It didn't seem to fit with how I pictured it.

The recurring theme 'time waits for no one' is the most important point. It's all about making the choices now, because there is no time like the present. It also points out that, in reality you can't just jump back in time and redo your life. What you choose now, is how you live. So you should live how you want and make each day count. Take the time to cherish what you are given in the time you have.

And the ending was perfect. I almost wish that something different had happened at the end, which is the most heart pounding, tear jerking scene I had seen yet, but it fit just right. There could be nothing better than an ending with a beginning.

All in all I myself give it a 10, because it deserves it. The depth it had behind its simplicity is astounding. I couldn't have spent my time more wisely than in watching this movie. If you liked 5 Centimeters Per Second, The Place Promised In Our Early Days, or Voices of a Distant Star than you should definitely take the time to watch this. I bought it.

When I first heard about Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo(The Girl Who Leapt Through Time), I have to admit-- I was skeptical. It sounded just kinda stupid to me: A girl who went back in time, and paid for it later. Woop-de-doo-dah. However, when I finally got around to watching it, I really regretted not seeing it sooner. (Very first review, so bear with me on this one!)

Story (9): You've read the synopsis, but I don't really think that it gives enough credit to the story. Its about a high school girl, Makoto, who is klutzy, unorganized, and not very lucky. Then one day, she ... wanders into the science lab, trips, and thus begins her wild adventures. From being saved by a bike wreck, to leaping back in time to simply steal pudding from her sister, Makoto's time leaping is original, funny, and new, while also having consequences so real that made me think, "I sure am glad I'm not Makoto right about now!"

Art (8): One of the reasons I put off Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo is because of the art. I'm extremely picky when it comes to art. I'm used to watching masterpieces such as Hayao Miyazaki's films, and wasn't about to commit to something I didn't think reached that level of art. In truth, it doesn't. However, I grew to really like the simple style, and really admire the way the background scenes contributed nicely to the moods of the character. I especially admired the "frozen in time" scenes. Very beautiful. It was nicely done.

Sound (10): Certainly a soundtrack I want to pick up. Most of the music is piano, which adds nicely to the heartfelt/intense scenes, and also the happy, funny scenes.

Character (10): Definitely my favorite part of the whole movie. The main character, Makoto, can't be described in any number of words, though I do have to say that she was freakin' hilarious. I couldn't stop laughing practically the entire movie. She was voiced so wonderfully by Naka Riisa-san, whose voice is at the perfect level to where its not high and annoying (like so many of the recent anime characters) nor does Makoto sound like a man. Makoto is actually one of those rare anime heroines that you actually grow to LIKE. Its not this "For crying out loud, buck up!! Will ya??" or this "Okay. NO BODY is that nice in real life." or this "Listen, stop. Just go away," nonsense that just makes you want to shut the dang movie off. She was new and original, and, even in her emotional moments, was 100% believable.
Her two friends, Kousuke and Chiaki were very nice companions for Makoto. They were just about as funny as she is.

Enjoyment (10): A perfect ten. This anime made me laugh till I was on the floor, banging the table in front of my with my hands, like we all do when we are frightfully amused. I was so worried for the characters at time that I had to go pop myself a bag of popcorn while I was balled up on the couch, wide-eyed. Auuunnnddd, I have to admit: I teared up at the end. Just one of those rare, wonderful animes.

Highly recommend b/c it's the most sophisticated coming of age anime that I've encountered yet. Western viewers easing into anime should watch anime films first before series because there are more palatable gems in movies than in series imo.

PROS
-realistic and VERY likable main cast/personalities. No extremes like tsundere-moe dichotomy or goodie two shoes. Trio baseball get-togethers are fun to watch, not expositional
-confident female protagonist--pro b/c it's a rarity to have a great one w/out making her seem rude/conceited
-relative lack of pillow shots which plot and pace-driven viewers can appreciate
-transitioned Makoto's adjustment to time leaping in a concise, humorous, and appropriate way to development. ... Props b/c this is hard to do--even in Steins;gate, I felt that some of the time leap sequences were slow and boring
-nail biting climax. Having watched this after wolf children, honestly wasn't sure what Hosoda was going to do.
-STRONG POINT: the film KNOWS its limits and works within its boundaries. It doesn't try to take the butterfly effect to tremendous, unnecessary proportions like world war 4 or politics or pretentious philosophy. Hosoda's message is clear and focused. The element of time leap is humorous and more importantly relevant to the protagonist. Yes it contains anime "tropes:" high school, friendship, and romance, but is it cliche? absolutely not, and almost no elements felt shoehorned. And this is great: sticking to a tradition shouldn't be dismissed as cliche. A great deal of it is what makes anime anime.
-loved the ending: Hosoda executes a tricky element in which he doesn't reveal everything about the story but doesn't make it feel inconclusive or incomplete. This was no gimmick of leaving it ambiguous for the sake of it. I think it was executed perfectly. The conclusion was frustrating >< but mature, honest, and understandable.
-Hosoda reveals a very underrated and particular message about maturity and young people--look for it!
-music wasn't amazing and couldn't find a piece that I think stands strongly on its own. But it works within the parameters of the film.

CONS (virtually nothing major)
-all stories dealing with time leaping does have some illogical inconsistencies when you start to deconstruct it
-some elements came to me suddenly but I got on board
-was not a fan of his animation style in wolf children but slowly becoming one

Ultimately, I liked Girl who leapt through time better than wolf children. In both movies, the themes/lessons aren't anything ground breaking, but takes a fantastical element and uses it to depict real/relevant messages. This movie was, to use the perfect adjective, breathtaking. I'm thoroughly impressed for its hard to find a film that has both great entertainment and a message that I can take away for a long time. I'll leave this at a 9 but the future me (no pun intended) might change it to a 10. I see now why people are paying attention to Hosoda. He might be a catalyst that fuses the eastern and western story telling forms to make globally appreciated films in his prime.

Feel free to read the analysis on what I thought the take away message was about its coming of age theme

END OF REVIEW

WARNING: SPOILERS in the analysis.

Notice that blunders and borderline tragedies occurred when she ironically tried to "help" others and by extension ignored/disregarded her own desires. This seems cruel and counter-intuitive at first: Shoudln't selflessness trump selfishness? Well, I think what Hosoda wanted to show through Makoto's story was that, even if you have good intentions, when you launch into action without wisdom, it can unfortunately harm others and yourself. Even though we may THINK we're doing "good," our young, still-tunnel vision of the world may not know the consequences. Through this film, I think Hosoda values practicing introspection in youth as opposed to blindly helping others, especially at the cost of ignoring your own enlightenment. Of course, he showed the consequences of premature decision making in a VERY dramatic way but he has a point here. At the end, Makoto finally confronts herself and others about her honest feelings towards Chiaki and, even though it doesn't work out perfectly, there is definite emotional closure and finally launches her passion for the future. And because of this underrated message, the conclusion doesn't feel like a duex ex machina--it instead makes perfect sense. Respect and understand what YOU want, for it is a way of helping others find their way as well. This is not a new idea, but certainly hits home and he shows it with finesse. And that's what I love about it. It's not a grand social commentary on the dangers of time leaping or butterfly effect or overarching philosophy. Hosoda was focused and very clear from the beginning about what he wanted to present.