Story:
The story is set in Japan (early '90s), centered around a boy named Takaki Tono and his childhood friend, Akari Shinohara. These two are inseparable, but their friendship is tested when Akari has to move to Tochigi due to her parents' jobs. It's then up to the two friends to keep their friendship alive by staying in contact via letters. This, however, is not as easy as it sounds.
The plot seems really simple (especially after you've read my attempt at summarizing it) but it's amazing how the author, Makoto Shinkai, made it feel so realistic, dramatic and, although I've never been in a situation like this, easy to relate to.
Art:
Everything seemed so realistic. Sunsets, cherry blossoms and hilltops seemed so much more beautiful than I have ever witnessed in real life. I watched this in Blu-ray, which really does justice to the artwork.
Sound:
Big ups to the original Japanese cast who did a fantastic job with their voice acting. Every character's voice fit perfectly in my opinion and I could clearly feel the emotion they were trying to get across in the narration/ dialogue (this coming from a guy who normally prefers the English dub of any animation).
The ending theme "One More Time, One More Chance" by Masayoshi Yamazaki was the perfect way to wrap this film up. It was both inspiring, uplifting and heartbreaking. Not a combination you come across that often.
Character:
For once, there weren't any characters who annoyed me. Every character had a purpose and it was especially nice to see how the main characters actually aged as time went on (something I want for each and every anime show out there).
Enjoyment:
The hour and three minutes I spent on this film was definitely well spent. It should be obvious that I enjoyed it immensely, and I hope you will too.
Thank you for taking the time to read this review. Please feel free to leave a comment on how I can improve and write better reviews. I'm hoping to make this a regular thing.
