5 Centimeters per Second is a relatively short animated movie with a run time of 63 minutes. It is divided into 3 chapters with each one depicting a different stage in Tohno's, our main character, life. For a brief summary, the first chapter is about his childhood and his first love, Akari. The second chapter explores how distance affects a relationship but also presents an opportunity for a second chance, Sumida. Finally, the third chapter is mostly about the aftermath and potentially reconciliation.
The best description I can think of for this movie is that it is like a poem. There is almost no extraneous chit-chatter and Tohno basically delivers his narration through many symbols. It seemed that the script writers were carefully selecting every word of dialogue that Tohno and the other side characters would say. At times it gets cryptic, especially the imagery, but it's meant to be dissected upon completing the movie. But even then, you still might end up scratching your head wondering what exactly did that dialogue or monologue meant. It's definitely a change from the mainstream romance anime where the meaning of certain lines can be spread across multiple episodes.
Since to me 5 Centimeters per Second is like a poem, it is pretty open as to what you take out of the film. In fact, how the movie will speak to you will be based on what kinds of relationships you have developed during your life. If you are like me who has not been in any sort of relationship, you may find yourself wondering about any missed opportunities where you could have told someone how you felt. For me, the second arc was the most touching. It echoed my past and made wonder: what could have happened if I confessed my feelings? For others, it may be the first arc where you are in your first romance or maybe the last arc, where you have ventured deep into a tunnel and are trying to find the light at the end. 5 centimeters per Second touches on many issues and how you relate to them depends on the things you have experienced.
It's difficult to describe the characters as there was not much emphasis highlighting the characteristics of each one. The characters are almost subservient to the story crafted for them, especially Tohno. However, I would say Akari is the one who breaks out of her role and takes charge of her own destiny.
On the technical side, the art is stunning. The falling snow is very realistic and definitely captures the ruthlessness of nature. One thing that I found particularly interesting was that there were very few scenes that were brightly coloured. Most of the time, the characters were huddled in darkness or walking under a sunset sky. The character design is very simplistic, highlighting the fact that there is not a huge emphasis on the character. Overall, the imagery is absolutely a feast for the eyes.
The music is very soft and mostly provides background "mood lighting." I particularly enjoyed how the sound directors chose sounds from everyday life: doors closing, PA announcements, tubs falling over, and trucks passing by, just to name a few. This atmosphere places the audience in a very realistic world. The highlight track is the final song that plays at the end. Beautiful lyrics, beautiful texture, it was simply a beautiful song for a beautiful final sequence.
That all said, I think I would have enjoyed this film even more if I had more experience in romantic relationships and life in general. My life resumé is pretty dull so I still have a long journey to go. Like many kinds of red wine, this film will probably taste better as it ages.
I would recommend this film to any slice of life fans and possibly romance fans as well (it may depend on what kind of romance you like). If you enjoy strong character development, or a story strongly centered around the characters, or a film with high drama, 5 Centimeters per Second may disappoint you.
Very good anime. I will definitely watch it again in the future and see if this film actually speaks to me.
Thank you for reading my review! Let me know what you thought of 5 Centimeters per Second! I would love to hear your story!
