Byōsoku 5 Centimetre - Ōkashō
First thought: “This is animation!?!” The scenery was so nice I just wanted to reach out to touch it, and I had to just cut down on the many screenshots I took. Admittedly, it’s part 1 of a 3 part movie, thus different from your typical anime animation. But wow.
This show centers on the growing distance between Takaki and Akari. Childhood friends, a shift of house means separation between the two. The first half of this episode touches on Takaki’s train ride, as he travels to the first meeting with Akari in more than a year.
A Blizzard ends up delaying Takaki’s train at each train stop, even as it’s the first time he is traveling alone. A 2 1/2 hour ride ends up taking more than 7 hours, with the train delayed at each and every stop.
The second half sees them spending the night together with much to say to one another. Yet dawn sees Takaki leaving on the first train. A very short moment spent together. In the end, neither passed to the other the letter that they wrote, filled with the things they wanted to say. A kiss that night seemed to have changed everything.
Thoughts
The animation was brilliant, but the story itself was very well presented as well, with the focus on distance. I felt myself drawn into Takaki’s emotions even as he waited with the delay at each station. Despair, Impatience, and a high dose of helplessness. Just an Act of God that ruined something that you’ve been waiting for.
I’ve always hated situations like these. So what happens to Takaki and Atari next. Wouldn’t it be cruel for the distance between them to just continue growing. I’ve always wondered if meetings like that are good. In the end you don’t get to be together, don’t get to meet anymore. Isn’t writing letters better. Okie. I’m just being melancholic. haha.
Don’t expect any action, it’s very much a narration style type of presentation. Yet the blend of scenery, voice and music was quite perfectly mixed together. Definitely a must watch when the full 3 part movie is finally released.
March 3rd, 2007 at 12:10 am
u know thats exactly how i felt when i was watching takaka’s watch keep ticking when its almost time for them to meet … i was like shouting “GO!!!! PLS LET THE TRAIN MOVE!!”
March 3rd, 2007 at 12:16 am
Haha. Can you imagine, I was feeling kinda bored at the first 5 min. But it didn’t take long for my mind to be screaming “Don’t do this to him!”
March 3rd, 2007 at 8:34 am
Writing letter as opposed to sending an email has that slight personal touch to it. With a letter having to cross a distance and time could also represent what Akari and Takaki are experiencing as well. The greater the distance between the two, the more they’ll appreciate the letters.
March 10th, 2007 at 6:35 am
It’s really a beautiful anime. My heart ached along with Takaki’s loooong journey to meet Akari, as if I’m the one having to wait that long. Look forward to knowing whether they’ll be together. I really hope so!!
March 18th, 2007 at 2:11 am
nice anime… coollllllllllllllll
nice dariwng..nice story ..alllllllllll gOOOOOOOOODD..
if you wach this movei.. you well fall in lovee… ^___^
March 25th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
The two downloads I think are most accessible in my opinion are either from the original independent subber Bikasuishin, or else it’s Dattebayo’s troll if you want a big swarm of torrenters. But I can’t find any sufficiently high quality ones. Both abovementioned ones are terribly compressed, it’s like having clay covering your razor sharp katana.
Anyone knows where to get a higher quality one? Subs or no subs don’t matter to me, really.