Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
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Kenji Mizuhashi | ... | Takaki Tohno (voice) |
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Yoshimi Kondou | ... | Akari Shinohara (segment "Oukashou") (voice) |
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Satomi Hanamura | ... | Kanae Sumida (segment "Cosmonaut") (voice) |
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Ayaka Onoue | ... | Akari Shinohara (segment "Byousoku 5 Centimeter") (voice) |
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Risa Mizuno | ... | (voice) |
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Yuka Terazaki | ... | (voice) |
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Yûko Nakamura | ... | (voice) |
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Masami Iwasaki | ... | (voice) |
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Rei Kondo | ... | (voice) |
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Hiroshi Shimozaki | ... | (voice) |
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Takahiro Hirano | ... | (voice) |
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Akira Nakagawa | ... | (voice) |
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Keiko Izeki | ... | (voice) |
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Suguru Inoue | ... | (voice) |
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Rion Kako | ... | (voice) |
Takaki and Akari are two classmates in elementary school. During their time together they have become close friends. Their relationship is tested when Akari moves to another city because of her parents' jobs. Both of them struggle to keep their friendship alive, as time and distance slowly pulls them apart. When Takaki finds out that he is moving further away, he decides to visit Akari one last time. Written by Anonymous
I could copy almost my entire review of THE PLACE PROMISED IN OUR EARLY DAYS, Shinkai's previous film. More Takahata than Miyazaki... check. The same wistful, nostalgic tone is woven throughout these three episodes of youthful romantic pinings turned into bittersweet adult reminiscences. Breathtaking animation... check. The artistic style is uncommonly beautiful, with extraordinary attention to detail, gorgeous color and lighting, and images that deftly evoke a sense of melancholy. If all anime looked this astonishing, I'd watch more of it. Satisfying human elements but oversentimental... check. I could relate to the feelings expressed by Takaki, Kanae and Akari -- surely there is something nearly universal about those unrequited adolescent yearnings that can resurface years and years later -- but had to roll my eyes a bit at all the tinkly piano and whispered voice-over. Where this film surpasses its predecessor is in its lack of a goofy sci-fi subplot. There is a rocketship involved, but it's a background element purely for metaphorical purposes. Without that sort of distraction, I was more easily charmed by the gentle rhythms, pleasant characters, and lovely visuals.