The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
by Mamoru Hosoda
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DVD Cover Information
Director: Mamoru HosodaBrand: Bandai
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); English (Original Language); Japanese (Original Language)
Format: Anamorphic, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 98 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-11-18
Audience Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: Bandai Entertainment
Movie Reviews of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Movie Review: surprisingly sweet
Summary: 5 Stars
i saw this film recommened on a forum i occationally visit, and while i don't usually run off to watch everything recommended to me, the title sounded interesting so i decided to give it a go. and i'm glad i did. the story starts of rather slowly and sets itself up like a lot of other high school romance/ slice of life animes, it slowly progressed into a sort of sci-fi romance which was really touching.
the story follows a girl names makoto who likes spending time with her two best friends, kosuke, a serious, reserved sort or guy, and chiaki, a fun-loving joker. though the three of them have not always been best friends, we can see that they are very close and enjoy spending a lot of time together. the point at which the story takes a more sci-fi approach is on the day makoto is late for school. she is more often than not late, but on this specific day as she is hurdling down a hill, a train happens to be passing by at the bottom of said hill and she is going to fast to stop. she tries to slow down, but ends up hitting the barrier between the pedestrians and the train tracks and sends herself flying in the way of the train. just before she is squashed and our story is ended however, time stops and she finds herself transported back in time, and is safe from the squishing. she has some fun with this, though doesn't yet know the significance. around this time she discovers that one of her friends is developing feelings for her, and because she doesn't wish to change their relationship yet, uses the 'time machine' to avoid his asking her out. at the end she is forced to choose between love and friendship, but not in the way you'd think. the ending is something of a surprise (but you can kind of guess what'll happen if you pay attention to the clues), but the events that take place and the choices she makes leave you with a bittersweet feeling that makes the film worth the watch.
for those who have watched the ending, it would be an interesting argument to decide whether the love interest was truly in love or whether he just wanted to preserve a certain object... the aunt's story happens to suspiciously parallel makoto's, but it was an enjoyable movie in any case.
Summary of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME - DVD MovieThe Girl Who Leapt Through Time scored a big hit in Japan in 2006, and has been eagerly awaited by American otaku. Makoto Konno regards herself as a normal high-school student. She's smart, but not brilliant; a little clumsy, but not a klutz; well-liked, but not a social star. Her favorite pastime is playing baseball with her best friends: handsome, studious Kosuke Tsuda and shaggy, offbeat Chiaki Mamiya. When Makoto nearly loses her life in a bicycle accident, she escapes by moving back through time. Her aunt tells her the talent isn't unusual in girls her age, and Makoto begins exploiting her ability. But her efforts to improve the present backfire, making school, friendship, and romance even more complicated and difficult--until she discovers a surprising secret about Chiaki. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo) has remained a popular property in Japan since Yasutaka Tsutsui's novel appeared in 1967: It's been filmed repeatedly in live action and adapted to a manga. Mamoru Hosoda's animated prequel to the original story blends warmth and fantasy in ways usually associated with Studio Ghibli films. The relationship Makoto, Kosuke, and Chiaki share is exceptionally well-drawn, and nicely balances the fantastic elements of the story. (Rated 13 and older: minor violence and risqué humor) --Charles Solomon
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