Director: Mamoru HosodaGenre: Comedy, Romance, Sci-Fi
Plot from IMDB:
A teenage girl finds that she has the ability to leap through time. With her newfound power, she tries to use it to her advantage, but soon finds that tampering with time can lead to some rather discomforting results.
Trailer:
Before I start my review, I want to properly introduce my new feature. An Animanga review will feature either an anime or manga, but can also include movies from this genre. They will be geared towards the young adult age group, meaning that they will be rated PG-13 and under. Right now, I am thinking this will be a bi-monthly event; however, I am open to changing it to more or less depending on the feedback.
_______________________________________
The Girl who Leapt Through Time is probably one of the most beautifully written and scored movies that I have ever seen. Based in high amount of realism, the twists of science fiction make this movie that much more special. While it starts off a little slow, once the twists start coming into play, the viewer cannot help but be drawn into this highly imaginative tale.
The plot revolves around Makoto, a student who discovers how to leap through time. Her antics are incredibly hilarious and realistic. Whether it is something a mundane as retaking a failed test or wanting to redo a night of karaoke over and over again, I was fascinated with the idea of traveling in time just to have those small moments back. The main characters are extremely likable and easy to relate to. They also add an extra amount of realism to the movie. They act, talk, react, etc. just as normal teens. You just cannot help but to like them. The plot takes a swift dramatic turn in the second half, when the main conflict finally reveals itself. To be honest, I found much of this part to be mind-blowing and completely unexpected-- in an amazing, I love this movie that much more kinda way.
Even though there are some slower moments, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is full of hilarious and poignant moments that will make you laugh, cry, and think. If you are a fan of any of the Hayao Miyazaki films, then this is a great movie for you. It is filled with a perfect blend of fantasy, humor, and a great message. This is one movie you will find yourself watching again and again.
My rating here.
Email this post
19 comments:
I remember hearing about this movie a long while before it actually came out. The live action film, which is loosely connected to this, made me cry a number of times and I expected the same from this. Wasn't let down XD
I think that...even though I want for there to always be a perfect ending in such movies, that the ending this movie fit the tone exactly right. As you said, it takes a more realistic approach to the whole idea (as did the live action, and from what snippets I've read of the novel, it did as well) of time travel and so the ending makes sense in a realistic sense.
Doesn't stop me from crying, every single freaking time, but that just means the film creators did their job right?
Me and a girl on twitter were actually watching this on YouTube together a couple of nights ago. She was surprised when I told her I'd never read anime and that the only I'd ever seen was Sailor Moon. So she gave me the link and we watched it.
I was so surprised to find myself crying in a couple places and I laughed many times. Now I'm kinda hooked on anime and manga. I'm watching a series called Fruits Basket which thankfully can be found on YouTube as well.
Great review. I couldn't agree more. :D
~Briana
Briana you and me gotta talk. FURUBA!!! ::ahem:: sorry Fruits Basket. yes. once you're done with the anime (its 26 episodes long) move on to the manga. seriously. Its 23 volumes long, but OMG it just continues the story almost perfectly from the anime.
um. I'm not an anime/manga freak or anything. really. i'm not. ::shifty eyes::
You've also got to read the manga to understand they changed a few things in dealing with the anime.
( the biggest thing - having to do with Akito ) .
this is very true. oh Akito. there is a reason Akito ended out my favorite by the end of the series. well next to Hatsuharu that is.
though I wouldn't say the anime changed it, so much as...never got around to finishing it. after all the anime stays pretty true to the first 5 volumes of the manga. if'n they do ever make a second series, which with the recent start of the final chapter of the Inu-Yasha anime (to cover the end of the manga series) in Japan we might get one yet, all that will be explained in that series I think.
Oh gosh - Inuyasha.
I'm ashamed to say that I read/kept up & finished that anime. It was very disappointing. At least in my mind.
But back to Furuba. It's true that's probably right they never got to reveal things since the anime stopped airing.
Now to go off on another tangent. Have you read Natsuki's latest work, Hoshi Wa Utau ( Twinkle Stars ) ? I wonder because I tried reading it but I just couldn't get into it. I wonder if I'm alone in this sentiment.
no I didn't read beyond the first two chapters. I tried as well, but I guess it just wasn't very intriguing? I am reading the older work of hers, Tsubasa: Those With Wings and I'm enjoying that. Her other one, Phantom Thief, not so much. Natsuki is a good manga-ka, but I feel as if she relies too heavily on complex twists to keep the reader interested.
Kind of the same issue I had with Yoko Kamio and Boys Over Flowers, but then I think that's typical of longer series. Especially the immensely popular ones, the creators are told to keep extending the story, but sometimes it can't be extended any longer...I think it would be harder for a manga-ka like Natsuki who had this one huge hit that lasted forever, then several much smaller ones. Pressure is on so to speak!
and yes Inu-Yasha was a huge disappointment, talk about jumping the shark...
I think if I were to like her other stuff more, I should have read it before Fruits Basket, because everything else seems to pale in comparison.
That's true but why ruin a good thing? I've seen it happen to many great manga. I never finished Hana Kimi even though I dearly love it because it was so drawn out.
Yes, thankfully I found other, better shonen to replace Inuyasha. I'm just mad @ myself for having bought 23 volumes of an anime I don't even like anymore.
Ah before Furuba came to the States I had been reading her older one-shots and such scanlations, so Furuba was a definite change of pace for me when I began reading it.
I know what you mean--I stopped watching the anime around episode 100, but kept reading the manga till volume 30 or so in hopes that something, anything, would change it. Well we saw how that went.
There was an article, and I know I have the magazine stashed somewhere, but it was about seven pages long and it delved into why some series (such as Dragon Ball or Inu-Yasha or Naruto etc etc) keep going on and on, often contradicting themselves by saying 'This is the toughest guy EVER' yet there's always someone worse once that guy is down. Or 'This is the ultimate fighting technique hands down no one can ever, ever beat it' and yet give it 20 episodes and he'll gain and even MORE powerful technique.
Its all about merchandising and licensing and how much they can make off it. Often since these series go on for years upon years the magazine's reader base will grow out of it, but a new reader base will begin--in the middle of a series such as Naruto or Dragon Ball and then go hunt down all the back volumes to catch up.
I've been trying to keep to a hard rule of--if a series goes beyond 16 volumes it had better freaking wow me every single chapter. I've gotten lucky with Full Metal Alchemist, and Claymore in that regard at least.
I've mostly stayed away from shonen in that aspect. Full Metal Alchemist is the exception. Because you can tell that a lot of planning, research and love goes into that one. Unlike Bleach or Naruto ( though I admit - I used to watch both ) . I would still watch/read Bleach were it not for the fact that they killed off my favorite character.
But I've also had good luck with shojo titles. Ouran High School Host Club & Skip Beat are going strong ( in my opinion ) .
I should pick up Ouran--everyone, even my younger sister who to this point only enjoyed one other anime and it was Chobits--loves that anime/manga. I think I'm just a little miffed the creator won't finish off her vampire shoujo (Millennium Snow) and I keep hoping she'll go back to it if I hold out long enough. XD
I don't read a whole lot of shoujo anymore, Arakure and FY:Genbu Kaiden are possibly the only two 'real' shoujo titles I read. Oh and Emma, though I consider that more 'slice of life' then shoujo. i've been so into the shounen titles and manwha titles that I haven't kept up with shoujo. Oh! but Ice Revolution looked interesting, and I have been downloading that. Kimi ni Todoke is also pretty good!
Ugh - I never liked Chobits but I'll forgive your younger sister since she likes Ouran. Oh yeah - Millennium Snow - I remember that titles - I have the two volumes that've been released thus far.
I'm not totally devoted to shojo. I've still got manwha & yaoi that I read too. As of late I've mostly been reading DOGS, Junjou Romantica & Let Dai. All of which I am quite happy with.
I forgive my sister only because Chobits *is* pretty and is CLAMP. Not their best work, but its still CLAMP. Hm I'm reading Time and Again, Pig Bride, and Sarasah (all from Yen Press) plus Antique Gift Shop, just got the last volume of Can't Lose You (finally), Demon Diary makes me happy as well. I don't read a whole lot of yaoi though.
Well my doujinshi collection is ALL yaoi (except for two volumes), but otherwise I only have 'Only the Ring Finger Knows' (plus the 4 novels). I do want to read a few. the Takumi-Kun series looks good for instance.
YAY for this new feature! I L<3VE it!!!
I actually keep seeing this one around and have been meaning to watch it. People keep telling me it's slow and boring, though, so I haven't gotten around to it. You make it sound beautiful and wondeful. . .maybe I'll watch it tomorrow.
Fab review. Interesting story.
Great new feature! I loved this movie! It made me bawl like a baby at the ending, but I do admit that it fit the movie perfectly. I so wanted Makoto's ability to leap through time. I'll be looking forward to more animanga reviews!
Yay! The first review. I've been really excited for these. I have seen this around several times, but haven't watched it yet. I may have to now.
I like this feature! I love anime - more the movies and tv shows then actually reading them. I didn't think there was really anyone else that liked them, besides my cousin - who was the only one that will watch them with me. This one looks really good and I can't believe I have seen it before, definitely going to though. Thanks for the review! Can't wait til the next one.
Casey, I totally agree with you. I heart anime too :)
This is a great feature. I watched this movie a long time ago, and I LOVED it.
Hayao Miyazaki is a definite movie fave of mine. His movies were the start of me becoming addicted to anime! :)
Post a Comment
Comments are like hugs... and I love hugs!