The story of "5 centimeters per second" is basically the tale of unfulfilled love between two youngsters named Tōno and Akari. Their story is broken up into three chapters and begins in the couples pre-teen years and ends in young adulthood (probably early 20s). While spending a great deal of time together in their youth Tōno and Akari develop a strong bond with one another, a bond that turns into young love as the two prepare to enter junior high (though neither confesses this love to the other). Unfortunately these youngsters are separated when Tōno's family has to move and the two begin communicating through letters. For me to detail the story any further would ultimately spoil it, so I'll just say that this movie likes to spend a lot of time dwelling on the more heart wrenching aspects of love as well as the difficulty of moving on with life because of that.
While I enjoyed the first two chapters of "5 centimeters per second" immensely, it's the films third and final chapter that falls completely on its face. I don't say this out of some misguided American need for an "happily ever after" ending, but rather because the ending theme just isn't all that profound. I don't want to give anything away but when this film concluded the only real discernible message is "Stop living in the past, it's bad for you". While there is a lot of truth to this I don't think a full fledged animated feature is needed to get that point across, additionally I expect stories like this to be a little more insightful.
Unfortunately it's this somewhat deflating finale that keeps "5 centimeters per second" from truly succeeding. Though the film's buildup had me very curious as to what the stories final insights into love, life and the circumstances that come between the two might be, the movie just doesn't manage to say anything very meaningful. There's no payoff, no soul. Don't get me wrong the film tries very hard, and manages to be poignant in the process, but telling a sad story should not be mistaken for telling an honest one. Instead of profound and heart wrenching insights into modern relationships told with the wisdom and experience of time and reflection, "5 centimeters per second" concludes with a blunt and pragmatic message that reminds me of something a stern parent would say, like telling a kid to eat their vegetables.
Perhaps the problem lies with me though. With repeated viewings - or a more pretentious outlook - maybe I could recognize the stories deeper subtext regarding regret and the chances we never take, or that we should keep our hearts open even when the person we want is a million miles away, heck I may have just mistook what was meant to be a bittersweet ending as bleak and disenchanted. Regardless, if there is a deeper message to be found in "5 centimeters per second" the director needs to do a better job of bringing it to the surface. Of course it doesn't help that similar subject matter has been covered far more effectively in other anime films, most notably the late Satoshi Kon masterpiece Millennium Actress. Where "5 centimeters per second" ends somewhat abruptly with no sage thoughts to offer the viewer, Millennium Actress tells an equally poignant tale where unfulfilled desire leads to some insightful views on the importance of true love's ideal along with the chase to find it. Of course it's probably a little unfair of me to compare Makoto Shinkai (5 centimeters director) to Satoshi Kon (one of the best animation directors of his generation) but given the similarity in subject I feel that such a thing is both appropriate and inevitable.
Fortunately the visuals found in "5 centimeters per second" share none of the stories shortcomings. In short, this movie looks gorgeous. With incredibly detailed backgrounds, perfectly staged scenes and fluid animation, I can think of no way this film could look better. Though lacking in "flash" due to the limitations of the subject matter, "5 centimeters per second" is visually one of the strongest animated features to come out of Japan in recent years (the collected story was released as a feature in 2007). Despite the stories failings, fans of traditional animation should still enjoy this film for the visuals alone (I certainly did).
Overall I found "5 centimeters per second" to be a beautiful, but flawed movie. Though the stories first two chapters do an excellent job of conveying the intensity and heartache that can come with young love, the film's final chapter doesn't manage to capitalize on any of those strengths and ends with an audible thud. This is due in large part to the awkward amount of ambiguity contained in the story. Had this film had a more focused theme - like the aforementioned Millennium Actress - I think it would have helped greatly. Conversely if "5 centimeters per second" had actually used more ambiguity - like Sylvain Chomet's recent masterpiece "The Illusionist" - it would have allowed for a more interruptive viewing experience. Unfortunately this film falls somewhere in-between and its story is worse off because of it. Thankfully the animation found in "5 centimeters per second" is so good that fans of the medium should still enjoy watching it. Though I would not recommend the film as a buy, animation lovers should give it a rent (or people who enjoy tragic love stories).
