Makoto Shinkai English Fan Forum and Site

Laz · Laz Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 1071

Here's something that has been gnawing at me for a while ...

At the open of the third story, we see Takaki walk past Akari at the train crossing ... then we go to the meat of the third story. Towards the end, before the music and montage, we see this scene again.

Do you think that this occurs at the end ... and that the smile that Takaki has when he turns around might be some kind of closure for him ? Do you think he is happy at the end ?

Laz

Velaciela · Tracer Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 21

I don't think so, Akari is still in Takaki's mind. Unless he forget Akari and go forward, he will never be happy!

the_emh · Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2008 5:34 pm Post subject:

I think that he is happy. This is because his promise to Akari has been fulfilled as they did watch the cherry blossoms together, in a way.
I belive that after Takaki received the text from akari in the third section he realised that because the friend ship was now so far in the past and akari had moved on that the promise was unlikely to come true. Because of this even seeing her gave closure to the relation ship between them.

Another idea that I have is that because akari ran away from the encounter it showed Takaki that she had the same problems that he had with communication. her avoiding him was an effective end to a friendship that had been dead for years.

This is one of the things that I love about Makoto Shinkai’s movies. They give you the basic information and let you fill in the gaps how you want I doubt that many people take all of his movies the same way.

What is your opinion admin?

Laz · Laz Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 1071

I hope he's happy or at least that he can move on with his life.

So you think that the texts he gets in the third story are from Akari ? Hmmmm ... I had thought that they were from his most recent ex-girlfriend. If they are from Akari, then I agree.

At the train crossing, he turns to look at Akari and it looks like she is turning back as well. When the train passes, it looks like he has some kind of smile on his face. Maybe he just feels guilty for not continuing the relationship and that chance encounter lets him move beyond that guilt. I would like to think so.

I agree .. every time I watch one of these movies I pick up something new Smile

Laz

HiSpeedCG · Tracer Joined: 24 Jan 2008 Posts: 2

its clearly showed that takaki not happy even with his new gf..
sad ending for takaki and happy for akari

Neutral

Junpei · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 2:23 am Post subject:

Well, you can't be too sure whether or not Takaki really is happy or not at the end unless Makoto Shinkai tells you how he meant it to be.

But it is a film with a message so your own perspective comes into this. I don't know why you guys say Takaki smiles because it doesn't look like it to me. Akari obviously moved on, happy with her life especially being engaged with another man.

Byousoku 5cm is my absolute favorite animated film, truly a masterpiece.

11/10! Most emotional thing ever sent to linger in my heart and mind. I don't think I will ever forget this in my living life.

Laz · Laz Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 1071

I guess it's a bit of a smirk more than a smile ... a slight reaction to his recognition ... maybe thinking back to his earlier time with Akari. That's all my pinion, of course.

Yup ... this was just to see what people's feelings were about the end ... what their subjective opinions were.

Laz

Junpei · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:39 am Post subject:

No, I'm pretty sure it wasn't anything of a smile or smirk. It was just a small face expression of rememberence. But since Akari had already left, it did not confirm his thought on who he thought it was.

the_emh · Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 3:51 am Post subject:

i feel that he knew who it was ad thats why he stopped.

but each unto his own, you can believe whatever you want and unless M.S says your wrong you are as good as right.

Menasha · vc_bios_b960909 Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 822

I rather enjoy how Shinkai left it opening for interpretation! To me I feel Takaki will be able to live from now on, perhapses he has been able to reconcile his feelings and has decided or realized that it's time to move on.