Makoto Shinkai English Fan Forum and Site

Phantast · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 5:55 am Post subject:

Thanks for the link/article, Zitch! Very Happy

And I'm not sure what those birds are. They don't look like any birds I've seen before. ...Then again, I don't live in Asia...

I didn't realize that March 4th was the day Takaki left to meet with Akari. I'm also wondering if that was coincidence.

Junpei · Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2008 12:10 am Post subject:

Do you mean the bird that fly in Takaki's dream?

madcrazy2ks · Tracer Joined: 17 Mar 2008 Posts: 2

After reading the forum topic, here are some of my thoughts on some of the questions.

1. Yes, I agree takaki never felt true love. The msg of "even if I written 1000 text msg, our hearts wouldn't be one centimeter closer" says it all. The line Takaki says in the third episode about him reaching out to what he couldn't reach isn't Akari, but the feeling of love itself. This feeling of love is much symbolized by their promise to view the cherry blossom together again, and that's why he still cling to the old memories.

2. I feel the story is more about how life can take really close people to different places. From point number 1, Takaki never felt love because fate kept separating Akari and him until eventually they drifted apart. They both still dwell on the past, which to me is shown through the little thought segment before the ending theme, but their lives still move forward, one can say 5 centimeters per second.

3. Takaki's smile to me is the best part of the film. It definitely shows that he is ready to let go of the past. He doens't want to forget all of the past, but to treasure it and move forward. If you saw the special music video of one more time one more chance, you will see that they showed the scene in which Takaki and Akari were both children, and they were separated by the rails. Takaki's smile is the fulfillment that he is finally able to share the wonderful cherry blossom with Akari again, just as they promised, at the place where they used to play as children. Even if it was just a shadow that stood on the other side of the rail, Takaki is now satisfied, and is ready to move on with life.

I think 5 cm per second is definitely my favorite Shinkai work so far. I enjoyed it thoroughly, and felt every bit of story. i can't say enough about the ending montage, and I can't say enough about the ending. I hope everyone enjoyed it as thoroughly as I did.[/quote]

Laz · Laz Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 1071

Hey Madcrazy2Ks ...

Good post! I tend to agree .. as someone who is a bit of a Takaki, myself ... I'm always encouraged to see people make that turn in their lives. I think at that point, when Takaki smiles (I'm going to say smile, for lack of a better description) he becomes like Kanae ... he acknowledges his feelings or Akari and what they had ... but he doesn't (Fingers crossed, I hope he doesn't) let that consume him.

Phantast · Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 9:50 pm Post subject:

I've come across at least one person that, after hearing a description of 5 Centimeters, decided that Takaki was "wishy-washy". Their opinion was that many people fall in love and end up breaking up with each other, or they get separated, or whatever else. In my experience, most of those people get over it and move on, even if it can take a while for them to do that. But it never really takes them as long as it took Takaki.

So what does this say about Takaki? Taking into consideration that he knew Akari when he was a kid, and at least 10 years have passed by the end of the movie, does his apparent inability to leave the past in the past make him a weak person? Or are we (me and the aforementioned person) being overly critical? Or not thinking it through very well?

Your thoughts?

Laz · Laz Joined: 09 Jan 2008 Posts: 1071

Good questions Smile

Would we think that Noboru is a weak person by not getting over Mikako right away when she leaves ? 10 years, 8 years (an infinity to Noboru) ... the only difference between Takaki and Akari and Noboru and Mikako is that Noboru and Mikako both feel the same way at the end. They both love each other ... where it's more of a one way street with Takaki.

I initially was pissed at Takaki ... he had someone special and I didn't feel he did enough to keep that going. But in the end .. it's up to both of them to keep their relationship going and neither of them did. In the end ..I kinda pity Takaki and I really hope he gets his act together.

NOTE: 8 years is not an eternity ... it a blink of an eye Smile

Anyway ... all just my opinions and not facts Smile

zitch · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 2:02 am Post subject:

One interpretation of the third episode is that Akari didn't update Takaki of her new numbers and addresses. Hence, she was the one that "broke" the relationship, so to speak.

But whoever's fault for the break in the relationship, it really doesn't matter in the end. Life moves on.

TJM · Tracer Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 11

Junpei · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:02 am Post subject:

TJM · Tracer Joined: 03 Mar 2008 Posts: 11

-edit- woops sorry -edit-