Just watched The Girl Who Leapt Through Time last night and I want to get a quick review down before I forget. There may be some minor spoilers ahead, but I’ll note any major spoilers before I reveal them.
Director: Mamoru Hosada
Year Released: 2006
Running Time: 98 minutes
Summary:
The movie is about a girl, Makoto, who suddenly gains the ability to leap back in time. She utilizes this ability to her benefit, whether it’s doing well on tests or extending karaoke time with her friends. Unfortunately, she becomes entangled in the complications that result from so much time leaping.
Impressions:
I didn’t have tremendously high expectations coming into this film, like I would with something from Hayao Miyazaki, but The Girl Who Leapt Through Time was a pleasant surprise. The story was captivating, the characters above average, and the movie looked beautiful. A minor gripe was the inconsistent animation.
Although the story started off slow, once Makoto gained the ability to time leap, things moved at a brisk pace until completion. I didn’t feel bored at all after the story picked up. There’s a great blend of humor, drama, and thrill. I laughed each time Makoto time leaped, as she could never avoid crashing into something (a table, a wall, etc.) when arriving in the past. I felt sad when Makoto lost Chiaki, and I was on the edge of my seat to see what would happen to Kousuke when he “stole” Makoto’s bike (even though I knew well the consequences). The use of time traveling did not complicate or take over the movie, but served as a medium through which it unfolded.
There were greater themes beyond the fun of time leaping, including the inability to change the past and the consequences of one’s action. The saying “Time waits for no one” (repeated consistently in the movie) fit appropriately, as time leaping didn’t stop time, it just move one position within it elsewhere. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time weaves time traveling into a larger slice of life tale full of romance, drama, and fun.
An element I found notable was the natural way the film ties the awkward moments of teenage life into the story. Makoto is clumsy and tomboy-ish, and the whole story takes its cue from her. Every complication in the film results from the somewhat misguided, impulsive action Makoto takes. Not surprising since she’s a young girl in high school. However, there’s a level of innocence in her motives, and an eventual coming of age in the end. It’s nothing new, but the execution was enjoyable and entertaining.
Madhouse provided eye-popping visuals. Most noticeable were the backgrounds in every scene, which were beautiful and semi-realistic. From the city skyline to the reflection in the museum glass display cases, the movie demonstrated very high production standards. My one gripe came with the character design and animation, which I felt were inconsistent. Sometimes the character movement looked unnatural, and one specific instance than comes to mind was when the Kousuke, Chiaki, and Makoto ran to play baseball. I know there were many scenes of baseball in the movie, but it’s tough for me to get more specific than that. Their motion was messy and unusual. The characters would also look a little bit odd from time to time, although this was a minor issue. A friend I watched the movie with complained about the Japanese voice acting, but I didn’t find any issue with it.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is fundamentally a romance story, but that doesn’t diminish in the least. It’s easily approachable and charming, with great visuals and compelling characters. I recommend it as a must watch for any anime fan.
Note: This movie has raised my expectations further for Hosada’s newest work Summer Wars.
*SPOILERS*
I found it very interesting that Makoto chose to wait for Chiaki in the future, while taking care of that painting for him. It’s very similar to the fate of “Aunt Witch,” and how she waited (and is still waiting) for her lover to return. Considering that she somewhat lamented her decision, it seems Makoto didn’t notice since she has chosen the same path. She and her Aunt share many commonalities, including two male childhood friends, falling in love in high school, and now the painting + wait for lover. Considering the Aunt was the protagonist of the original short story, I’m led to believe this is a story rehash set to modern times.
It’s also intriguing to note that the Aunt seem like an otherworldly character, one that was outside the flow of time. She seems to play Makoto’s conscience, while at the same serving as a nod to the original story.
*SPOILERS*
