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THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME

 ABOUT THE MOVIE

Genre: Animation
Starring: Riisa Naka, Takuya Ishida, Ayami Kakiuchi, Sachie Hara, Mitsutaka Itakuru
Director: Mamorou Hosoda
Rating: PG
Year Made: 2006

 

 


 SPECIAL FEATURES

- NIL

 


 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Languages: Japanese
Subtitles: English/Chinese
Aspect Ratio: 16x9 Widescreen
Sound: Dolby Digital 2.0
Running Time: 1 hr 38 mins
Region Code: PAL 3
Distributor: Origin Entertainment
Official Website:
www.kadokawa.co.jp

 

 

SYNOPSIS:   

Makoto Konno, a girl attending high school in Tokyo's shitamachi, gains the power to go back in time and re-do things (the time-leap) when she gets involved in an accident at a train crossing one day.

A little bewildered with her new powers at first, Makoto uses them extravagantly to avoid being tardy and to get perfect grades on tests. However, things begin to turn bad as she discovers how her actions can adversely affect others. Along the way, Makoto's aunt, Kazuko Yoshiyama offers some advice to her niece, with the hint that she herself had done something similar in the past. One of Makoto's friends Chiaki is the one who had brought the item that caused Makoto's powers.

MOVIE REVIEW

The first thing that made me realize that I’ll like this anime film is the use of the lovely piano in its opening titles. Somehow, the melancholic tune of the tinkling piano always has an effect on me whenever I watch Japanese animation films – it leaves me deep in thought.

Then came the creativity, the imagination and the unpredictability of the movie’s storyline which affirmed my liking for this Best Animation Film at the 2006 Awards of the Japanese Academy. Based on the novel written by Yasutaka Tsutsui (Paprika), the screenplay is brought to life by Satoko Okudera (Hana). Who would have thought of having a clumsy girl attending high school to literally leap through time to realize that some of our lives’ most precious moments last only for the moment?

The story sees Makato gaining the power to travel through time to save herself from getting into trouble that she can avoid. Soon, she realizes that this will affect others, and at the same time, one of her best friends becomes involved in this magical tale that will leave you reflecting about the memorable years gone by.

Like most anime films from the Land of the Rising Sun, this one charms with its powerful and imaginative storyline, there is no way you’d predicted how the plot would progress at the beginning of the movie. The subplots do not pale in comparison when they are weaved into the main plot, and you’d be remembering every character and their individual stories.

The simple animation is appealing and effective too, without being too showy and phony. There are some moments when a more high-tech animation is infused into the story (the parts where Makato travels through time), and it works well enough for you to sit up and notice. And speaking of which, director Mamoru Hosoda (Digimon: The Movie) is a master storyteller because the filmmaker made me grab the edge of my seat in one pivotal scene which takes place at a railway track – without giving too much away, let’s just say it’s one of my favorite movie sequence this year.

Everyone will enjoy this pleasant production - Whether you are a teenager who will find the scenes where Makato and her friends chatting about teenage-hood familiar and affective, whether you are an adult who will find the whole concept of cherishing every moment of your life thoughtful and meaningful, whether you are a animation lover who is always on the lookout for a sincere anime film: this will definitely satisfy you.

SPECIAL FEATURES :

This Code 3 disc only comes with a trailer – what a shame, because so much could have been said about the concept of the movie.

AUDIO/VISUAL:

The visual transfer of the animated film is pristine and pleasing, while the audio soundtrack is presented in Japanese Dolby Digital 2.0.

MOVIE RATING:



DVD RATING :

Review by John Li

 
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. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (Movie Review)


Other titles from Origin Entertainment:

. Reign Over Me

. Surf's Up

. 5ivegirls

. Vacancy

. Paprika

. Walking Tall: Lone Justice

. Dead Mary

. Spider-Man 3

. Priceless

. Trust the Man

. The Contractor

. Blood And Chocolate

. The Wicker Man

. Wind Chill

. Are We Done Yet?

. Android Apocalypse

. Elizabeth I


. The Proposition

. 3 Needles

. Ghost Rider

. The Pursuit of Happyness

. The Illusionist

. Catch & Release



 


This review is made possible with the kind support from Origin Entertainment

 


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