5 Centimeters per Second (2007)

5 Centimeters per Second (Byôsoku 5 senchimētoru, 2007) is a short, beautifully animated drama by Makoto Shinkai that follows Takaki Tōno across three interconnected chapters of his life—childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood—as he struggles with distance, missed opportunities, and the slow drift of time. At the center is his early bond with Akari, a classmate who moves away; their attempts to stay close are gradually eroded by geography, technology, and the small choices that accumulate into a life apart. Watching the film you’ll experience a quiet, meditative pace built around strikingly detailed backgrounds, evocative seasonal imagery (snow, trains, cherry blossoms), and a wistful musical score that heightens the sense of longing. It’s less a plot-driven romance than an intimate mood piece about memory, regret, and the fragile beauty of first love—often bittersweet and emotionally resonant rather than neatly resolved. At about an hour long, it’s compact but linger-heavy: expect to come away reflective, sometimes melancholy, and impressed by the film’s visual and atmospheric craft. Ideal for viewers who appreciate lyrical storytelling, subtle emotional beats, and artful animation.

Actors: Kenji Mizuhashi, Yoshimi Kondou, Satomi Hanamura

Director: Makoto Shinkai

Runtime: 63 min

Genres: Animation, Drama, Family

6.8 /10 7.5 /10 7.2 /10