Key Takeaways
- Live-action remake of 5 Centimeters Per Second with star-studded cast and talented team behind the scenes.
- Story explores love, distance, and missed connections, resonating with audiences through deep emotions.
- Makoto Shinkai acknowledges original film’s rawness and expressed confidence in passionate team for adaptation.
Makoto Shinkai‘s 5 Centimeters Per Second is getting a live-action remake nearly two decades after its animated debut in 2007. Known for its emotionally charged storytelling and breathtaking visuals, Shinkai’s early masterpiece struck a chord with fans seventeen years ago, and now, the upcoming live-action adaptation is poised to bring the heart-wrenching tale of love and distance to a new generation.
With the growing popularity of live-action remakes in both Hollywood and Japan (take, for example, the recent success of the One Piece live-action and the rumored Naruto live-action), it was only a matter of time before a Shinkai got similar treatment. Now the only prayer is that they manage to do the movie justice.
A Star-Studded Cast and Talented Team Behind the Scenes
In a major casting announcement, Hokuto Matsumura, a member of the popular boy band SixTONES, has been chosen to portray the lead role of Takaki Tōno. Matsumura voiced Sōta Munakata in Shinkai’s hit film Suzume (2022), but this marks his first time in a live-action lead.
Behind the camera, the film will be directed by Yoshiyuki Okuyama, a rising talent in Japanese cinema, with a screenplay by Ayako Suzuki. Okuyama has expressed a personal connection to the project, noting the symbolic importance of directing the film at the same age Shinkai was when he made the original. The production is being handled by Studio Spoon, with distribution through TOHO.
Revisiting the Story of Love and Distance: 5 Centimeters Per Second
5 Centimeters Per Second explores the emotional journey of Takaki Tōno and his childhood friend Akari Shinohara. Set across three interconnected vignettes, the film dives deep into the human experience of love, longing, and missed connections. Takaki and Akari share a close bond during their elementary school years, but as life pulls them apart, their relationship is tested by time, distance, and unspoken feelings. The story follows Takaki’s attempts to reconcile his growing sense of loss as he navigates adulthood, forever haunted by what could have been with Akari.
The anime became a critical and commercial success when it first released, praised for its delicate storytelling and lush, atmospheric animation. Its thematic focus on the inevitability of separation and the passage of time resonated deeply with audiences, cementing Shinkai as one of anime’s top directors.
Makoto Shinkai’s Thoughts on the Remake
Makoto Shinkai himself has shared his thoughts on the upcoming live-action adaptation. While Shinkai humbly described the original film as “immature and unfinished,” he acknowledged that its rawness has been central to its lasting appeal. The visionary director expressed his confidence in the young, passionate team taking over the live-action adaptation, commending Okuyama for his sincerity and dedication. Shinkai also hinted at his own motivation to create new works that live up to the energy of this new version.
The announcement of this adaptation comes at a time when live-action anime adaptations are increasingly gaining traction. Following the global success of series like Netflix’s One Piece, audiences are more eager than ever to see how beloved animated stories can be reinterpreted on the silver screen. However, with 5 Centimeters Per Second, there is a unique challenge: capturing the subtle, emotional depth that made the original so powerful.
