5 Centimeters Per Second is a film that has been on the forefront of my plan to watch for a long time, even before I made an Anilist account to track my anime journey. I first came across this film watching a future bass music video back when the quarantine started in 2020, and after seeing a sample of the visuals, I immediately fell in love. The year before, I visited Japan, and seeing how realistic the art was intrigued me as it evoked feelings of familiarity. Without that being said, this is one of the most unique films I have ever seen, in both personal and emotional ways.

I understand that this film has received criticism for many different things, including lackluster plot, shallow characters, and a sense of generic romantic themes we see in other media types. Some may argue it's just more of an art exhibit than a storytelling masterpiece - but that doesn't bother me. I believe that if I overlook a detail of criticism, it wouldn't matter to me as the production team didn't give at least one person that feeling. In that case, 5 Centimeters Per Second definitely had me feeling emotions that overlayed what would've instead been a criticism.

As I mentioned before, the first thing that captured my attention was how detailed everything was. I understand that Shinkai is known for being an animator, not a storyteller, so without a doubt, this film looks vivid and beautiful. But that goes beyond how it looks. It's how it immersed me. I have seen some immersive anime before, such as March Comes In Like A Lion or Liz And The Blue Bird. However, 5 Centimeters Per Second manages to hit that sweet spot that Japan was like to me. The sound design, from the ticketing machines, to the buckling of the train on the tracks to even the atmosphere in the countryside...is exactly like how I would describe my memories of Japan. It doesn't end here to me; with what seems to be random cuts to maybe the train's interior, it just felt natural. It is exactly like it would be if you were on that train itself, sitting along with Takaki as he travels in the cold winter.

If the train scenes themselves were not a compliment, everything else was detailed. In the second part, we can see the talent of the animators put into work as the tiny details of the night sky were emphasized well. It would be hard to choose which frame from the film is the best overall, but if I'd had to choose, the shot at the beginning of the Tokyo skyline is stunning.

I would love to wake up late in the evening, open my balcony, and look at the calming, peaceful city night. It is a feeling I want to relive, and I'm glad it was very reminiscent of my trip.

However, the overall production of the film is not the only thing I enjoyed about this. To quote my friend with whom I watched this, she says, "It's just a very real and unadulterated film. There is no sugar coating. It's just about life and how things don't always work out." And I wouldn't like to say this is the main reason why people would dislike this film, but I can understand the masses who wanted this film to be an escape from reality. It doesn't necessarily have a happy ending, but it's just how I could relate and feel exactly how the characters think that strikes a nerve very well. I would wish we could know more about the characters, but it's just short and bittersweet that I didn't even feel the need to want to know more about them. Sure, we could've gotten deeper into Takaki and Kanae's relationship, but I genuinely felt like the focus on Kanae's feelings, and its abrupt ending was as natural as possible. It is unfortunate, really, but just as the characters themselves experienced these feelings, we are at the same time. That's the value I put on the characters. You would want Kanae to succeed in her endeavors, and in a way, we are glad she has found her freedoms beyond her feelings for Takaki.

My final thoughts come at my disposal here, with me thinking positive things about this film. Again, I respect differing opinions from mine, and I can see the arguments and accept them as not everyone enjoys the same things. However, I think it is a renegade of its genre, not comparing to other anime films or shows, not only in its "sad, bittersweet" ending, but its overall immersive, nostalgic, and beautiful composition.