Director: Mamoru Hosoda
Writer: Satoko Okudere (Screenplay) Yasutaka Tsutsui (Novel)
Plot: A teenage girl finds that she has the ability to leap through time. With her newfound power, she tries to use it to her advantage, but soon finds that tampering with time can lead to some rather discomforting results.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Well Crafted Time Travel Tale
Story: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time starts by introducing us to our protagonist Makoto a regular school girl who has awful timekeeping. Makoto comes off as an average clumsy student and along with her friend Chiaki, Kosuke and Yuri Hayakawa are all trying to figure out their futures post school. Upon reading a quote on a blackboard Makoto finds herself going through a question of sanity when she falls and goes through visual sequence.
Things continue to get strange for Makoto when she dies, only for her to wake up moments before involved in an accident that isn’t as bad. Upon meeting an Auntie Makoto learns that what happened was in fact a time leap. Makoto has to figure out what happened and how she achieved it. Once she learns how to control her ability she starts to take advantage of the ability and never questioning the consequences which comeback at her showing not everything will be want she wants.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time manages to take the simple genres of coming of age and time travel and mixes them together in a way I have yet to see. We have all see the growing up for school films and how we can regret the decision etc. but to give someone the chance to change these choices comes off very nicely. We don’t end up going to deep into the science of the time travel which also helps keep everything coming off very simple. A huge positive in this story is that we see consequences building up sure some are very simple but they soon start becoming bigger the more the ability is abused. This is a very nice story that is easy to follow and touches subject that most of us would have at some point gone through at school. (9/10)
Character Review
Makoto Konno: Makoto is our teenage girl who is everything that fits the word average, she has a small group of friends and is slightly clumsy. When she learns that she can leap through time she starts trying to change things but learns she has to deal with the consequences. Makoto is a good character and sums up youthful behavior before knowing what is for best. (9/10)
Chiaki Mamiya: One of Makoto’s friends who always seems so laid back, but he really is keeping a secret from everyone that could end up changing theirs and his own life. Chiaki is a good character as it shows the almost bad boy that has feelings. (8/10)
Kosuke Tsuda: The smart friend who is also the safe friend whose life gets put in danger once Makoto starts playing with time. Kosuke is a good character because he is the one that will end up going somewhere because of his hard work. (8/10)
Support Characters: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is mainly just other students in the school going through the different situation students could go through.
Director Review: Mamoru Hosoda – Mamoru does a great job directing this animated gem. (9/10)
Animation: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a brilliant animation that keeps the older style but still makes you think it is real. (9/10)
Mystery: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time you do start asking questions as the story unfolds, but it isn’t the may attraction of the film. (7/10)
Romance: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time shows the awkward teenage love interest people can go through very well. (9/10)
Sci-Fi: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time uses the time travel aspect very well and doesn’t go into the science just that it has been created. (9/10)
Settings: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time settings show the location the students spend most of the time which works well. (9/10)
Suggestion: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is one to be watching, it has an alternative animation story that really works without it being an odd world created which other studios make animation with. (Watch)
Best Part: Frozen in time.
Worst Part: Slightly too open ended.
Believability: No (0/10)
Chances of Tears: No (0/10)
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Awards: Won 12 Awards
Oscar Chances: No
Runtime: 1 Hour 38 Minutes
Tagline: Leap into the adventure of a lifetime!
Trivia: First recipient of the newly formed Animation Award in the Japanese Academy Awards.
Overall: Beautiful Time Travel Coming of Age Tale
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