Netflix has officially started streaming Makoto Shinkai‘s most underrated film, and it’s an absolute masterpiece. Makoto Shinkai has become one of the leading names in anime filmmaking for almost a decade now. Starting with Shinkai’s subversive body-swapping film Your Name, the director has become as popular as Hayao Miyazaki with fans anxiously awaiting every film he makes. However, one of his lesser-known projects is streaming now on Netflix, and it’s something fans can’t miss.
5 Centimeters Per Second is a 2007 film by Shinkai that’s told in three short stories following a boy named Takaki Tōno over various periods of his life. From his childhood to his adulthood, the film explores how he responds to being separated from his closest friend, Akari Shinohana, as she moves away. Clocking in at a breezy one-hour length, 5 Centimeters Per Second is a pretty easy watch for those who are fans of Shinkai’s work. However, the execution of its story makes it one of the most heartfelt and emotional outings in the director’s career.
5 Centimeters Per Second Is An Understated Masterpiece That Will Leave You In Tears
This Short Drama Packs Emotional Punches at Every Corner
While Shinkai is famous for his films blending drama with science fiction and mythology, 5 Centimeters Per Second is more grounded. It’s a pure drama that explores the grief Takaki is dealing with after drifting apart from his friend. The upsetting part is the film showcasing what happens when someone can’t let the past go. Takaki is left in a constant state of “What If” as life passes him, keeping his mind set on Akari and his feelings for her. He traps himself in a loop of living in the past, leading to him struggling with his future.
What’s worse is how Takaki’s mentality affects everyone else. The second story focuses on a girl in his class named Kanae Sumida who has feelings for him and wants to confess, but his constant glimpses at his phone without sending any messages to Akari leads her to move on from him in heartbreak. Then, in the future, he destroys his relationship with his girlfriend, Risa, by never talking to her. It’s a tragic glimpse into the life of someone who can’t move on, even though Akari has already become engaged.
Makoto Shinkai’s 5 Centimeters Per Second Will Make You Appreciate His Films Even More
Everything Fans Love About His Newest Works Stems from Here
What’s great about 5 Centimeters Per Second is its humanity. Shinkai knows how to reach into those vulnerable moments, making 5 Centimeters Per Second is his most raw film. However, he also injects these moments in his later films. Even with their fantastical elements, Your Name, Weathering With You, and Suzume all share a rich and emotional story that explores the humanity of their characters. Rewatching these films after watching 5 Centimeters opens audiences up to whole new experiences as they see the underlying emotional themes baked into his stories.
5 Centimeters Per Second was the perfect blueprint for what was to come as Shinkai improved his craft
Essentially, 5 Centimeters Per Second was the perfect blueprint for what was to come as Shinkai improved his craft. It’s rich in emotion and theme, which makes it a must-watch for fans of his filmography. Plus, at only an hour long, it’s a perfect watch for Makoto Shinkai fans wanting more of his filmography, especially now that it’s streaming on Netflix.
Source: GKIDS Films
