5 Centimeters per Second

About 5 Centimeters per Second

5 Centimeters per Second (秒速５センチメートル) blends drama, romance and slice of life by CoMix Wave (2007). Below is a fresh retelling of what the story is about. The premise: Tohno Takaki and Shinohara Akari, two very close friends and classmates, are torn apart when Akari's family is transferred to another region of Japan due to her family's job. Despite separation, they continue to keep in touch through mail.

Soon after, when Takaki stumbles on out that his family is also moving, he chooses to meet with Akari one last time. As years pass by, they continue down their own paths, their distance slowly growing wider and their contact with one another fades. They keep remembering one another and the times they have shared together, wondering if they will have the chance to meet once again.

With drama at the core, character writing and emotional payoff matter more than spectacle. Takaki Tohno (Kenji Mizuhashi) and Akari Shinohara (Yoshimi Kondo) are two of the characters you will meet early. If you count yourself among viewers who prefer story and feelings over flashy action, put it on your list. At 3 episodes in total, it is easy to plan a viewing schedule.

Production & Appeal

Production sits with CoMix Wave, which means the visual identity of 5 Centimeters per Second follows that studio's craft. Because it leans on drama, character writing and emotional payoff matter more than spectacle. A 7.1/10 score points to a dependable, well-liked series. On the casting side, Kenji Mizuhashi voicing Takaki Tohno gives the lead role a recognizable voice. It aired in 2007, which makes it easy to place in the wider anime calendar.