So Setsunai!: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time

According to amazon.com: Makoto Konno regards herself as a normal high-school student. She's smart, but not brilliant; a little clumsy, but not a klutz; well-liked, but not a social star. Her favorite pastime is playing baseball with her best friends: handsome, studious Kosuke Tsuda and shaggy, offbeat Chiaki Mamiya. When Makoto nearly loses her life in a bicycle accident, she escapes by moving back through time. Her aunt tells her the talent isn't unusual in girls her age, and Makoto begins exploiting her ability. But her efforts to improve the present backfire, making school, friendship, and romance even more complicated and difficult--until she discovers a surprising secret about Chiaki.... 

One reviewer on amazon.com says: The Girl who Leapt Through Time is probably one of the most beautifully written and scored movies that I have ever seen. Based in high amount of realism, the twists of science fiction make this movie that much more special. While it starts off a little slow, once the twists start coming into play, the viewer cannot help but be drawn into this highly imaginative tale. 

The plot revolves around Makoto, a student who discovers how to leap through time. Her antics are incredibly hilarious and realistic. Whether it is something a mundane as retaking a failed test or wanting to redo a night of karaoke over and over again, I was fascinated with the idea of traveling in time just to have those small moments back. The main characters are extremely likable and easy to relate to. They also add an extra amount of realism to the movie. They act, talk, react, etc. just as normal teens. You just cannot help but to like them. The plot takes a swift dramatic turn in the second half, when the main conflict finally reveals itself. To be honest, I found much of this part to be mind-blowing and completely unexpected-- in an amazing, I love this movie that much more kinda way. 

Even though there are some slower moments, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is full of hilarious and poignant moments that will make you laugh, cry, and think. If you are a fan of any of the Hayao Miyazaki films, then this is a great movie for you. It is filled with a perfect blend of fantasy, humor, and a great message. This is one movie you will find yourself watching again and again.

I, Shimizu, agree with this review especially "make you laugh, cry, and think". English dub version of the anime has been already for sale. I put on the trailer from YouTube.

From Left: Chiaki, Makoto, and Kosuke

"The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" is originally the bestselling book for teens by Yasutaka Tsutsui, who is known as the author of "Nanase" trilogy or "Paprika".

Besides that, an anime director Mamoru Hosoda, whose latest work is "Summer Wars" which I already introduced, altered the original plot boldly and made the anime as more heartwarming and teary story. This feeling is exactly "setsunai" in Japanese. I bet you cannot see it without tears.

I have to mention one more thing. The reason that this anime gives us so "setsunai" feeling is not only by Hosoda's story scenario and beautiful anime screen but also by Hanako Oku.   

Hanako Oku

Hanako Oku is a J-Pop singer famous in Japan for her piano ballads. She began to perform on the streets of Tokyo, mainly in Shibuya, in 2004. Two years later, she contributed "Garnet" as the ending roll music of the anime and "Unchanging Things"(Japanese tittle: Kawaranai mono) as an insert song of it. This led her a big success, especially "Garnet" sold more than a million copies.

I found two songs with the impressive scene from "The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" and their live version from YouTube. All of them lead us setsunai feeling. Enjoy them!