Review: #815
Title: 5 Centimeters per Second
Series: N/A
Author: Makoto Shinkai & Yukiko Seike
Comments: This is the manga adaptation of the film of the same name. It is about love and longing, and what happens when the very real reality of people just drifting apart. The main character is Takaki and the story is split into three parts, each covering a section of his life: primary school, high school and after university. In the first section, Takaki falls in love with Akari but in a heart wrenching moment, Akari has to move away. As it shifts to middle school, we see Takaki trying to keep in contact with Akari, his feelings had never diminished, but they have drifted apart. This is having an effect on Takaki himself as well as the people surrounding him (with new character Kanae). This persists all the way until he graduates from university and gets a job. This adaptation expands upon the film, heavily fleshing out the events as well as providing a better ending to each of the three main characters that leaves you much more satisfied than the hollow empty feeling of the film. The art is beautiful and the way the story is told here, nothing is lost in the transition. You still feel the bittersweet feeling of lost love, the pain and the longing, as well as accepting these feelings in order to move on. The length is enough for two standard manga volumes and thus it doesn’t feel rushed at all. This is a beautiful and meaningful story that’s every bit as good, if not better, than the film.
Rating: 7/10