5 Centimeters per Second

5 Centimeters Per Second, subtitled "a chain of short stories about their distance" is a Japanese animated film by Makoto Shinkai. It consists of 3 short stories, Extract of Cherry Blossom, Cosmonaut, and 5 Centimeters per Second.

The three short stories revolve around the main character, Takaki Tohno, starting from when he was a boy in story #1, until he became a matured man in story #3. It started in story #1, Extract of Cherry Blossom.

After graduating from primary school, Takaki and his close friend Akari Shinohara seperated. Akari moved to Tochiri due to her parents' jobs, while Takaki stayed in Tokyo. The two still wrote letters to each other though time and distance made them a little bit distant from each other. When Takaki had to move to Kagoshima due to his parents' jobs, he decided to see Akari for the last time before they would be too far apart to see each other again. They made a promise to see each other. However, on the promised day, a heavy snowstorm occured. The train Takaki boarded in was delayed time after time and it would be hours later that he got to Iwafune station where they were supposed to meet. However, Akari stayed there waiting for Takaki. The two spent the night talking until they fell asleep. When they kissed, Takaki realized that they would never be together because time and distance slowly seperates them. He got on the early train the following morning taking the bitter-feeling with him.

The second story, Cosmonaut, is about when Takaki was in the third year of senior high school in Tanegashima. Kanae Sumita, his classroom, had a special feeling toward him but was too afraid to express her feeling. She sometimes observed that Takaki is always staring off to the distance, as if searching for something far away. At last Kanae understood that Takaki was searching for something that she could not offer.

The third story, is in 2008. All three characters have gone seperate ways. Takaki is now a computer programmer, and Akari is getting married. One day, he is taking a walk and notices familiar-looking woman at a railroad-crossing. When he looks back, a train comes and cuts his view. He waits for the train to pass but the woman is not there anymore. Giving a smile, he turns around and walks on with a better feeling.

I don't know how to express how good this film is. You just have to see this film to know how good this is. The theme song is very good too and is very relevant to the content of the movie.