A new website launched on Sunday has revealed that Makoto Shinkai’s acclaimed anime film, 5 Centimeters Per Second, will be adapted into a live-action movie slated for release in fall 2025. Hokuto Matsumura, a member of the popular group SixTONES and known for his role as Sōta Munakata in Suzume, has been cast as the lead.
The film is being produced by Spoon, with TOHO handling distribution. Yoshiyuki Okuyama will direct the film, while Ayako Suzuki is penning the script.
Originally released in 2007, 5 Centimeters Per Second is divided into three separate vignettes, each chronicling different stages in the life of Tono Takaki and his fading connection with a girl from his childhood. The story begins with Takaki in middle school, as he makes a determined effort to meet Akari Shinohara, a close friend from elementary school who has moved away. Knowing this will likely be their final meeting, Takaki braves a snowy journey to see her one last time.
The second segment focuses on Takaki during his high school years, where he remains emotionally tethered to memories of Akari, even as another girl, Kanae, secretly harbors feelings for him. In the final segment, set in his adulthood, Takaki struggles with his career and personal relationships, still haunted by the thoughts of Akari and the memories they once shared.
Makoto Shinkai not only directed but also wrote and storyboarded the original film, serving as its sound director, producer, and art director. The music was composed by Tenmon.
What is 5 Centimeters Per Second about?
5 Centimeters Per Second is a three-part film that explores themes of love, distance, and the passage of time. It follows Tono Takaki through different stages of his life, focusing on his growing emotional distance from a girl named Akari Shinohara, whom he loved during his childhood. The film reflects on how time and distance can affect relationships and human connections.
Why is the film called 5 Centimeters Per Second?
The title, 5 Centimeters Per Second, refers to the speed at which cherry blossom petals fall, symbolizing the slow but inevitable separation between people over time. The metaphor highlights the gradual fading of memories and emotional ties, which is a central theme in the film.
Is there a live-action adaptation of 5 Centimeters Per Second?
Yes, a live-action adaptation of 5 Centimeters Per Second has been announced and is set to release in fall 2025. Hokuto Matsumura from SixTONES will star in the film, with Yoshiyuki Okuyama directing and Ayako Suzuki writing the script. The live-action film will reinterpret the emotional and nostalgic journey portrayed in the original anime.
5 Centimeters Per Second first premiered in Japan in 2007. Crunchyroll, in partnership with Bandai Entertainment, released the film on DVD in 2011, and Discotek reissued it with updated cover art. GKIDS acquired the distribution rights in 2022, later releasing the film on Blu-ray in collaboration with Shout! Factory. See here for the official website for the upcoming movie.
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