A tale of two people, Tono Takaki and Shinohara Akari, who were close friends but gradually grow farther and farther apart as time moves on. They become separated because of their families yet continue to exchange contact in the form of letters. Yet as time continues to trudge on, their contact with one another begins to cease. Years pass and the rift between them grows ever larger. However, Takaki remembers the times they have shared together, but as life continues to unfold for him, he wonders if he would be given the chance to meet Akari again as the tale embarks on Takaki's realization of the world and people around him.
I did not watch this recently nor do I write reviews for most of what I see, but this one is an exception. This is one the the few anime-movie that truly deserve this title. But in order to truly appreciate the beauty of this anime-movie, the watcher must be mature and sophisticated enough to read and appreciate the unspoken meanings and emotions emanating throughout this anime-movie. What is great about this anime is not really that the plot is something new or unique. In fact, the central theme and plot, love, is pretty mundane. Rather, it is how the story is crafted and conveyed; It is so skillfully crafted that it evokes the deepest of our emotions and feelings, a sense of nostalgia and sorrow that reminds us of our humanity and the sense of being alive; the sense of experiencing the outside world and discovering meaning out there.
There is not much dialogue in here, but that is a part of what makes this a great anime-movie. Unlike those popular anime which over-explain everything, sometimes to the point of idiocy, this anime is conveyed in a way that too much speaking is superfluous and will but diminish the beauty of the plot. Dialogue is a tool that must be employed only when necessary, and this anime does that fairly well. This is the same idea as those great movies out there that even without a single word it carries a complex and dynamic story line. Moreover, the animation and music pieced together in here makes this a piece of art. But be warned, the whole purpose of watching this, is that it is so touching, to the point of tears. So don't expect anything fantasy-wise with a comfortable ending; It is highly realistic and it will evoke memories that are intrinsically sad. On a scale of 1 to 10, I will give this anime a 9.5, one of the highest I will ever give to any anime.
