Live-Action Film Adaptation of Makoto Shinkai’s 5 Centimeters per Second Set for Fall 2025

Posted on by AMK Station

Makoto Shinkai’s acclaimed romantic drama anime film 5 Centimeters per Second has recently revealed exciting news— a surprise live-action adaptation is officially in development, with a scheduled release set for the fall of 2025, marking 18 years since its original premiere in 2007. This film serves as the third original anime project by Shinkai, following Voices of a Distant Star (2002) and The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004), and it was first released in Japan on March 3, 2007.

The live-action film adaptation of Makoto Shinkai’s 2007 anime film 5 Centimeters per Second is slated to hit theaters in Japan in the fall of 2025. The film’s official website has launched, unveiling the news and generating significant anticipation among fans. This will be the first-ever live-action adaptation of Shinkai’s work, further heightening the excitement.

Yoshiyuki Okuyama, known for his music video direction for artists like Kenshi Yonezu (“Kanden,” “KICK BACK”), will direct the film, which features a screenplay by Ayako Suzuki. Makoto Shinkai has expressed his feelings about the project:

“A live-action film adaptation of ‘5 Centimeters per Second’ has been announced. I am truly grateful to director Okuyama, Hokuto-kun, and the rest of the young team for revitalizing this cherished (yet imperfect) work. Their enthusiasm inspires me to create an anime film that matches their energy and talent. I eagerly anticipate watching the new ‘5 Centimeters per Second’ in theaters!”

Director Okuyama has shared his perspective on this adaptation as well:

“I feel a unique connection to be directing a story that Makoto Shinkai wrote when he was 33, as I am 33 myself. While it’s just a number, it feels serendipitous. Every day, as I engage with 5 Centimeters per Second, I recognize that there are moments that can only exist now and viewpoints that will be lost in time. I aim to manifest each scene and every fleeting moment with heartfelt care, as if gently easing Takaki, who is burdened by loss and uncertainty. I am pouring all the ‘sentimental’ feelings I hold within into this project, so please look forward to it.”

Meanwhile, Hokuto Matsumura, a 29-year-old member of the male idol group SixTONES, will portray the male lead, Takaki Tono. He previously voiced Souta Munakata, a key character in Shinkai’s 2022 anime film Suzume.

Shinkai praised live-action director Yoshiyuki Okuyama and the “young and passionate team,” including scriptwriter Suzuki Fumiko and producer Masahiro Tamai. He commented:

“The animated film 5 Centimeters per Second, which I directed nearly 20 years ago, has been regarded as somewhat immature and incomplete. Nevertheless, it is precisely this incompleteness that allows it to resonate with audiences even today. I could never recreate that moment; it simply mirrored my raw impulses and my yearning for the unknown.”

The original anime film has a runtime of just 63 minutes, telling the poignant story of Takaki Tono across various stages of his life and his fleeting connections with the girls around him. It intimately portrays his experiences as an elementary and junior high school student, a high schooler, and a young professional through a series of three interconnected short stories.

The upcoming live-action adaptation aims to be a two-hour feature film, developed under careful consultation with the original creator, Shinkai. Shinkai’s films are globally recognized, with three—Your Name, Suzume, and Weathering with You—ranking among Japan’s top-grossing films of all time.

5 Centimeters per Second debuted in 2007, directed by Makoto Shinkai at CoMix Wave Inc. This celebrated film not only secured the Best Animated Feature Film title at the 2007 Asia Pacific Screen Awards but also left a lasting legacy in Japanese cinema. Its influence continues to be a point of pride for Shinkai and his devoted fans.

About 5 Centimeters Per Second

In 5 Centimeters per Second, Takaki struggles to express his feelings for his childhood crush, Akari. Their families relocate before their relationship can flourish. Despite maintaining contact, they eventually drift apart due to school and new friendships. As seasons change, Takaki grapples with his past relationships while haunted by unspoken words to Akari, his first love.

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