Ever since Netflix’s One Piece live-action has achieved success, the craze of adapting an anime series into a live-action adaptation has taken over the Japanese and Hollywood industries. Almost every prominent series is being adapted into a live-action, hoping for a success like One Piece. A similar thing is happening with Makoto Shinkai’s 5 Centimeters per Second.
It was recently announced that 5 Centimeters per Second, which was released almost two decades ago, is now getting a live-action adaptation. 5 Centimeters per Second is a romantic drama animated film that was quite popular during its release in 2007. Even today, it is deemed one of the most prominent pieces of romantic stories ever produced.
The news about the movie getting a live-action adaptation has ignited a fire within the hearts of anime fans who admired 5 Centimeters per Second. With the release date set for Fall 2025, the movie is bound to make big numbers and might join One Piece as one of the successful live-action adaptations.
5 Centimeters per Second Gets Approved For Live-Action Adaptation
Oricon recently reported that a live-action film adaptation of Shinkai’s 2007 anime film 5 Centimeters per Second is set to release in Japan in the fall of 2025. Hokuto Matsumura from SixTONES, a popular Japanese boy band, was cast as the main character, Takaki Tono, and the movie is being directed by Yoshiyuki Okuyama.
Ayako Suzuki will take care of the screenplay, and Studio Spoon has been selected for the production of the movie. The distribution rights have been given to TOHO, but fans have to wait to find out who will play the role of Akari Shinohara, the love interest of Takaki Tono.
Although the original movie was released in 2007, it is still quite popular, especially in Japan and amongst anime fans, because of its addicting storyline, which is divided into three different segments. It was awarded Best Animated Feature Film at the 2007 Asia Pacific Screen Awards; thus, fans have big expectations from the live-action version.
Makoto Shinkai’s Opinion About His Work Getting a Live-Action Adaptation
The announcement of 5 Centimeters per second getting a live-action adaptation created a ruckus in the anime world. It is indeed a big thing that the romantic drama is getting an official adaptation after so many years. Thus, even the director of the original film, Shinkai expressed his thoughts about his exceptional work getting an adaptation on his X account.
Shinkai stated:
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 giving new life to this old and poor (but favorite in my own way) work. I am also so motivated that I must make an anime film that can live up to their enthusiasm and talent. I am very much looking forward to seeing the new ‘5 Centimeters per Second’ in a theater!
5 Centimeters per Second is a movie that takes its viewers on an emotional rollercoaster by portraying the story of Takaki and Akari as they go through the struggles of life.
If the creators of the live-action adaptation manage to make it as wonderful as the original anime film, they might reach a new level of success in the anime adaptation world that even One Piece couldn’t reach.
5 Centimeters per Second is available to watch on Crunchyroll.
