7.7 | / 10 |
Users | 5.0 | |
Reviewer | 4.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
What if it was possible to avoid embarrassing situations? Suddenly, Makoto Konno can do this--and more--when she discovers that she can jump back in time at will. Tests are a piece of cake, and she can have her favorite food anytime; what a great life! But she soon realizes that her little time jaunts are having adverse effects on the people she loves. Each time she races back in time to fix the problems she has created, it brings her one step closer to discovering the most wonderful secret in her young life.
Starring: Riisa Naka, Takuya Ishida, Ayami Kakiuchi, Sachie Hara, Mitsuki TanimuraForeign | 100% |
Anime | 91% |
Romance | 13% |
Sci-Fi | 11% |
Drama | 1% |
Comedy | 1% |
Video codec: MPEG-4 AVC
Video resolution: 1080p
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Original aspect ratio: 1.85:1
English: Dolby TrueHD 5.1 (48kHz, 16-bit)
Japanese: Dolby TrueHD 5.1
English
25GB Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD, 1 DVD)
Region A (locked)
Movie | 4.0 | |
Video | 4.0 | |
Audio | 4.0 | |
Extras | 2.0 | |
Overall | 4.0 |
Occasionally, anime movies cross the Pacific and are embraced by the kind of wider western audience that normally balks at spiky hair, impossibly big doe eyes, and the sometimes seemingly impenetrable mysteries of Japanese culture. I’m thinking of films like Katsuhiro Otomo’s Akira, Satoshi Kon’s Paprika, and practically every Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli production since 1997’s Princess Mononoke. Consequently, gaijin at large are slowly beginning to realize that not all anime is about dueling mechs, pocket monsters, and, uh, dragon balls. The varieties are near-endless, and one branch of anime that seems primed for U.S. popularity is shoujo, stories that are generally for and about young girls. A good example is Mamoru Hosoda’s The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, a lightly romantic soft sci-fi film that follows the chronological misadventures of an average, lovelorn high school girl who discovers she can alter the future by changing the past. Don’t feel left out, though, guys. While teenaged females are the target audience, this is by no means a “for girls only” film, as its themes and charming characters have universal appeal.
The Girl Who Leapt Through Time isn't one of the flashier anime titles available on Blu-ray, but it greatly benefits from the upgrade to high definition, with a 1080p/AVC transfer that's clean, crisp, and free of aliasing, banding, noise, and other encode issues that frequently crop up in animated films. There are a few shots that seem uncharacteristically soft, but for the most part, outlines are clean and show ready improvement over the DVD edition. The source animation is digital, so there are no concerns about excess DNR or print debris, and the image simply looks pristine. Color is also nicely represented, although—and this is just my opinion—the hues could stand to be a bit more saturated. The picture has a very "bright" quality, which is intentional, but a slightly denser palette—with stronger contrast—might've given the image more punch. No worries, though. The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a pleasure to watch in high definition, and I don't think Bandai could've done much better.
As expected, Bandai has provided two audio tracks for The Girl Who Leapt Through Time—the original Japanese mix and a surprisingly decent English dub, featuring Emily Hirst as the voice of Makoto. Both arrive in Dolby TrueHD 5.1 form, and the results are excellent. As far as anime goes, this is a fairly low-key title—so you shouldn't expect a sonic bombardment—but the mix does a lot to establish the atmosphere of the film. If you've ever been to Japan during the summer, you'll instantly recognize the repetitive drone of cicadas that's featured heavily here, humming and seething in the rear channels in almost every other scene. Amongst other ambient sounds, wind blows through the surround speakers, crows caw off in the distance, and a train rattles loudly from left to right. What makes the track, though, is Kiyoshi Yoshida's quiet, beautiful piano score, which also includes a few Bach pieces. The music sounds lovely—clear and resonant. Dialogue is also clean and comprehensible, and there are more than a few effectives uses of directional voices, like the scene where Chiaki circles Makoto in a frozen-in-time crowd outside Shibuya station. Optional English subtitles are provided in easy to read lettering.
Besides a collection of trailers for other Bandai releases, there are unfortunately no bonus features whatsoever on the Blu-ray disc itself—I'm not sure why the audio commentaries couldn't have been ported over at least—but you'll find a decent set of supplements on the included DVD. Do note that this isn't the DVD edition of the film; it's a disc devoted solely to bonus features. All of the supplements are in Japanese, with English subtitles.
While not as dense with ideas or jaw-droppingly drawn as some of the bigger budget anime titles to have reached U.S. shores recently, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time deserves to be seen for its bittersweet story and approachable characters. Although it's a minor bummer that have to switch out discs to watch the special features and listen to the commentary tracks, Bandai has done a fine job on this release, with a beautiful high definition presentation and immersive audio. If you're new to anime, this is a great place to start. Recommended!
時をかける少女 / Toki o kakeru shôjo
2006
2006
Hosoda Collection / 時をかける少女 / Toki o kakeru shôjo
2006
時をかける少女 / Toki o kakeru shôjo
2006
サマーウォーズ / Samâ wôzu
2009
2000-2001
Anime Classics
2011-2012
言の葉の庭 / Koto no Ha no Niwa
2013
Essentials / 涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱
2006-2009
The Motion Picture
2012
秒速5センチメートル / Byôsoku 5 senchimętoru
2007
2008-2009
Anime Classics
2008-2009
Suzumiya Haruhi no shôshitsu / 涼宮ハルヒの消失
2010
Anime Classics / フルメタル·パニック!
2002
2013
S.A.V.E.
2006
君の名は。 / Kimi no na wa.
2016
Essentials / Higashi no Eden
2009
2007-2008
雲のむこう、約束の場所 / Kumo no Mukō, Yakusoku no Basho / Beyond the Clouds, the Promised Place
2004
2010
2008
コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュ / コードギアス 反逆のルルーシュR2
2006-2008