Various raw versions of the full Byousoku 5 Centimeter (5cm per Second) have been roaming around freely over the past couple of weeks, and, finally, the subbed version has also found its way onto the internets this week - putting an end to our long stretched waiting. Or at least my long stretched waiting, since my pessimistic comrade-in-loli-arms bets that "it's teh gay suxxorz", end quote. Well I sure hope not, not after Makoto Shinkai's previous animation movie - Beyond the Clouds (Kumo no Mukou, Yakusoku no Basho) - which we both have come to praise.

If 5cm is still not licensed in your neighbourhood, I suggest you download it first, doubt its greatness later. Besides, how could an anime with pink umbrellas be anything but great?!


Later edit: Well... having just watched the ending credits of Byousoku 5cm scroll by a minute ago, I can see why some might find it less gratifying, and certainly less intense than Beyond the Clouds. It's perhaps somewhere between that, and Voices of a Distant Star (Hoshi no Koe) - from a multitude of reasons, in fact. I don't wish to go into detail, but rest assured that 5cm is yet another great work of mr. Shinkai, quite moving and superbly illustrated, as expected. And needless to say, a "must-watch".

Update: One final edit, to point out this latest - and longest - preview trailer for 5cm, even including some scenes that seem to be missing from the final cut.