Beautiful New Trailer for 5 CENTIMETERS PER SECOND Recreates the Magic of the Original Anime
GKIDS has released a beautiful new trailer for the live-action adaptation of 5 Centimeters Per Second, bringing Makoto Shinkai’s beloved 2007 anime film to life with some gorgeous cinematography and an emotional story about love, distance, and the moments that stay with us.
The film comes from director Yoshiyuki Okuyama, who has recreated much of the original anime’s visual style while giving the story a fresh live-action look. The trailer is simple but effective, offering a colorful glimpse at the different stages of Takaki’s life and the relationships that shape who he becomes.
Hokuto Matsumura stars as Takaki, a young man whose feelings for someone from his childhood continue to follow him as the years pass. The story begins when Takaki and Akari meet in elementary school and quickly form a close friendship.
Both have grown accustomed to moving from place to place, and their shared experiences bring them together. As their friendship begins developing into something more, their families relocate, forcing them apart.
With time and distance separating them, the two are left wondering whether they’ll ever see each other again or get the chance to express how they really feel. It's a simple but moving story about growing up, missed opportunities, and how certain people can leave a lasting impression on our lives.
The movie also stars Mitsuki Takahata, Nana Mori, and Mai Kiryû. What makes this adaptation particularly interesting is how closely it appears to follow Shinkai’s original film.
The trailer features several beautifully composed shots that look like they were pulled directly from the anime, capturing the changing seasons and everyday moments that made the original so memorable.
We're also seeing more live-action adaptations of acclaimed anime films lately. Director Hirokazu Koreeda recently premiered his live-action adaptation of Look Back, which has received some fantastic early reactions. Hopefully, 5 Centimeters Per Second can deliver something equally special.
Okuyama previously directed At the Bench, and the screenplay for this new adaptation comes from Fumiko Suzuki. The film is produced by Hiromasa Tamai.
The live-action 5 Centimeters Per Second originally opened in Japanese theaters in October 2025, and GKIDS is now bringing it to American audiences.
I'm looking forward to seeing how this one turns out. Shinkai's original film is such a visually stunning and emotionally effective piece of storytelling, and the footage we've seen suggests Okuyama has put a lot of care into translating that experience into live action.
The film will open in select U.S. theaters on October 23, 2026.