The Girl Who Leapt Through Time – Classic Hosoda
Written by Dr. Zoe Crombie
The discussion around who’s to be the next Hayao Miyazaki has been a hot topic among fans of Japanese animation for decades. Popular candidates have often included Your Name’s Makoto Shinkai and even Miyazaki’s own son Goro, but my money has always been squarely on Mamoru Hosoda, the almost-director of Ghibli’s Howl’s Moving Castle and the creator of some of the most original and arresting anime of the 21st century.
One of his first, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time, still easily ranks among his best. A loose adaptation of a 1960s novel, the film follows Makoto, a high school girl with the ability to travel through time, literally leaping into the past. As with any time travel narrative, she soon learns the consequences of abusing her powers. However, this isn’t a Hollywood thriller – instead of surface spectacle, it’s all about heart and the relationships between the central characters. But that isn’t to say that the film doesn’t have Hosoda’s usual flair for the visual, with each of Makoto’s leaps looking and feeling as joyful as the first.
If you’ve enjoyed Hosoda films like the Oscar nominated Mirai and his most recent release Belle, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time is a must see – and if you’ve caught it at home before, the animation leaps off the screen when you watch it at the cinema.
Catch The Girl Who Leapt Through Time on Saturday 26th & Sunday 27th July.
This film is a part of the Rewind: A Weekend of Classic Film programme. Find out more about What's On here.
