i must have seen a different film!!

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

This movie feels like it was made purely to piss off people who want good shows

Makoto is your average Japanese high school girl, enjoying her life, going to class, having her friends... till, for unexplained reasons, she gains the power to travel through time (well, to jump, literally, back in time). Happy with the knowledge she will use to her own benefit. But this will have unexpected consequences..."The Girl Who Leapt Through Time" is an entertaining story, with good animation, funny humor and cool characters, that only fails a little bit in the pace and strength of the story, the first coming and going, and the second a little bit all over the place. It is difficult to justify time-travel, but the movie just ignores any kind of science or similar, and goes for Makoto using it to pass her math exam or trying to get a couple of friends together. It makes for funny moments, and the tone helps in making it all enjoyable, every time she travels in time her actions having unexpected and, sometimes funny, consequences. The last part, though, is a little bit weak, with a strange and unexpected twist. Fans of anime will enjoy it, though.

All three of his films that said, the other two being Summer Wars and Wolf Children, while neither without flaws(Summer Wars did have too many characters with some better-developed than others and Wolf Children had an at times rushed beginning and ended inconclusively) are great films and near-masterpieces almost as good as the best of Studio Ghibli.The Girl Who Leapt Through Time did get a little too complicated at the end and the character designs lacked the sophistication and detail of the rest of the animation. Speaking of the rest of the animation on the other hand, it's fantastic(something that all three of Hosoda's films have in common) with its luscious watercolour-like backgrounds and beautiful colours. The animation in the time-leaping is so inventive and effortlessly drawn it leaves one breathless. The film also has a great music score(another thing that all three Hosoda films had), it's positively hypnotic and sometimes rousing and sometimes melancholic, I also much appreciated the use of unobtrusive piano scoring.There is a thoughtful script that sounds remarkably natural(Japanese and American, dubs don't always translate well but it does fine here), complete with a deft balance of comedy and drama. The story is always engaging and not boring at all, it's funny, it's poignant, it's imaginative and it's thought-provoking, also using the time travel idea very effectively(one of the better films to do so). The messaging is well-handled and not laid on too thick. The characters are likable and interesting rather than being swamped by the time travel and the voice acting is good in the American dub(even if the title character's voice acting may be shrill for some, personally it wasn't a problem) and very good indeed in the Japanese version.Overall, a great film, near-masterpiece status in fact. If you loved The Girl Who Leapt Time and haven't seen Summer Wars or Wolf Children yet, do so. 9/10 Bethany Cox

THE GIRL WHO LEAPT THROUGH TIME is wholeheartedly worth a watch for its beautiful animation and nice character design (this coming from a not-very-into-anime person). It's a very pretty film. And for most of its runtime, there's a great lighthearted tone and polished comic sensibility that make things very enjoyable. But things fall apart in the last 30 minutes or so where the tone drastically shifts and everything loses steam. GIRL works best when it's dabbling in teen movie fare, where it's charms are inherent. I couldn't help but be disappointed by the ending, which feels rather disparate from everything that came before it.6/10

No, I wasn't always charmed by the way of animation. Sometimes it was a bit childish, and the far open mouth at emotions was even disturbing sometimes. Yet at the end of the movie I was sitting straight up. The story line was fascinating. Beside the troubles time traveling brings when you try to alter the past, also the emotional development of Makoto as consequence of the changes and her relation with her friends are important I particularly liked the guidance of auntie witch, of who you wonder maybe did have a similar experience in the past. And the end you see Makoto develop in a way to become like her. Fascinating movie and can recommend to all