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The Place Promised in Our Early Days

Play trailer Poster for The Place Promised in Our Early Days 2004 1h 31m Drama Anime Play Trailer Watchlist
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71% Tomatometer 7 Reviews 79% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
The feature film debut from Makoto Shinkai, the acclaimed director of Weathering With You and Your Name., is a haunting and beautiful story of friendship and loss, with stunning visuals and the emotional approach to science-fiction that would become the director's trademark. In an alternate post-war Japan, three teenagers become obsessed with a mysterious tower across the Union border, which reaches far into the sky. Hiroki and Takuya work on a makeshift airplane, which they promise their friend Sayuri they will use to visit the tower together someday, but she disappears before it is completed. Several years later, the tower suddenly activates, starting a phenomenon that threatens the world. And the young men now discover their long-lost friend Sayuri may hold the key to it all...
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The Place Promised in Our Early Days

Critics Reviews

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Jeff Shannon Seattle Times 06/17/2005
3/4
By any standard it's impressive anime; as a feature debut it's a remarkable achievement. Go to Full Review Brian Costello Common Sense Media 07/12/2022
3/5
This was the debut film of director Makoto Shinkai, and the high quality of the animation and his strength in using vibrant imagery to convey story comes alive in nearly every scene. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 06/12/2022
2.5/4
Takes an intriguing idea and puts it through middling paces. Go to Full Review Gabe Leibowitz Film and Felt 06/28/2009
62/100
I suspect that in 20 years, film buffs worldwide will be pointing to The Place Promised in Our Early Days as the introductory work from one of cinema's first-rate directors. Go to Full Review Phil Hall Film Threat 07/20/2005
4/5
Superior anime offering. Go to Full Review Bill White Seattle Post-Intelligencer 06/17/2005
B+
Shinkai Makoto, who made the 30-minute 'Voices of a Distant Star' by himself on a laptop computer, has written and directed an anime that favors human emotions over robot battles. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jay W Dec 9 This was Makoto Shinkai's first feature, and already Shinkai's signature style is on display. There are star crossed loves that share a supernatural connection. Combine that with his beautiful animation, and some lovely violin music, and you got yourself a good time. There are other elements that Makoto Shinkai clearly improves over his time as a filmmaker. This movie has a lot of narration, a lot of exposition and can be needlessly confusing. There was a major character change that happens off camera. With a change like that, it should be paramount for the director to communicate why it happened. Any romantic chemistry is hard to believe because most of the time is spent with three of the kids as opposed to any one-on-one time. Likewise, they are middle schoolers, which lessens any romantic vibes that they might have. Oh... and a major part of the story involves the heroes taking a stolen plane and crashing it into a tower. Which...given its release year, is a bit awkward. See more Zip D Sep 12 This was sloooooow moving film. While pretty, it lacks a moving plot or even characters to care about. I couldn't even finish it after 4 tries. See more Holly S 03/05/2024 eu tbm não lembro desse, mas na época ainda não tinha visto muito animes então não goste muito, hoje aprecio mais os filmes japoneses See more E 03/21/2023 This movie is quite the work of art! Makoto Shinkai's first feature-length film is so creative and unique, and the animation makes it impossible to look away! The story is so exotic and interesting, and the music was also a wonderful addition. This film is one you'll want to watch over and over again to pick up things you missed the previous viewing. It gives an excellent sense of nostalgia which made the viewing even more fun! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, 11/10 STARS!! See more 11/04/2021 a good movie with excellent animation for the year of production with an engaging story that makes you create a certain affinity with the characters and the situations they face See more 09/13/2020 This is such a bad, boring, messy and pointless movie. And the characters aren't memorable at all. Easily the worst Shinkai movie. See more Read all reviews
The Place Promised in Our Early Days

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Cast & Crew

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Makoto Shinkai

Director

Chris Patton

Hiroki Fujisawa

Jessica Boone

Sayuri Sawatari

Kalob Martinez

Takuya Sawatari

Illich Guardiola

Ariska

John Swasey

Okabe
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The Place Promised in Our Early Days

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Movie Info

Synopsis The feature film debut from Makoto Shinkai, the acclaimed director of Weathering With You and Your Name., is a haunting and beautiful story of friendship and loss, with stunning visuals and the emotional approach to science-fiction that would become the director's trademark. In an alternate post-war Japan, three teenagers become obsessed with a mysterious tower across the Union border, which reaches far into the sky. Hiroki and Takuya work on a makeshift airplane, which they promise their friend Sayuri they will use to visit the tower together someday, but she disappears before it is completed. Several years later, the tower suddenly activates, starting a phenomenon that threatens the world. And the young men now discover their long-lost friend Sayuri may hold the key to it all...
Director
Makoto Shinkai
Producer
Makoto Shinkai
Screenwriter
Makoto Shinkai, Steven Foster
Production Co
CoMix Wave
Genre
Drama, Anime
Original Language
Japanese
Runtime
1h 31m
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