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Several Studio Ghibli protégés, including director Mamoru Hosoda, collaborated on this beautiful film from Mad House animation. This story, written by Yasutaka Tsutsui, has been told in several different formats. What Hosoda and screenwriter Satoko Okudera do with this film is re-imagine the story as sequel while maintaining the heart and themes of the original story. At the core of the film are inspirational messages about taking chances and grabbing hold of opportunity. The animation and style of the film is made rather simple, yet this has an incredibly complex structure to it. There are many subplots that emerge through the simplicity of the story and the filmmakers do an effective job at seamlessly blending the serious moments with the lighthearted and humorous ones. There are echoes of Jane Austen's Emma at least in the way the initial concept begins (a young girl realizes she has the power to go back in time and change and she starts off by doing good deeds for herself and those around her), but this film becomes a more painful growth experience, one that connects on philosophical and spiritual levels. The film's greatest strength is in characterization notably that of its teenage friendship. It's richness has really grown the more I revisit the film. The Girl Who Lept Through Time is an emotionally touching and beautifully conceived film.
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