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Column by Scott Green

ADV Films has announced that the company has acquired the exclusive theatrical, home video, and broadcast rights in North America to 5 Centimeters Per Second, the latest film by the highly regard anime auteur Makoto Shinkai.

Shinkai produced Voices From a Distant Star (2002) entirely on his own using a Macintosh. The short film caused a stir and went on to win prizes at several international film festivals. Shinkai’s follow-up was the feature length film The Place Promised in Our Early Days (2004), which went on to win even more awards and enjoyed a successful art house run throughout North America. 5 Centimeters Per Second marks the first time Shinkai has worked closely with a full staff of animators and artists.

ADV Films will debut a 35mm subtitled version of 5 Centimeters Per Second at two late night screenings Saturday June 30. A limited number of tickets will be available for purchase at the ADV Films booth at Anime Expo. Both showings will take place at a theater within walking distance of the convention center and Expo hotels.

ADV is putting together a theatrical tour of 5 Centimeters Per Second for the fall. A DVD release is currently planned for December.

Synopsis: After transferring to the same elementary school, Takaki and Akari become best friends. But when both families are forced to relocate, their lives change. After a year of separation, Takaki is about to reunite with Akari. Sitting on the train from Tokyo, memories of the past rush through his mind as he draws closer to his life-long friend. When a snowstorm delays their fateful meeting, Takaki and Akari begin to wonder if they will ever be able to see each other again, and share their secret feelings. Join Takaki on a journey into three interconnected tales of love and lost innocence that span the minutes and months of their lives.