Directed by Yoshiyuki Okuyama, The Coming-of-Age Romance is Based on the Legendary Director Makoto Shinkai’s Original Animated Feature Film
GKIDS, the Academy Award®-winning producer and distributor of acclaimed and artist-driven globally inspired cinema, announced during its Anime NYC 2026 industry panel its acquisition of the upcoming live action adaptation of 5 Centimeters Per Second. The coming-of-age romance is directed by filmmaker and photographer Yoshiyuki Okuyama, director of the feature film At the Bench, whose work also includes music videos for renowned artists such as Kenshi Yonezu and Gen Hoshino, and is based on the animated film by acclaimed director Makoto Shinkai (Suzume, Your Name.) of the same name, becoming the first live-action adaptation of one of his titles. GKIDS plans to reveal additional details on the film’s North American theatrical and home entertainment plans later this year.
The upcoming 5 Centimeters Per Second was released domestically in Japan on October 10, 2025 and stars Hokuto Matsumura as “Takaki Tono”, Mitsuki Takahata as “Akari Shinohara”, and Nana Mori as “Kanae Sumida”. The feature film has since received four nominations for the 2026 “Awards of the Japanese Academy”, including Hokuto Matsumura for “Best Actor”, Keisuke Imamura for “Best Cinematography”, Koshiro Ueno for “Best Lighting”, and Noa Shiroyama for “Newcomer of the Year”, who performed as “Young Akari Shinohara”.
This acquisition builds upon GKIDS’ growing catalog of contemporary live-action cinema. Following the upcoming bow at the Venice and Toronto International Film Festivals, GKIDS is set to release Look Back – the upcoming feature directed, edited and adapted for screen by Palme d’Or winner and Oscar-nominated filmmaker Hirokazu Kore’eda (Shoplifters), which is the first live-action adaptation of the best-selling and globally beloved manga “Look Back” from globally celebrated author Tatsuki Fujimoto (Chainsaw Man). Last year, GKIDS entered this historic new phase with its theatrical release of the Oscar-nominated and record-breaking Japanese box office phenomenon KOKUHO alongside theatrical re-releases of the comedy-drama cult classic Linda Linda Linda directed by Nobuhiro Yamashita, and the acclaimed 2016 global hit Shin Godzilla from director Hideaki ANNO and co-director Shinji Higuchi. GKIDS also handles distribution for a number of Makoto Shinkai’s seminal films, including the original 5 Centimeters Per Second, Your Name., Weathering With You, and more.
Synopsis:
After transferring to the same elementary school, Takaki and Akari became best friends. However, their lives change when both their families are forced to relocate. After a year of separation, Takaki is about to reunite with Akari. As he sits on the train from Tokyo, memories of the past rush through Takaki’s head, his meeting time with Akari drawing ever closer. 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.
Staff
Director: Yoshiyuki Okuyama
Original Animation: Makoto Shinkai
Screenplay: Ayako Suzuki
Producer: Hiromasa Tamai/Dai Sano
Composer: Ayatake Ezaki
Cinematographer: Keisuke Imamura
Production: Spoon.
Produced by FUJI TELEVISION NETWORK, INC. / CoMix Wave Films Inc. / TOHO CO., LTD
International Sales: CoMix Wave Films Inc. (Asia) / Pony Canyon Inc. (Outside Asia)