The Place Promised in Our Early Days

The Place Promised in Our Early Days (Japanese: 雲のむこう、約束の場所, Hepburn: Kumo no Mukō, Yakusoku no Basho, lit. "Beyond the Clouds, the Promised Place") is a 2004 Japanese anime film written, produced, cinematographed, directed and edited by Makoto Shinkai in his feature film debut. Set over several years in an alternate history where the Soviet Union occupies the Japanese island of Hokkaido it follows two childhood friends who grow apart after one of their friends disappears. As international tensions rise and a mysterious tower built by the Union starts replacing matter around it with matter from other universes, they cross paths once again and realize their missing friend might be the key to saving the world.

Unlike his short film Voices of a Distant Star, which was largely made by Shinkai on his own, The Place Promised in Our Early Days is a full-scale production, as reflected by its better animation quality and longer running time. It has been broadcast across Japan by the anime satellite television network Animax. It was licensed for North American release by ADV Films and is now licensed by GKIDS.

It was one of Makoto Shinkai’s films to be selected to be screened at the Japanese film festival in India as part of celebrations of 70th anniversary of establishment of India Japan diplomatic relations.

Cast

Allusions

The film includes several references to other literary works and themes, such as separation and dreams. The poem read by Sayuri in class is Eiketsu no Asa (永訣の朝, Morning of the Last Farewell) from the poem collection Haru to Shura (春と修羅, Spring and Asura) by well-known Japanese writer Kenji Miyazawa (1896–1933). It was written on the occasion of the premature death of his sister, Toshi Miyazawa (1898–1922). Furthermore, during the summer sequence in the film, Sayuri is seen reading a novel titled "The Net Involved in a Dream" ("夢網", "Dream Net") by Morishita Sakae. Although the author is fictional, a book of the same name exists by a similarly named poet, Hoshio Sakae.

A reference to the director's previous work is made when Takuya and Hiroki meet at the station. They see a cat which Takuya calls Chobi, the name of the cat from She and Her Cat.

Media

Music

Theme song

Your voice (きみのこえ, Kimi no koe)

• Performed by Ai Kawashima
• Lyrics by Makoto Shinkai
• Music by Tenmon
• Arranged by Tenmon

Original soundtrack

DVD

Regular release

• The Place Promised in Our Early Days (90 Minutes)
• 3 Video Interviews with Japanese Cast
• Original Japanese Trailer Collection

Collector's edition

Disc 1 (DVD)

• The Place Promised in Our Early Days (90 Minutes)
• 3 Video Interviews with Japanese Cast
• Original Japanese Trailer Collection

Disc 2 (DVD)

• The Place Promised in Our Early Days (Animated Storyboards, 90 Minutes)
• Interview with Makoto Shinkai
• Animated Gallery 2002 — 2004

Disc 3 (CDROM)

• 35 Still Images
• Sheet Music

DVD Book

• The Place Promised in Our Early Days (Storyboards, 360 pages)

Manga

The Place Promised in Our Early Days was also serialized as a manga in Monthly Afternoon. It began in February 2006 and ended in August 2006, with eight chapters. The story is by Makoto Shinkai and the art is by Mizu Sahara.

Novelisation

The Place Promised in Our Early Days has been novelised by Arata Kanoh. There is an English translation by Taylor Engel.

Stage adaptation

The film was adapted into a stage play directed by Yuko Naito, with a script by Shigeki Motoiki and music by Masato Komata. It had seven performances from April 20–24, 2018 at Tokyo International Forum Hall C in Tokyo, and two performances on May 2, 2018 at NHK Osaka Hall in Osaka.

The cast included Yudai Tatsumi, Shô Takada, Momoka Ito, Kazuyuki Matsuzawa, Wataru Kozuki, Atsuko Asano.

Awards

• Special Distinction (Feature Film category) – Seoul Comics and Animation Festival 2005
• Jury Selection in the 9th Japan Media Arts Festival
• Silver Prize on Best Animated Film Section (by audience choice) of Public Prize – Canada Fantasia Film Festival
• Award for Art in Seiun Award – 44th Japanese SF Convention
• Best Animated Film – Mainichi Film Awards 2004
• Award for Expression Technique (for Trailer #1) – Tokyo International Anime Fair 2003

References

External links

• The Place Promised in Our Early Days at IMDb
• The Place Promised in Our Early Days (anime) at Anime News Network's encyclopedia
• The Place Promised in Our Early Days at Rotten Tomatoes
• The Place Promised in Our Early Days Review at Anime+ Podcast