To Every You I’ve Loved Before is a 2022 anime film based on a novel by Yomoji Otono. It was released together with another movie called To Me, The One Who Loved You.
To Every You I’ve Loved Before explores the theme of parallel worlds in a meaningful way, making you think about how different choices shape our lives. The story is quiet and emotional, with a slow pace that gives it a reflective feel. While it might not be for everyone, especially those looking for a traditional romance or action-packed plot, it’s a great watch for anyone who enjoys thinking about the “what-ifs” in life.
Personally, the movie left me with a sense of calm reflection. It made me think about my own choices and how different things could have been in another world. It’s the kind of movie that stays with you, making you reflect on your own life and relationships.
Story Summary
The movie takes place in a world where alternate realities exist. It follows a boy named Koyomi Takasaki, who lives in a reality where his parents are divorced. After moving to a new town, he meets a girl named Kazune Takigawa, who tells him that she comes from a parallel world where she and Koyomi are lovers. The story explores how different choices can lead to different lives in different worlds.
The interesting thing about this movie is that it’s meant to be watched with its companion movie, To Me, The One Who Loved You. Both films show different outcomes of the same events, offering viewers a chance to see how things could have turned out differently.
Themes: One of the main ideas in To Every You I’ve Loved Before is how our choices affect our lives and relationships. The movie asks us to think about how things might have been if we had made different decisions. The concept of alternate realities adds an extra layer to this, making the audience reflect on the “what-ifs” of life.
The relationship between Koyomi and Kazune is gentle and heartfelt. Instead of focusing on dramatic romance, the movie gives us a quiet look at love, memories, and how people are connected across different versions of their lives.
Animation
The animation is soft and calming, fitting the emotional tone of the story. The differences between parallel worlds are shown through changes in colors and small details in the environment. While the visuals aren’t as breathtaking as big-budget anime like Your Name or Weathering With You, they suit the intimate feel of the movie. It’s more about the characters’ emotions than flashy scenes.
Personal Thoughts
The idea of alternate worlds made me think about my own life choices and how different things could have been. The way the film shows love across different realities was both beautiful and sad, especially when you see how things don’t always work out in some timelines.
The movie moves at a slow pace, but that allows you to really connect with Koyomi and Kazune’s relationship. If you like stories that make you think and aren’t in a rush, this one is worth watching. But if you prefer fast action or a lot of drama, it might feel a bit slow.
I also appreciated how Koyomi’s character grows as he deals with the challenges of parallel worlds. His journey to understand his feelings and his place in these different realities adds emotional depth to the story. However, I think the movie could have explored Kazune’s character a bit more, as she felt a little underdeveloped.
One downside is that the movie relies heavily on the concept of parallel worlds, which might confuse some viewers who aren’t familiar with it. But for me, that’s what made it interesting. I enjoyed thinking about the deeper meaning of love and fate.
