Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo’s Script Changed Several Times

Did you know that the script for Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo changed several times, even being rewritten from scratch?
The movie Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo, released in 2006 and directed by Mamoru Hosoda, is considered one of the most emotional works in Japanese animated cinema. However, few people know that the final version of the film is quite different from the original idea.

In a recent interview with Febri magazine, producer Shinichiro Inoue revealed details about the behind the scenes of Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo. According to him, Hosoda even threw out the entire script after a few drafts, feeling that the result was not good enough.

Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo’s Script Changed Several Times

Before working as a producer, Inoue was an editor for magazines such as Newtype and Animec. When he took over the Anime Comics division at Kadokawa Shoten, his first project was precisely this adaptation of Yasutaka Tsutsui’s novel.

Initially, the script went through three to four versions, but none of them fully satisfied Hosoda. The director believed that the scale of the story was too small and decided to start from scratch. This bold move ended up being a turning point in the film’s development.

It is important to remember that Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo is based on a highly successful novel in Japan. Many filmmakers were already interested in adapting it, including Satoshi Kon. However, Hosoda’s proposal was different: he wanted to tell the story of a new generation, keeping only the spirit of the original work.

When Inoue presented this idea to author Tsutsui, he explained that it would be a spiritual continuation, and the author approved it without any problems. Hosoda then began building the film’s narrative together with screenwriter Satoko Okudera.
“I felt that the scale of the story [in the early drafts] was somehow too small,” Inoue reflected. “One day, Hosoda-san said: ‘I’m going to throw it all away’, and we decided to start from scratch.”

A Film in Difficult Times

At the time, the anime film industry was going through difficult times. Original productions for the big screen were not common, which made the commercial success of Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo a real challenge.

Even so, Hosoda and screenwriter Satoko Okudera rewrote the entire story, focusing on Makoto, a teenager who travels through time to avoid problems and mistakes from the past. The new script began to show the character’s growth as she discovers her purpose in life.

In addition to Makoto, the character Chiaki Mamiya, the protagonist’s friend, received more attention. Inspired by the original material, Hosoda expanded Chiaki’s role and gave more weight to his relationship with Makoto, which enhanced the emotional impact of the ending.

All these changes to Toki wo Kakeru Shoujo’s script paid off, as the film was a success: even though it premiered in just a few theaters, it grossed over 300 million yen in Japan and won over the audience.