To Me the One Who Loved You - Anime Movie
To Me, the One Who Loved You is a 2022 Japanese animated film based on Yomoji Otono's novel. The film is produced by TMS Entertainment and distributed by Toei Company. The anime film follows Koyomi Hidaka and Shiori Satō, who fall in love but are forced to elope to a parallel world. The film's companion film, To Every You I've Loved Before, follows an alternate version of Koyomi, named Koyomi Takasaki, who meets Kazune Takigawa in the 85th parallel world.
The film premiered in Tokyo on September 14, 2022, and grossed over $1 million worldwide. The film's companion film, To Every You I've Loved Before, was released on the same day, focusing on intertwined love stories. Both films were released on Crunchyroll on April 20, 2023. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the storylines of these companion films and uncover the ideal viewing order to experience them fully. Ready to explore? Let’s jump in!
Overview
Koyomi, a seven-year-old boy living with his father after his parents' divorce, learns about Imaginary Science and Imaginality, a concept that allows consciousness to shift between parallel worlds. His grandfather's dog, Yuno, dies, and Shiori, the daughter of the Institute's director, Genko, brings him to an IP capsule. They become close friends and discuss the Imaginary Elements Print and Optional Shift. Shodai and Genko announce their marriage, causing tension between Koyomi and Shiori. They decide to Parallel Shift to a world where their parents are not divorced. However, Shiori dies, and Koyomi finds her Imaginality in a ghost. Shodai and Genko explain that the time of death overlaps with the time of shifting Shiori's Imaginality back to the original world.
Koyomi, a graduate, discovers that Shiori's heart has stopped working and joins Kazune Takigawa as his assistant. They discover Kazune can see Shiori's Imaginality at the intersection. Koyomi is researching the Time Shift to send Shiori to a world outside her event radius, which refers to her accident. After a decade of advancements in Imaginary Science, the Optional Shift becomes a reality.
Koyomi plans to shift Shiori back in time to a parallel world, causing his brain death. Despite initial hesitation, old Koyomi and Kazune agree to the Time Shift. Koyomi promises to meet again at the intersection on August 17 at 10 AM when they grow old. Kazune begins the Time Shift after hearing Koyomi's final goodbye. In a post-credit’s scene, old Koyomi Takasaki encounters Shiori and asks her name.
Production
In September 2021, Yomoji Otono's science fiction romance novel, Kimi wo Aishita Hitori no Boku e, was confirmed for an anime film adaptation. Kenichi Kasai will direct the film, with Riko Sakaguchi writing the script and Shimano conceiving character designs. Hio Miyazawa will voice Koyomi Hidaka and Shiori Satō, with Miyazawa also voiced Koyomi Takasaki in the companion piece To Every You I've Loved Before.
The cast includes Mutsumi Tamura, Kenji Hamada, Mie Sonozaki, Tomomichi Nishimura, Miki Mizuno, Kimiko Yo, and Tokuma Nishioka. Other staff involved include Kenzō Ishiguro for planning and production, Yukari Tachibana and Tomoyuki Saito for producers, Shinichi Machida for character design, Yukari Takano, Erina Kojima, and Noriyasu Murata for animation directors, Yasutada Kato for art, Yūsaku Murakami for cinematography, and Keisuke Yanagi for editing.
Music
In August 2022, Takashi Ohmama composed To Me, the One Who Loved You, with Takuya Hiramitsu as sound director. Saucy Dog performed the theme song "Shion" and the insert song "Summer Daydream" for the film. The song was released digitally in Japan on October 4, 2022, and included in the 7th mini-album. Here’s an exclusive look at the full soundtrack lineup—a masterful blend of melodies and themes that bring the story’s emotions and drama to life. Check out the track list below:- Bokuai Epilogue ~To Every You~ (3:43)
- Kimiai Prologue (1:12)
- First Choice (1:08)
- Turning Point (0:39)
- Encounter with Shiori (1:47)
- Parallel Shift (0:35)
- A Farewell to Grandfather (1:14)
- Beyond Sorrow (1:08)
- Summer Adventure (1:26)
- After a Spirit of Adventure (1:23)
- Hope for Two (0:31)
- The Future of the Two (0:52)
- State of Emergency (0:26)
- Clueless (0:56)
- Sadness with No Place to Go (1:46)
- Determination for the Future (1:57)
- Reality or Dream (0:54)
- Loss of Hope (1:49)
- Classmate (2:09)
- Accomplice (1:30)
- Thoughts of the Two (1:20)
- Daily Reminiscences (1:23)
- Emotions (2:07)
- Koyomi's Resolution and Determination (1:11)
- Kazune's Sadness (0:48)
- Promise (2:32)
- Kimiai Epilogue ~Reunion~ (0:55)
Release Date
Fan's Reaction
To Me, the One Who Loved You received a high rating of 3.55/5 from Japanese review firm Filmarks, based on 295 reviews. Critics praised the film's character designs and narrative, but criticized the visuals and voice acting. MrAJCosplay at Anime News Network praised the film's focus on parallel universes and romance, but found the ending "underwhelming" without watching its companion film.Watch Order of two Companion Films
The dual films To Every You I’ve Loved Before and To Me, The One Who Loved You premiered simultaneously in Japanese theatres on October 7, 2022, and are now available for streaming on Crunchyroll. Although it’s often claimed there’s no specific order to watch them, after experiencing both, I found that to be far from the truth. If you’re debating the correct sequence, it’s clear viewers should start with To Me, The One Who Loved You to fully grasp the storyline’s emotional and narrative depth.
To Every You I've Loved Before and To Me, The One Who Loved You
Sci-fi romance anime films are releasing dual movies that offer different perspectives on the main story. To Me, The One Who Loved You is recommended as the first movie to watch due to its frame-by-frame ending, providing better flow and avoiding confusion. The film also provides more context for the main male protagonist Koyomi and his love for Shiori, and the ending of To Every You I've Loved Before is more impactful if watched first. The promise made in To Me, The One Who Loved You is significant, making it more impactful than To Every You I've Loved Before.
The second film, To Every You I've Loved Before, focuses on Kazune as the main character, highlighting her perspective. However, it lacks a thorough explanation of time lapsing, leaving viewers with questions about the system. The film also lacks details during alternate timelines, unlike To Me, The One Who Loved You. Despite providing a clearer insight into Kazune's story, it still has parts that make no sense without watching the other film first. Overall, the film is weaker than the first.
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