GL 0

Cast of Mamoru Hosoda’s hit anime is here to add some time-travelling charm to your messages.

When Japanese novel The Girl Who Leapt Through Time began its serialization in 1965, pocket-sized communicators that could instantly beam text and images to your friends were still the speculative stuff of a far-off future. Decades later, though, mobile phone technology has made that bit of science fiction into our daily reality, and now things have come full-circle with the release of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time stamps for use with the Line messaging app.

GL 1

While author Yasutaka Tsutsui’s novel has been the basis of multiple adaptations across a variety of media, the one best known to contemporary young fans is the 2006 anime film from Mamoru Hosoda, who also directed last year’s The Boy and The Beast. As such, it’s that movie’s characters, originally penned by Evangelion character designer and frequent Hosoda collaborator Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, that the stamps feature.

GL 2

Hosoda’s Girl Who Leapt Through Time is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, and these line stamps are the latest part of the milestone celebration that also includes a Mamoru Hosoda cafe with themed foods based on the film, an outdoor screening at Tokyo International Forum, and a coincidentally timed live-action TV drama.

GL 3

The 40-stamp set can be purchased online here through the Line Store for 120 yen (US$1.15).

Source: Kai-You
Images: Line Store (edited by RocketNews24)

Just arrived from the past and wondering what you missed? Follow Casey on Twitter to find out!