Hello World (2019): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot
Hello World is a 2019 animated drama directed by Tomohiko Ito, starring Takumi Kitamura as Naomi Katagaki – now (voice), Tori Matsuzaka and Minami Hamabe. It runs 1 hour 38 minutes and earned $13.2 million worldwide. Its Echo Score is 70/100.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 38m (98 min)
- Director
- Tomohiko Ito
- Original language
-
Japanese - Studio
- Graphinica
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Hello World About?
The premise of Hello World without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
In Kyoto, a timid high school student encounters a man claiming to be his future self. This mysterious figure reveals he has hacked into the past with a desperate mission: to save their first love from an impending disaster that will overturn the world in its final second.
Hello World Themes & Keywords
· 6 tags- school
- year 2027
- two word title
- 2020s
- anime animation
- hand drawn animation
Hello World Cast & Characters
Takumi Kitamura leads the cast as Naomi Katagaki – now (voice), with Tori Matsuzaka as Naomi Katagaki – future (voice) and Minami Hamabe as Ruri Ichigyou (voice). Directed by Tomohiko Ito; 14 actors are credited in all.
- Director Tomohiko Ito
-
Takumi Kitamura as Naomi Katagaki – now (voice) - Tori Matsuzaka as Naomi Katagaki – future (voice)
- Minami Hamabe as Ruri Ichigyou (voice)
-
Takehito Koyasu as Tsunehisa Senko (voice)
Also Starring in Hello World
· 10 more- Rie Kugimiya Crow (voice)
- Minako Kotobuki Xu Yiyi (voice)
- Ayaka Asai Schoolgirl (voice)
- Haruka Fukuhara Misuzu Kadenokouji (voice)
- Ayaka Nanase Schoolgirl (voice)
- Eiichiro Tokumoto Researcher (voice)
- Emiri Iwai Schoolgirl (voice)
- Moka Hiraguri Female Student (voice)
- Nanami Matsumoto
- Keigo Hoshino
Hello World Reviews & Ratings
Our Echo Score gives it 70/100, strongest in art & craft (86) and weakest in story & flow (48).
Hello World Echo Score Breakdown
Hello World delivers striking visual flair and a memorable soundtrack, yet its narrative ambition hampers clarity. The animation and art direction stand out, presenting a unique 2.5D aesthetic that many find engaging. Conversely, the plot becomes convoluted in the second half, leaving viewers uncertain about world logic and character motivations. Character depth remains limited, reducing emotional impact. These factors combine to make the film enjoyable on a surface level but less compelling on repeat viewings, resulting in a mixed overall impression.
Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.
- Art & Craft 86
Artistic execution is the film’s strongest component, with animation that blends crisp 2.5D techniques and vivid color palettes. Visual composition and motion design maintain a consistent aesthetic, while the editing sustains a brisk 97‑minute runtime, avoiding overstretch. Direction emphasizes distinct sci‑fi motifs, contributing to an immersive visual experience despite occasional tonal shifts.
- Character & Emotion 60
Character work offers charm through the central romance, with the protagonists’ chemistry receiving particular praise. Design elements render the leads visually appealing, and supporting figures add occasional humor. However, depth is limited; motivations are often underexplored, and emotional arcs lack sustained development, which lessens audience connection. Overall, character appeal mitigates but does not overcome narrative thinness.
- Story & Flow 48
The narrative ambitiously intertwines sci‑fi concepts with a high‑school romance, introducing innovative ideas that some viewers find refreshing. Yet the plot suffers from uneven pacing, especially in the latter half where world‑building rules appear ad‑hoc and logical coherence wanes. This results in confusion about character decisions and diminishes overall engagement despite an inventive premise.
- Sensory Experience 84
The film’s sensory palette excels, featuring a resonant soundtrack that complements key emotional beats and dynamic sound design that accentuates sci‑fi moments. Visual style remains cohesive, with striking animation sequences and detailed backgrounds that reinforce thematic motifs. While occasional audio mixing issues are noted, overall sensory delivery enhances immersion and supports the story’s tonal shifts.
- Rewatch Factor 72
Rewatch potential is moderate; the film’s distinctive visual flair and intriguing sci‑fi concepts invite a second viewing to uncover subtleties. Viewers who appreciate the romance and musical themes may return for emotional resonance. However, narrative ambiguity and occasional plot obfuscation can deter repeat engagement for those seeking a clearer story, limiting universal replay value.
Hello World Plot Summary
What happens in Hello World from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Set in Kyoto in 2024, where drones map and preserve the city’s natural architecture and culture inside an infinite‑capacity quantum computer called Alltale, the story follows Naomi Katagaki, Takumi Kitamura, a hesitant high school student who loves reading. After a quiet post‑school day, a mysterious yatagarasu steals his library book, and a strange figure who only Naomi can see materializes: his future self, now grown, who goes by Sensei. The adult Naomi, Tori Matsuzaka (as Naomi Katagaki – future), explains that he has accessed Alltale from outside the real world to rewrite the past and rescue a classmate, Ruri Ichigyō, Minami Hamabe, who was struck by lightning at a fireworks festival and lies in a coma.
Full summary
The whole story of Hello World, scene by scene
Hello World Box Office
Hello World grossed $13.2 million worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$13.2M
- International
- $13.2M
Hello World Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Hello World.
How Well Do You Know Hello World?
9 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 9
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
In what city is the story primarily set?
Cars in Hello World
12 cars on screen, including the 2004 Volkswagen Golf V Typ 1K and the 2007 Hino Blue Ribbon City Hybrid.
-
2004 Volkswagen Golf V Typ 1K Important role -
2007 Hino Blue Ribbon City Hybrid Minor role -
2009 Ford Flex Background role -
2005 Ford Focus MkII Background role
Hello World Also Known As
15 alternative titles, including “Harô Wârudo” and “Haro Warudo”.
- Also known as
-
- Harô Wârudo
- Haro Warudo
- ハロー・ワールド
- 你好 世界
- 你好世界
- HELLO WORLD：2019
- مرحبًا أيها العالم
- Привіт, світе
- Здравствуй, мир
- 헬로 월드
- เธอ.ฉัน.โลก.เรา
- Đi Ngược Thời Gian Để Tìm Em
+3 more Show fewer
- Olá Mundo
- Sveika, pasaule
- שלום עולם
Seen Hello World?
Movies Like Hello World
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Your Name., The Relative Worlds and Sequence.
Hello World FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, post-credit scenes and language of Hello World, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Hello World?
Hello World runs 1 hour 38 minutes (98 minutes).
When was Hello World released?
Hello World was released on September 11, 2019.
Who directed Hello World?
Hello World was directed by Tomohiko Ito.
More films by Tomohiko Ito Who is in the cast of Hello World?
Hello World stars Takumi Kitamura as Naomi Katagaki – now (voice), Tori Matsuzaka as Naomi Katagaki – future (voice) and Minami Hamabe as Ruri Ichigyou (voice), among 14 credited actors.
How much did Hello World make at the box office?
Hello World grossed $13.2 million worldwide.
Does Hello World have a post-credit scene?
No. Hello World has no extra scene during or after the credits.
What language is Hello World in?
The original language of Hello World is Japanese.
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