Ok, I liked it and that is why I went all nit-picky to critique it.
I haven't seen the anime, so I don't know exactly how much to credit you. In scene choice or edit.
CONS: (apologies)
1. If you are going to use this staccato style of editing you CANNOT afford any errant frames. I found some at 0:23 and 1:16, distracting.
2. The bird usage at 1:33 and 1:43 are completely out of place, unnecessary, and totally detract from the deserved usage at 2:38. That is a wonderful return from the crescendo, but by that point it is just an ugly reused scene.
3. I am conflicted about the dual bird usage at 1:57. On the one hand, I can see that they each come into frame on a beat and sort of fly in pattern and I really like the wavy transition out of it(awesome). On the other, it runs too long. With so many quick edits leading up to it my brain took too many viewings to realize what you were doing. As a man who has trouble using quick cuts because he likes subtlety, if I am saying it doesn't work, you know you have a problem.
4. I really didn't like the choice to do a beat sync at 2:07. Ruined the flow. Don't know what to fill the gap with though.
PROS:
1. Really strong first 1:05. Just Beautiful.
2. Loved the bathroom mirror scene.
3. Loved the arrow transition to paper airplane at 1:53
4. Good use of camera motion and converging/diverging action to give energy without being overused to cause motion sickness.
5. SUPREMELY loved the out of focus shots overlaid coming into focus with the crescendo. You left just enough scenes in focus to keep it from being long and boring plus they parallel a coming together of the characters in front of the tree.
I really liked it. I wouldn't have watched it 10+ times to do this otherwise.
Thank you.