Like the previous weeks, my schedule is also loaded again. There are a lot of things I need to do, submissions I need to comply with, and papers that need to be checked and signed. There's really no time for procrastination and complacency, so I plow my way towards the end of those. Finally, the weekend came, and somehow I got to breathe for a while, so last night I started watching an anime series. Unlike the prior anime series I've watched, this one doesn't have any tinge of romance at all; rather, it's about friendship, which is usually not my cup of tea.
It's not that I don't like it; this kind of anime just doesn't usually hold my interest long, but this one is quite different. I thought this would bore me, but fortunately its plot made me stay. So now join me as I share with you a review of the journey of the girls who not only braved the cold and dangerous land of ice but also the challenges that almost sunk their hope to explore Antarctica—A Place Further Than The Universe.
About the Anime
A Place Further Than The Universe (Sora yori mo Tooi Basho) is an anime series that premiered in the winter of 2018. It aired from January 2, 2018, to March 27, 2018. It's a 13-episode anime series that's mostly focused on the adventure, comedy, and drama. It's an original anime that was animated by Madhouse, but it has a manga that was illustrated by Meme Yoimachi.
So the story follows the life of a second-year highschool student, Mari Tamaki—Kimari, who, despite her innate drive for enjoying her youth, was held back due to her own fear of uncertainties. But upon realizing that a year of her precious youth had passed, Kimari decided that she mustn't let his youth end without making the best out of it. Of 'course overcoming that fear wasn't easy; however, she met a girl with an almost impossible dream, and that dream consequently inspired her to chase her own also.
After almost losing her one million yen and having Kimari return it, Shirase Kobuchizawa soon became closer to her. Shirase had been saving up for her travel to find her mother, who's been missing for years. They soon will encounter difficulties and challenges that will test the weight of their resolve to proceed in their journey, but together with the other two girls they'll meet—Hinata and Yuzuki, they'll embark on an adventure that they'll not forget. A lot of people and problems will come, but surely these girls are determined to ram their way towards the place that they're determined to explore, a continent of ice, protected by storms and raging waves—Antarctica!
I didn't expect that I would be invested in this. Usually I watch this kind of anime with periodic breaks because their themes and plot don't usually sustain my attention well—but like I said—this one is different. It has this different kind of charm that kinda kept me up. I think it's the way the plot unfolds and also the way it was built by them. Each character was built in a relatable manner—with their emotions that almost mirrors what a viewer could have felt in their stead.
With their well-executed portrayal, I really felt the emotions in them. Most of the scene kept me invested; it made me feel that as if I'm part of their adventures, and also I felt their feelings upon overcoming them. The way that they made this affective added to the enjoyable factor of this anime, and personally, I thought this was another cutesy anime with the bland friendship and drama stuff, but it turns out that it's more complex than it looks.
It explored further on the topics that I didn't expect it would delve into—emotions that are often overlooked in making these kinds of anime because you don't want to mix up the negative emotions with a positively-themed anime, but it indeed surpassed my expectations. Although there are inevitably some parts that made me cringe, somehow the way it mixes the right amount of drama and wholesome comedy did really impress me. I don't want to spoil the end, but this one is definitely one of the anime series that has the nice and well-paced character improvement. Indeed, each character has their own charm and depth, which made the story more enjoyable to follow.
As for its art style, I'm not fond of cute girl—art style, but they're sure adorable. Their cute character design does match well with the theme of the anime. Also, the aesthetics and sceneries that they've featured were beautiful. The animation was, as expected from Madhouse, nice and fluid. The soundtrack of the anime did amplify the emotions, and I somehow got emotional hearing them during those tearjerker scenes. Its opening song was perfect to start each episode with lighthearted vibes, while the ending song was for me kinda melancholic and heartwarming at the same time. By and by, its art and soundtrack did really fit well, so I definitely have no qualms about them.
Overall, my personal rating for this anime is 9/10. It was really well made for its theme and genre, and I definitely enjoyed the cute and wholesome interactions between those girls. Their journey was inspiring, especially to those who have faced a lot of challenges and setbacks lately. It's an amazingly emotional and fun watch, so if you're up for a lighthearted anime with the right amount of adventure, comedy, and drama, then you need to give this one a try and see it for yourself if you'll like the journey of highschool girls towards and in A Place Further Than The Universe.
Before I end this review, I gladly share with you its trailer, so—
Have you seen this one before? Or is this your first time seeing it? If you have thoughts about this, feel free to share them in the comments below. That's all for now, minna-san! I hope you enjoyed reading my review.
Arigatou and tanoshinde ne~
The pictures that didn't have source were screenshots from the anime while the last picture was edited in Canva.