Alternative TitlesEnglish: From the New World Synonyms: Shin Sekai yori Japanese: 新世界より
Information
Type: TV
Episodes: 25
Status: Finished Airing
Aired: Sep 29, 2012 to Mar 23, 2013
Duration:
22 min. per episode Rating:
R - 17+ (violence & profanity)
L represents licensing company
StatisticsScore: 8.421 (scored by 19428 users)
Ranked: #1242
Popularity: #299
Members: 50,117
Favorites: 1,205 1 indicates a weighted score
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SynopsisA millennium from now, in Japan, exists a utopia. The Protagonist, Saki Watanabe, lives in an idyllic village barred from the outside world. Her world is ruled by the people who possess the "gods' power" of psychokinesis. After finally obtaining her own powers, Saki enters the Zenjin Academy to train along with five other children: Satoru Asahina, Maria Akizuki, Mamoru Itou, Shun Aonuma, and Reiko Amano.
Not all is as it seems, however. In this utopian village, strange rumors about a monstrous cat that abducts children circulate, and students are said to disappear from the academy. The world and its history are much darker than they appear and humanity is on the verge of collapse.
(Source: TV Tropes) |
Related AnimeAdaptation: Shinsekai yori
Characters & Voice Actors
Staff
Reviews
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TheIMF
234 of 335 people found this review helpful
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25 of 25 episodes seen
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| Overall |
10 |
| Story |
10 |
| Animation |
9 |
| Sound |
10 |
| Character |
10 |
| Enjoyment |
10 |
Shinsekai yori is truly a great series. I've been wanting to write this review for a long time but I decided to wait until the series finished to do so as to write an accurate and coherent review as possible. After 6 months and 25 wonderful episodes, here it is. I will do my best to keep this review spoiler free.
Adapted of the novel by Kishi Yūsuke, Shinsekai Yori tells a story of a civilisation set one thousand years in the future. Mankind has evolved into beings capable of a obscure power known as "Juryoku" or Cantus, a powerful psychic power that makes the impossible possible. In this new world, Man has neither need nor want for technology and reigns supreme over the New World's indigenous species called Bakenezumi and other new organisms we come across as the story unfolds. All seems well and peaceful in the Utopia man has created for itself, however, as our main characters learn early on in the story, Man's evolution came at a price and the New World's mysterious history is written in blood and hidden in secrecy.
Interestingly enough, this series, despite its utter brilliance across the board, has been overlooked by many and is appreciated by few, which is unfortunate as this underrated gem outshines any other series of its season by far in terms of story, characters and execution. Not only is the story of Shinsekai yori highly ambitious, it is intelligent and thought provoking in many ways. Each episode, especially after episode 4, is both thrilling and captivating to the point you simply would not, or better yet, could not view this series one episode one at a time if you had the option not to.
Despite its initial appearance, Shinsekai yori is most definitely not a show for kids; be prepared for a lot of death and gore, deceit and some adult themes. The story requires a great deal of critical thinking to coherently understand and appreciate the narrative. I found myself confused several times early on in the series though the plot later on becomes more linear and thus easier to comprehend. Shinsekai yori is a story that addresses inequality and the flaws of the human condition. It shows us the sinister side of absolute control, the price of secrecy and the perils of curiosity. Undoubtedly, Shinsekai yori tells an intense and utterly satisfying story that will leave you on the edge of your seat and wanting more with each passing episode. The characters featured, both the humans and the Bakenezumi are both compelling and likeable. The main characters prove to be intelligent and very inquisitive but are far from perfect as each have intriguing characteristics that defines them with such subtlety and grace I must commend the author, Kishi Yūsuke, for weaving their personas into the story without making it overly obvious and distracting from the plot. It is my fear that diving in any further in the story and characters would simply ruin the experience and thus I will leave it at that.
It may interest you that the title name of Shinsekai yori, From the New World in English, was taken from famous Czech composer Antonin Dvorak's Ninth Symphony, written in 1893. I find this to be incredibly fitting as we find out the world set a thousand years in the future is indeed a New World in its own right.
Moving on, the art is somewhat unusual but fitting for an unusual story, more so than any other art style I can think of. Though not much attention is given to detail as far as facial characteristics go, it beautifully depicts the scenery and maintains an overall cleanliness to it anyone ought to be able to appreciate. Truly, it is beyond my ability to describe the fascinating world of Shinsekai yori but I would wager it is unlike anything you have likely seen; before. A1 Pictures has done this series justice in its world building, using just the right colours and shading to create a perfect blend that is both visually pleasing for the average viewer and stays true to the story's setting. The studio has done an above average job the majority of the time with the animation, slipping up only occasionally and consistently producing quality episodes. It is worth nothing that there are some scenes - quite a few actually, that are absolutely breath taking in their beauty. And of course this is only augmented by the angelic scores that play at just the right time, at just the right pitch to deliver a powerful trifecta performance of story, art and sound in an astonishing meld.
I absolutely enjoyed this series. For 6 months this was the one show I looked forward to the most on a regular basis. While it may have a slow start, after the first three episodes the story takes an sharp turn into awesomeness and intensity comparable to a thriller movie. Having said that, there is something to be said for lack of closure on a rather important element in the story towards the end, which unfortunately is left up to the viewer's imagination and some other nuances, but aside from that, it was overall very satisfying and well worth the watch.
While not perfect, Shinsekai yori still remains a masterpiece in my eyes, and so my final score is a 10 out 10.
Story - 10
Art - 9
Sound - 10
Characters - 10
Enjoyment - 10
Overall - 10 read more
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Veronin
122 of 199 people found this review helpful
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25 of 25 episodes seen
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| Overall |
8 |
| Story |
8 |
| Animation |
6 |
| Sound |
9 |
| Character |
7 |
| Enjoyment |
8 |
Everything in life is covered in mystery. Do you choose to live in blissful ignorance, or do you make a difference against the harsh realities?
Before stepping foot into the series, be warned— Shinsekai Yori is not a light watch. This is not the kind of anime that will fill you with laughter and positive emotion. If you come into the series with those expectations, you will not last very long. It is an anime that requires the viewer to think and analyze in order to fully appreciate the story. As a result it can be a difficult series to 'enjoy' in the traditional sense, but what it provides instead is an experience with far more weight and meaning.
Set in the distant future, Shinsekai Yori depicts a world ruled by humans with psychic abilities. Using their "Cantus", these individuals have the power to meld their thoughts with the outside world. Whether for building, crafting, entertainment, or defense against animals and monstrosities, there are a myriad of ways for Cantus to benefit society. But there are also hidden truths surrounding it. Horrors and conspiracies that will threaten the life of any who uncover them. For Saki and the other members Zenjin Academy's 'Group One', this is a danger that they lamentably fall victim to.
Despite the dark, foreboding tone set from the beginning, it's not until the group uncovers a secret on their school trip that everything starts to go dreadfully wrong for them. Disappearances, assassinations, and invincible beasts aptly called 'Fiends' are but a handful of the mysteries revealed to Saki and her friends. Society is evidently not the utopia that it seems.
The story is primarily conveyed through the perspective of Saki, but rather than focus on each character individually, Shinsekai Yori instead centers around interpersonal characterization. Group One is often treated as its own character due to the five's inseparable friendship, and this friendship itself serves as one of the core themes of the story. Gradually and together they mature from the naive children that they were at the beginning of the story, directly as a result of their relationships with others. However, do not be misled: this is not an anime about its characters. It is first and foremost a story about the mysteries and conflict that they find themselves pulled into.
Adding to the main cast is an astute race of bipedal mole rats, referred to by humans as "Queerats". Despite having intelligence nearly equal to that of humans, they are oppressed and treated as little more than the animals they have evolved from. Understandably they are not pleased with this. Instigating the inevitable rebellion is the Robert Fly colony, led by the machiavellian leader "Squealer". His presence serves to create a deeper sense of conflict in the story, but he is also one of the more well-written antagonists in recent years. He is not motivated by tropes such as madness or greed but by a deep sense of loyalty to his people. It's interesting how none of his actions can be defined as inherently 'good' or 'evil', and it makes one wonder if he might have been the hero instead if the story was told from a different perspective.
Such themes are not uncommon in Shinsekai Yori. Rather than presenting its story through black and white reasoning, there is instead an abundance of pertinent ethical questions posed to the viewer. Does the end justify the means? Do the same rights as humans apply to animals, and what truly sets humanity above them if not intelligence? Complex topics such as the human condition are also explored in detail and the story is not afraid to portray loss and death in a frank manner. This is an anime that's meant to be analyzed and it rewards the viewer for doing so.
One of the strongest aspects of Shinsekai Yori is its atmosphere. Throughout every episode exists an overbearing sense of dread and melancholy: the feeling that something very bad is about to happen, and indeed it often does. The pacing is also very much on the slow side, with several expository episodes before the story finally takes off, but once it does it becomes very difficult to stop watching. Shinsekai Yori is a macabre, sometimes uncomfortable story that will succeed in immersing you in its dark atmosphere. There's nothing else quite like it out there, which makes it an especially enticing experience.
As if to defy the conventions of mainstream anime, sexuality plays an important role in the story. The main characters are not innocent and devoid of sexual feelings, even despite their young age in the first two arcs. Much like us, they fall in love, experiment and desire to act out on their feelings. They are not restrained by otaku concepts such as 'purity', and this is an immense benefit given the mature tone of the series. One further thing to note is that they do not only express romantic and sexual desires towards the opposite sex— but towards the same sex as well.
Though one has to wonder why this created so much controversy. Even if the viewer finds bisexual interactions to be uncomfortable, there is scarcely a scene that displays such behavior in the first place. These relationships are not used for superficial shounen-ai or shoujo-ai appeal, but are instead there to reflect the characters maturing in a society unconstrained by social stigma. The most conspicuous of these few scenes is during the ninth episode, when two male characters play on the grass and then kiss for five or ten seconds. Why did such a trivial scene disturb some people so much? It's hard to say.
There are certainly legitimate criticisms to be had towards the series, though. In particular, the first few episodes are filled with expository dialogue which oftentimes amount to infodump. Granted, this is necessary to give the viewer a proper understanding of the setting and the rules which the characters live by, but there is no doubt a more elegant approach that could have been employed here instead. Further problems also exist within the two timeskips of the story, as it will abruptly change with no transition between past and present. This is especially an issue in the second timeskip, where twelve entire years are passed in the blink of an eye. We also see very little character growth in that time, which is quite odd, to say the least.
But these flaws are more than made up for by the sound design. A quality soundtrack in anime is often treated as an afterthought more than anything else, but Shinsekai Yori is one that understands the value that a good score can have. The music here is largely composed of haunting choir melodies, percussion, and ambient noises which serve to heighten the tension and atmosphere of their respective scenes. There's one particular song in the anime, usually used during the beginning of an episode, which was able to send chills down my spine each time it played. Now, this is the sign of a powerful score— having the ability to evoke emotion through music instead of drama. It would hardly be an exaggeration to say that the soundtrack is Shinsekai Yori's greatest strength, and that is not a statement that comes with little weight.
The art also compliments the tone of the anime quite well. Dark shadows accentuate the gloomy atmosphere of the story while thick lines are used to emphasize the characters and their facial expressions. There is a lack of polish, though, with regards to detail and animation quality, but you can hardly fault an anime for not being granted a lavish budget. Shinsekai Yori fortunately makes the very most of its modest budget, and its art quality manages to compete with some of the more mainstream titles to boot.
If you are looking for something unique in an era defined by generic rom-coms and ecchi titles, then this is an anime that will likely fill your appetite. Sure, it may not be a flawless triumph that will be remembered until the ends of time, but as one of the better anime in the past few years, it is well worth your time to give it a try. You won't find anything else like it.
When the most common criticism is that it contains a handful of homosexual scenes, I think it's quite safe to say that this is a good anime. read more
Recommendations
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Shinsekai Yori and Shiki both deal with the human psyche and its tendencies. These series show how these tendencies could be flawed which in turn may lead to irrational behavior and unfortunate circumstances.
The setting is similar, remote/traditional/strict Japanese villages.
Both deal with a deviation in normal human genetics. (Zombie/Vampire-like people in Shiki and Esper powers in Shinsekai Yori)
Both deal with opposing factions that truly do not have a right or wrong side to them.
Both shows are very thought-provoking and would recommend one if you enjoyed the other.
- similar atmospheres that grow darker
- mystery
- village-wide catastrophe
- super natural
- disappearances
- misfortune
In both series, there is a very mysterious background with similar mood settings.
Both series have similar backgrounds involving a village that deals with the world of supernatural. In fact, creatures in both series are feared and revered.
Both series focuses on how humans deal with them in the world that they live in.
Both series often have plot twists as well as thriller like endings involving the main characters.
Both have a very dark atmosphere and lots of mystery; and give a creepy feeling as a group of people try to survive against a supernatural threat.
Both great anime if you love dark mysteries.
-both memorable
-similar mood
-horror
-dark mystery
-THRILLER
-supernatural
-satisfying ending/closure (which you don't find in most animes nowadays)
The mystery, demon, magic, and slow progression from both anime are quite similar.
Just, Shinsekai Yori has clearer ending than Shiki. But, Shiki is still 'darker'.
Shiki and Shinsekai Yori are alike as they both present ethical and moral problems to the viewer. Although they are, in reality, two almost completely different settings and mechanics, both have mystery elements and the supernatural and make the viewer really think to themselves as they watch. I can say for sure that anyone who enjoys one will love the other just as much (perhaps more).
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The stories focus around characters from a village that has a deep dark secret, not to mention members of the village have special powers. The art style is similar and has a Gothic art scheme going.
When I began watching Shinsekai Yori I thought: "Hey. It's another version of Kamisama Dolls!"
Here are simmilarities:
- Isolated vilage
- Children gaining supernatural power
- Allure of big secret and bloody story in the past
- Big tension
- A lot of mystery
But the difference is that Kamisama Dolls has more comedy moments and isn't easy to watch because story is falling into pieces and is becoming less interesting in the end. IMO, Shinsekai yori has more opportunities to succeed: more episodes and faster narration style.
Secluded villages with a hidden power, and a dark secret. Right from the start, Shinekai yori has given off the same vibe that Kamisama Dolls had. Can't quite put a finger on it, but they really do just give off the same vibe, feel, and atmosphere.
Both have a very pleasant look at first , but as it continues it has a very eerie feel to it. Also both have. Villages that seem to be hiding secrets such as psychic powers, evolved and dangerous creatures, children with powers, different clans within the village , dangerious ceremonies , evil elders , and banishment and diss appearances. Yori has more of a creepy feel to it rather than kamisama. And being that kamisama has funny moments , Yori has this replaced with "less eerie" scenes.
Both series features a similar feeling involving children with supernatural powers. It also involves isolated villages as well as a bloody history of the past involving the main characters of the series.
There is also romance, some comedy, drama, action, and a kickass soundtrack to go in the mix for both series.
Behind the scenes, there is a dark past of the series that gives off a similar atmopshere.
For the lack of better words, Shinsekai is an improved version of Kamisama Dolls, which had trouble coming to terms with the climax of its mysteries. The societies depicted in both series disallow people from perplexing the status quo, and manipulation hence occurs on a supernatural level to try and suppress individual thoughts or discrimination towards conformity. There's also a motion for both series to include another race of creatures, though Kamisama Dolls literally treats them like the inanimate 'dolls' they are while Shinsekai brings in an entirely different story along with it. Lastly, there's also a similar cast, exemplified by their ages (though it varies), member counts, and personalities.
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Opening Theme"Yuki ni Saku Hana (雪に咲く花)" by Maria Akizuki (Kana Hanazawa) (ep 16)
Ending Theme#1: "Wareta Ringo (割れたリンゴ)" by Saki Watanabe (Risa Taneda) (eps 1-16)
#2: "Yuki ni Saku Hana (雪に咲く花)" by Maria Akizuki (Kana Hanazawa) (eps 17-24)
Fansubbing Groups
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OppaiSub [OppaiSub] (Brazilian Portuguese)
Related ClubsYuuki Kaji Fans., Daisuke Namikawa Fan Club!, Shinsekai Yori FC, Heterophobia, Cogito Ergo Sum - Philosophy In Anime and Manga, For god sake stop scoring shows when no episodes are out!, Limitless Recommendations, Unusual is Better, Make a recommendation for..., ∞ End Ωf Infinity ∞ (HIATUS), Hanazawa Kana's Fans!, Currently Airing , Currently Airing Anime
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