Aru Tabibito no Nikki

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Originally written: September 11, 2016 7:38 pm EST

A Traveler’s Diary is a short ONA series that chronicles the adventures of the titular character through a mystical, magical, mostly undefined fantasy world. Each episode averages about three minutes, and in each one Tortov is traveling along with his long-legged pig steed when he happens upon some peculiar events or creatures.

The stylized French animation-inspired art along with a suitably appropriate accordion-heavy score help make the washed out green and grey world engrossing along with the surreal, unexplained imagery Tortov comes ... across. Due to the short length of the episodes, most are without any confidently definable meaning, but regardless the bizarre imagery and delightful tone makes everything fun and full of small wonders, which is likely the exact feeling the show wants to impart on the viewer. If this were a longer series I’d certainly watch it.

Aru Tabibito no Nikki follows Tortov Roddle as he explores an esoteric dreamscape, providing a short and mysterious adventure. The anime showcases remarkable creativity, with unique visuals that immerse viewers in its surreal world. The music accompanying the scenes complements the creativity, enhancing the overall experience. However, some viewers may find its avant-garde approach pretentious, as it delves into abstract themes and imagery. Yet, for those who appreciate its artistic merits, the series offers a captivating exploration of unconventional style and thematic elements. Despite its concise nature, it remains a compelling choice for enthusiasts of experimental animation and introspective storytelling.

A Traveller’s Diary has only six episodes, each with an extremely short runtime so short that it feels like I'm just watching YouTube Shorts.

I would have preferred it to include voice acting and feature stunning background art. Surprisingly, despite being released in 2003, the video quality is quite poor, many anime from the 1990s actually have better resolution and visual clarity.

That said, the background music is surprisingly good. It complements the scenery and atmosphere of each episode very well.
The animation itself is decent.

Overall, this short anime feels like something created by a promising high school student animator, full of potential but not quite there.