Sakasama no Patema

"Sakasama no Patema" is a gripping WWII drama set in 1944 Nazi Germany, detailing the struggles of a young German boy, Age (Eiji), hiding his Jewish friend, Patema, after the government declares that all people of Jewish descent must be "taken care of." Together, they traverse war-torn Germany to bring Patema home and along the way discover the truth of the government's persecution.

...

No, not really. That plot synopsis is pretty close though.

After falling into a pit that her village declared a danger zone, young Patema is plunged into a bizarre new world where everything is inverted. Suddenly, literally falling into the endless sky ... becomes a very real possibility. She meets an inhabitant of the land, Age, and they quickly connect with each other. Patema clings to Age very closely, as he is the only thing that stands between her and being "eaten" by the sky. Despite her fear of the sky, Patema discovers the amazing new world that she had been told stories of as a child, living her dreams of seeing the world for what it really is.

The world that Age lives in is classically isolated and under absolute rule, complete with a 1-dimensional dictator that crosses his hands in a way that screams "excellent work, my minions." Looking into the sky is forbidden, and Age has already suffered for his curiosity. With Patema, however, he learns that there is more to the world than what he has been taught, and seeks to live his own dreams of flying in the sky as well.

The characters are connected in this visually stunning film, literally to stop them from falling but also to emphasize the message that people of different backgrounds can coexist and live peacefully. It's a time tested story that we are no doubt familiar with, but the way the film uses the inverted gravity to bring the main characters together and to build the legends and myths surrounding the world is remarkable.

The fact that everything in the film is reversed depending on your perspective is a unique aspect that plays with what is real and not. For example, you could turn your screen upside down and still watch essentially the same film, because the film itself frequently turns itself around so that we can see the same thing from either Patema or Age's perspective. What is normal ground to Age is a ceiling to Patema, with nothing but the vast sky beneath her feet, and vice versa.

The story is thought provoking and with so many inversions of the screen, we begin to feel just like one of the characters, confused at the sudden shift of gravity and afraid of what is beneath us. Through this adventure, Patema and Age encounter new worlds themselves, thinking to themselves "This is what was really out here?" They see beautiful things, like the stars in a swirling galaxy, and they see the abandoned, like the wasteland their ancestors forgot about. Even when everything comes together, there are still mysteries left unanswered. Why not try figuring them out?

The artwork and animation for the film are top notch. Particular detail is made to the sky, because for all the characters, it is such a mysterious place. Clouds swirl in streaks of white and gray, the stars peek out from the night sky, and the sun illuminates in soft streaks of orange and yellow. There is a scene in the middle of the film that is particularly stunning, where Patema and Age finally found out what links their world and the truth of the past. The color palette between Patema and Age's world is very distinct, and its use of color is no doubt excellent.

Along with the visually pleasant film is a soundtrack that captures the mood perfectly. Sometimes it is like "space" music, and at other times it is a sweeping orchestral piece to go along with the sense of adventure in the film. The ending song is "Patema Inverse" by Estelle Michaeu, which is a nice listen that emphasizes the connection between two different worlds.

It's been a long time of waiting for this film, but it was well worth it. It was an enjoyable, romantic adventure that took the familiar story of acceptance between 2 different worlds and spun it literally around with gravity inversion, a result of a failed experiment from a long, long time ago. At the heart of the film is a realization that people need each other to survive, and to discover our common features is truly a wonderful thing.

Don't be afraid to look up at the sky! Likewise, don't always look down at the ground! There is a much bigger, more fantastical world out there than what school and books tell you. All it takes is a little push.

A world where there are two sides. Sakasama No Patema (Patema Inverted) is more than just inverted but serves as an illustration to how connections are built. But from these two worlds also breeds hatred and struggles. For Patema, a princess of the underground kingdom, fate comes that ties her together with a young boy as the two worlds collide. A journey into this movie will feel like a sci-fi adventure, one that is inverted and surrealistic with its stylistic performance.

The brainchild of the movie falls under the hand of Yasuhiro Yoshiura, who also serves as the director. His previous involvement in projects such as ... Eve of Jikan and Pale Cocoon labels him as a colorful director, one that can turn a sci-fi story inside and out. And indeed, Sakasama no Patema is such a film that is literally turned but this time from up and down.

To get an experience of what the world is like, one should first be familiarized with how flight works. Literally, the movie has the two main characters, Patema and Age (Eiji) hanging on to each other as they see their perspective world from different points of view. You ever heard of the perhaps humorous joke of ‘don’t look down’ on a suspended bridge? Try putting your shoes into their position in this movie and you’ll get a good general idea. Nonetheless, the movie wastes little time by introducing the two main characters and their perspective worlds. In the underground kingdom, the technology is rigid and desolate. People there relies on scavenged food and crude machines to survive. But as a curious girl like Patema, she’d definitely want to explore what the outside world is like. Of course, curiosity almost kills the cat as she ventures into the danger zone and gets herself into some serious trouble, more than what she had imagined.

On other hand, there’s the surface world. Unlike the underground kingdom, the technology there is sufficient and its strength lies with the superiors. Classrooms are in fact held indoors with dictatorship and authority by the higher ups. Taken for granted, Patema falls into the danger zone and is thrown into danger until Age prevents her from “falling down”. From there on, we get whole scenarios where he must hold Patema in order to prevent her from flying away. It brings credibility to the term of ‘inverted’. But for a movie with this sense of adventure, there’s needs to be more to add on. From an experimental perspective, there’s also a sense of prejudice as the antagonists label certain characters as “sinners”. On the other hand, there’s the way how Patema experiments with her life in the surface world. At first, it’s easy to tell that she’s scared as a new kid in the world of the unknown. Oh and don’t forget the fact that she sees the world differently as everyone else through her inverted vision. It’s a unique gimmick despite lacking strength in crafting its concept of gravity. In fact, gravity is defied and the law of the universe is negated.

They’re not star-crossed lovers but Patema and Age shares a rather unique relationship. Combined with the way they discover each other, the pair brings dynamics, humor, and integrity. It takes guts to fight off governmental control or those menacing looking bat humanoids as seen throughout the movie. At the same time, their connection builds off what little time they share with each other. Unfortunately, this doesn’t transit into any sort of significant development as most of their moments in the sky is reflected by struggles. What we have here is something they contrast in terms of dealing with their families, friends, and relatives. Patema has the love of her people in the underground kingdom. On the other hand, Age shares minimal connection with his professors and friends (or at least so evidenced) in his society. To make matters worse, we briefly witness Age’s past which comes out as more of a painful memory rather than as a treasure.

As thought provoking as the film sounds to be, the antagonist can and should be labeled as rather stereotypical. Although not a mad scientist, he still has similar ambitions such as making Patema a guinea pig of sorts through intimidation. And of course, he doesn’t get the answer he wants to hear. At the same time, we learn that the classes taught in Age’s world serves more as a propaganda rather than education. There’s a conspiracy vibe going on as we find out more about the past involving the “sinners” and experiments. Then, there are interesting concepts involving the world referred to by the characters. One could formulate their own theories and come to conclusions as how they function. It creates interesting and methodical ways of seeing the story from another point of view, perhaps not opposite down but more with thought.

Like I mentioned before, this isn’t love story but it does have some flags going up in the sky. Some moments capture fine details involving how Patema and Age are fated to be together while other times creates a feeling of despair. For Patema’s childhood friend though, he becomes more like a scapegoat to the story. Despite his heroic efforts, he seems to be unrewarded towards the end. At the same time, the antagonist’s obsession to discover the people from the underground world leads to a downfall, even to a point where his own subordinates questions his motivations. Still, action speaks louder than words and during climatic moments, we witness it firsthand. While it is dramatic, it’s also cheesy and unrealistic where one could feel less attached to how it’s presented.

Artwork is handled by the relatively unknown studio Purple Cow Studios Japan. Yet, its craftsmanship decorate the backgrounds with great creativity. It sharply details the contrast between Patema and Age’s world. The steampunk style of the underground kingdom shows consistency while the surface world focuses on its more advanced society. Character designs also makes sense with Patema’s designs matching her curiosity and attractive cyan hair. However, Age’s character design shows little distinctiveness but instead comes off as a rather normal human being. For the antagonists though, they share facial features to demonstrate their intimidation. In particular, the bat humanoids have a design that makes them look like malevolent machinations. It creates the feeling of fear and how hunters can become the hunted. Finally, the camera angles is important to really bring the idea of ‘inverted’ to life. And I’d have to say, it did just that. You’ll have to see it to believe it.

Likewise, soundtrack is strong and demonstrates maturity. There’s no stupidity in its OST as comedy isn’t a main focus. During the more dramatic scenes, the soundtrack systemically follows in rhythm with the mood. On the other hand, we also get tense and sorrowful moments when characters are put into more complex situations. Speaking of characters though, Patema and Age has voices that matches their persona. Patema sounds like a normal girl despite her status as a princess in her world. There’s no egoistic or brash attitude coming out of her but rather as a girl who is just curious. Similarly, Age has the voice mannerism of a normal boy and often worries about the well-being of others, in particular Patema.

If you ever wanted to fly, take this movie as a motivation. Of course, you’ll probably need some aerial experience to ensure yourself that you don’t land in the wrong place. For Patema and Age, they land themselves into an adventure that will be unforgettable for the rest of their lives. As a movie crafted by such innovative ideas, I find it to be well done but not ultra-thought provoking. Sure, the idea is great but the time the characters spent together lacks meaningful development. Whatever the goal the movie was trying to accomplish focuses mostly on its premise with less emphasis on characterization but more on concept. Still, this movie should still be on your watch list especially if you’re in a mood for wanderlust.

Every day, in discussions about any subject: “I don't see how they can believe that.” “I don't know why they think like that.” Perspectives that don't mesh with our own are often cast aside, and some choose to build a comfortable nest of their own ideas without realizing that other viewpoints could be equally valid. Entire lives are lived in this fashion. And, yet, the ability to see through the eyes of another is dear to us as human beings, intellectually and emotionally invaluable. Case in point: Age finds Patema clinging to a length of wire, her feet pointed up towards the sky, utterly upside ... down, apparently floating. To Patema, though, Age is upside down, and she's actually falling past him. An impasse is reached. Do they argue the specifics of whose point of view is accurate, or do they offer each other a hand and meet eye-to-eye?

There wouldn't be a movie if they didn't opt for the latter. And they become quite a pair. Age is observant and intelligent, but sullen and despondent; Patema is upbeat and adventurous, but somewhat scatterbrained and clumsy. These are perhaps not the most unique attributes for the protagonists of an animated adventure film to possess, but what distinguishes them as more than lazy cliches is the ease with which we can see how each of them is a natural product of their respective environment. Age, once a dreamer with plans of leaving the ground and flying, has been beaten down in his day-to-day life by a society which believes that the sky is a source of death and destruction. Bereft of anyone to share his thoughts with, he has locked them away and chosen to meet the minimum expectations of his world with begrudging cynicism and indifference. Patema's world is equal but opposite—its rules discourage exploration as well, but out of a real desire to provide safety rather than to control. The people of the underground try to shelter Patema, and the result is a girl whose curiosity and enthusiasm far exceed her capabilities and knowledge. These two are not merely personalities dropped into a world, but characters built from the ground up to make sense in the world of Patema Inverted.

Moreover, their chemistry works with the simple grace that is characteristic of this film. Patema's earnest curiosity pulls the old Age back into the light, unearthing his buried interests and passions, restoring some of the childish happiness and optimism which he was forced to outgrow. He, in turn, provides the reason and restraint that she is lacking. Together, they're a force to be reckoned with, a billiard ball of measured recklessness careening through a world that has never seen their like.

The film follows their lead, rolling along from obstacle to obstacle. It carries the marks of veteran storytellers. It's paced brilliantly, balancing frantic, high-energy chases and momentous events against careful, deliberate exposition and instances of character introspection, maintaining a brisk speed while occasionally giving the film (and the audience) a chance to breathe and consider the impact of events. Despite the thoughtful and curious nature of its concept and setting, it neatly avoids the tar pit of wordiness and overindulgence into which stories of that nature have the chance of sinking; it is never too slow or too obtuse, instead rationing its heavier sci-fi aspects so as not to become overly ponderous. It foreshadows its twists and turns with admirable finesse and carries itself smartly, eventually leading to a conclusion which, while definitely a shock, ends up providing the satisfaction of a story brought to fruition from start to finish as one realizes that all of the requisite hints were provided, and it suddenly all makes smashing, effortless sense.

Visually, there is much to love. While the production values might not stack up to those associated with many feature films, this is nonetheless a pleasant movie to look at. Key character designs are refreshingly simple, yet distinctive, and backgrounds are filled with bright, glossy detail. However, it is Yasuhiro Yoshiura's skillful direction and cinematography which steal the show. A pan across a classroom shows, row by row, each student staring blankly ahead, except for Age, who gazes out the window at the forbidden sky. Patema fears the stars in that same sky until she sees their beauty reflected at an angle in Age's briefcase, truly aligning her perspective with his for the first time. Yoshiura's compositions and shots not only draw the eye with subtle technique, but reflect the theme of the film, wordlessly expose the thoughts of his characters, and imbue each scene with a sense of purpose.

It's worth mentioning, though, that the swift, simple and energetic nature of the film is a double-edged sword. When a light, pleasant story is told with such sure-handed competence, it's not unreasonable to wonder what could have been had the storyteller gone the extra mile in search of more creative ideas, more thematic resonance, more lasting impact. In essence, Patema Inverted is just a little safe. The settings—both Age's oppressive totalitarian society and Patema's underground village of peaceful outcasts—tread well-worn territory for sci-fi. The antagonists—the unquestionably evil, short-sighted dictator and his doubting second-in-command—are also old standbys. They serve their roles adequately, but unlike Patema and Age, they lack the foundation of character needed to be true standouts from their respective crowds. And while the film contains many tidbits about what we can understand and accomplish when we merge our perspectives, and the inherent fragility of close-mindedness, it's lacking the focused thematic punch in the gut needed to make a permanent impression.

That's not to say that Patema Inverted is a brainless work, that it's poor, or even that it's merely forgettable, airy entertainment. The opposite—it's not only entertaining, but also clever, deftly executed, artfully made, and chock-full of those little touches that make the difference between a tired, mediocre creation and one that is palpably bursting with the life, thoughts, and energy of those who created it. It might not aspire to greatness, but it's good with such confidence and efficiency that one can't help but smile.

This review is spoiler free

Sakasama no Patema or otherwise known in English as Patema Inverted follows a simple yet endearing and thrilling tale that 2 teenagers of different worlds partake.

The story:8.4
The story was certainly interesting and captivating. The contrasts between the two worlds and their differing yet converging societies allows for the audience to be absorbed into the world. The truth isn't white and black or wrong and right, instead it's more of how we view and value the world in Patema Inverted. The ending feels conclusive yet there just needed to be a bit more to make the story float(see what I did there?). ... The only problem was that it was there but it just didn't feel perfect, although the displayed 'worlds' in Patema Inverse aren't as perfect as seen either.

The art/animation:8.7
The art helped illustrate the story and made the thrills a flying experiece, it almost felt as if one was flying too in this adventure. The scenery and contrasts between the two sides of the world gives resonates with you to provide a journey worth looking at. The problems that were in the art would be how sometimes there didn't feel like there were enough frames such as during slow-motion scenes which makes it feel jarring. Overall enjoyable to watch without a lot of ruined details.

The soundtrack:7.4
This would probably be the worst part of this film or rather the part that isn't as fascinating although it does the job. There might be 3-4 tracks that were rememberable but it didn't feel too integrated with the movie.

Characters:8.0
Most of the characters displayed and explored into feel believable. Unfortunately the main villain didn't feel too believable and came off as a cheap villain while only maybe 4-5 other characters being given detail while the rest feel and look like each other,bland and irrelevant although it is arguable that those few select characters were all that was needed to carry the movie.

Enjoyment:9.0
Certainly enjoyable as an endearing adventure that can be relatable to today's society of what is wrong/different to you and why you view it in such a way. Just remember, not always is as it seems to be with the movie being more than just a thrilling ride. You don't need to be highly intellectual to understand and have fun with the movie as it just goes with the flow taking you along for an unforgettable experience

Overall:8.4
It was certainly enjoyable and it just let me go on this thrilling ride. You will want to just let go and embark on a journey that is fun to watch and experience in the eyes of the two main protagonists. Although slightly dramatic at parts there is nothing that will make you crying or mad, no emotion that feels overdone.

For Scifi-fan myself, I want to write a review focus more on it.
This review still got spoiler, though I try my best not to.

Story:
A very boy meet a cute princess form underground at a fate encounter, they create a bond that connect them to another level, lead them to the adventure that no one knew before.

Art:
Work outstanding with this genre (and situation), rolate and rolate, sometime you could be confused and lost the balance , like you dont know where the ground, where the sky.

Sound:
... OST is not very good but BGM is absolute amazing, delivered the feel and make atmosphere more intense.
Voice actor is out of my range, for a outsider like me, it's fine.

Character:
A boy lost something very important, then become lonely cause social around him. A girl "brave on outside" sure get along well cause she lost too. They build up relationship through sympathy. After lost contact, he come to realize that he dont want to lost this girl.
Character sure are simple, and expose very clear in movie. However the villain somehow show that he want to be picked by "inverted people" and somekind of want it for him only .

Enjoyment:
Super. Not a minute I leave my eye out of my monitor. My heart tumble and my mind keep yelling "I want to know more". well, Sci-fi fan. But the ending leave me confusing and not want to accept it's ending.
(Though I know sci-fi always do that, solve one case and open a f**king greater case, it's not like it left a bad taste in my mount or something)

Overall:
Sure a fascinating drive for me, for all the fantasy, thrill and fun adventure. However I like to know moreeee.
Let me assume some not-good thing: ending, ost, character.
So watch it if you haven't, watch it if you are into sci-fi genre, watch it if you have not been into sci-fi genre, just watch it like there's no tomorrow.
*but at some point, I do satisfy with the end of villain.
**Overall maybe a little high. But 8.6 should be 9, isn't it?

Whether the medium is anime, books, food or clothes - originality has always been a difficult thing to achieve. As the years go by, more unique materials are used and it becomes even harder to find what's 'truly original'. What you'll get are constant situations of "... hey doesn't this remind you of THAT film?" Luckily, there's very few settings, if any, similar to 'Sakasama no Patema (Patema Inverted)' - it's a breath of fresh air and definitely something that's 'original'.

In a world where gravity has changed, the lives of a young girl named Patema and a young boy called Age (Eiji) are explored - ... whatever falls in Patema's world goes up in Age's and of course whatever falls in Age's world goes up in Patema's. Together they have to traverse a multitude of obstacles as they discover hidden secrets and avoid near-death moments.

While the setting is very refreshing, the same cannot be entirely said for the plot. In its rawest form, the film tackles a lot of the same thematic problems in society that have been portrayed in many other films - differences in religion, racism and beliefs. On top of that the use of 'forbidden love' isn't something we haven't seen before either. However, using the writers own unique world of physics, one cannot argue that this is still an effective way to show the ideas without having the same settings shoved down our throats.

The best parts of the film was definitely the beginning to the middle portion, 'setting up' the unique world. With a simple 'flip' of the camera, a new perspective of the story takes place and your attention will be constantly glued to the screen when this happens. But, as it reached towards the end - it felt rushed and clichés started to become more obvious. What you get is a plot that tries to flow consistently with missing parts in between - something along the lines of: episode 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 15, 20, 26 etc. Not saying you'll lose your interest, just that it becomes... somewhat... incomplete. This is probably due to the short run time - maybe an extra 30 minutes would've supplemented the gaps - it isn't a huge problem, but some of the missing parts may come down to self interpretation in order for you to accept the events that unfold.

However, that's about the biggest gripe I had with the film. Perhaps the deeper themes and plots may not be the strongest points, but what makes the film great is 'how' it explores these two vastly different worlds and I can assure you that it doesn't disappoint.

We start off by following the simple lives of these two youngsters and what they feel upon discovering each others inverted world. There's a real down to earth sense and it's portrayed very naturally. There's chemistry between Patema and Age, their relationship goes through a believable development and their motivations and reasons for doing things feel realistic and instinctive - it's where this anime has substance. Granted they won't necessarily be characters you'll love but you'll enjoy the actions and interactions they have to go through.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the supporting casts - relying more on stereotypes in which we've seen countless times. The word clichéd sums it up nicely. The bad guys are bad and the good guys are good, you never truly come to terms as to what their motivations are or why they're doing it. They aren't the main focus of this premise so don't think too much, the film will be more enjoyable if you just focus your attention solely on Patema and Age.

Now we reach the presentation part, the character designs don't stand out too much. Sticking more to the 'down to earth' and simplistic drawings but it works and probably succeeds a lot better had it been completely detailed instead. However, does Sakasama no Patema do a good job in painting this fictional world? Hell yes!

The budget was obviously not really an issue since the detail in a lot of the places definitely shine - I'm talking about the scenery. The film separates the two worlds of Patema and Age very well - one being a worn-down, dark, isolated underground and the other being a bright, vivid and fresh outer world. The colour palette used to differentiate these two worlds help focus on the exploration aspect. Also, I think this contrast plays a pivotal role within the film - while one world may seem cramped and tight spaced; this world is the one with more freedom amongst the people while the supposed independent society of the people on the surface are suppressed. The animation has definitely complimented the overall atmosphere and mood of these opposite worlds and without the quality of the animation it just wouldn't feel... right.

I have to make one quick mention about the detail of the sky as well - the feeling of fear definitely shows on each and individual characters. Never has the idea of falling into the sky been so terrifying - the psychological implications can be quite daunting if you're scared of heights. The combination of 'flipping' the camera and drawings of the sky harmonise well together to create this feeling. I don't believe there's any other anime which make use of it so well so treasure these moments well.

Subtle, is how I would describe the overall music. Unless you really pay attention, the music doesn't stand out too much, kinda like listening to the pouring rain outside of your window. However it's suitable within the context of the film, not really too much to complain. The voice actors/actresses have nicely brought the characters to life; especially the two main casts. They genuinely sound like their age and how they would react to this unexplored setting.

I feel like I've said the film is about exploration too many times. But seriously, the film is most definitely worth watching for only that purpose and if my interpretation in this review hasn't shown that then I don't know what will :P

It's a really good story, it doesn't waste its potential which I'm glad. Granted it could've been better had it received a longer run-time. I'm not gonna say "if you like shows such as this or this you'll like Sakasama no Patema". I'm gonna just tell you to go watch it. While it isn't perfect, it's one of the rare shows that you could show to any audience (even your parents who don't watch anime) and they'll still find something to like about it. It's comparable to 'Inception', 'The Matrix', or 'A Clockwork Orange' - the initial concept is simply too interesting to pass up, it'll be a shame if you skip on it without stepping into the world of 'Sakasama no Patema'.

ABRIDGED RATING:

Story 8 - Great concept, doesn't waste its potential but could explore the deeper themes if the film was given more time.

Characters 7 - The main characters Age and Patema are nicely introduced and developed, supporting cast are clichéd

Animation 8 - Excellent work with the camera angles. Character designs are down to earth and simple. Different environments portrayed nicely - especially the sky

Sound 6 - Music is suitable in the context of this film. Doesn't particularly stand out unless you pay attention. Subtle is the best word to describe it. Voice actors/actresses portray realistic characters.

Enjoyment 8 - Pleasantly surprised at the original concept, main characters are likable. I can feel the chemistry between them.

Overall 7.4 - Good film, definitely worth checking out.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS:

Spirited Away (Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi)
The Cat Returns (Neko no Ongaeshi)

NOTE: You don't have to watch the prequel for this movie coz the exact prequel is included in this movie.

I shall be writing an outline SPOILER-FREE review again. But don't let yourself get "inverted" except for the fact that this movie is quite good no matter how you invert it upside down.

PLOT:
1. Promising sci-fi genre but also quite simple and can easily be understood which is also fitting for an-hour-and-30-minute-movie.
2. Plot pacing is good too. Not slow and not fast. It genuinely covered all that should be covered.
3. Because of the setting of the story, which is in the 2 inverted worlds, it gave a ... good opportunity for good plot twists.

MUSIC:
1. Not so much songs but they are fitting, even the background music.

CHARACTERS:
1. Simple, but still anime-style and not Americanized.
2. Character development is present too.
3. Can’t say much about the seiyuu but they did their job well.

GRAPHICS:
1. Modern graphics.
2. They really stand for the word “inverted” which is a unique plot and their graphics made you drawn to the inverted world.

ENJOYMENT:
1. Definitely entertaining and interesting until the end.
2. Originally, I was just intending to have a sneak peek earlier this morning but I ended up finishing it til 2 a.m. which means it got me hook.
3. Even though I somewhat guessed some foreshadowing, it still got me off guard which made me more eager to finish it.

In my own list, I scored this 10.. But for the purpose of General standard, I'll make it 9.

Lastly, just make sure not to put high expectation while watching it.. well, any anime.. coz some good anime are ruined by too much expectation.. JUST ENJOY WATCHING IT LIKE NORMAL, then get ready to be surprised
^.~b

Well, what can I say? It's awesome! But, not the best. Even so, I enjoyed this. The first time I found it, I dropped it with "Tss, so boring", but, I changed and my genres changed too! I really don't know, what to say. Everyone already write it.. :-(
Oh and, by the way, did you realise that this is like a movie "Upside down"? I just did! :D

A wonderful 98 minute experience this is, Sakasama no Patema is great piece of work if not a masterpiece.

*CONTAINS PLOT SPOILERS*

This movie takes place in a world where gravity acts in two opposite ways. The place where gravity acts in one direction is given the name Aiga. Aiga is a seemingly normal world by our standards and has a dictatorship government. There are strict laws and everyone has to abide by them. This is where our protagonist is from who is known by his name Eiji.

On the other hand, the place where gravity works in the opposite way is Patema's world. This place is ... a sort of free land where people are not strictly bound by laws.

Long ago a gravity related experiment was carried out. The experiment was a total failure which angered mother earth. Gravity went haywire and the place where the experiment was carried out and the people who lived there started to experience a repulsive force from the earth towards the sky. Many people lost their lives and few survived.

Sakasama no Patema revolves around the interactions between Eiji and Patema. Two young people from different worlds.

Sakasama no Patema has a wonderfully told out story. The whole inverse gravity concept is interesting as it is and along with perfect execution it becomes even more splendid. Throughout the movie many clues are given which, by the end, all add up to give a great ending. Both Eiji and Patema's worlds are well explained till the end and their personalities also develop because of their respective environments.

Patema is a cute and curious young girl who almost experiences the phrase "curiosity killed the cat" firsthand when she "falls" towards the sky after wandering around too much. She is an adventure loving girl and when it comes to exploring new places none can stop her. When she falls down, Patema enters Eiji's world and he just happens to be close by at the time.

Eiji is a high school student who has his fair share of grievances from the government. A young boy he is, Eiji does what he feels is right and mostly remains undeterred. He even goes as far as to go against the law whether it is simply staring into the sky or saving Patema from evil hands.

When it comes to the antagonists, they are your typical "want to take over the world" type. The main bad guy is the ruler of Aiga. He is a cold hearted man and believes he is always right. This twisted guy's decisions bring our protagonists closer to each other. He, along with his predecessing governments, have brainwashed the citizens into believing that the people of Aiga are the supreme beings and those inverted are sinners.

This messed up thought leads him to send his henchmen to capture Patema. Our MC does everything he can think of to save Patema and when he can no longer do it alone, he still doesn't give up. When offered assistance by Patema's kinsmen, he readily accepts their offer.

Sakasama no Patema manages to capture the viewers attention through their unique story and great execution.

A great storyline is mostly a waste without good visuals. Sakasama no Patema does not dissappoint us in the artwork department. With stunning visuals, this movie manages to bring out the beauty of it's unique plot. The different camera angles provided throughout are a beauty. The way they focus on surrounding items, show their importance. It also brings the whole inverse gravity concept to life. They manage to show us how both characters view the two different gravity lands which makes us get to know their different experiences much better.

Along with their good story executed to perfection, Sakasama no Patema also manages to add some humor to make things more enjoyable and to keep the viewers interest. At no point does this added humor feel out of place or unwanted. These lighthearted comedy scenes are quite well done and successfully manage to incite laughter.

From start to end this movie remains interesting and enjoyable. Sakasama no Patema may not be the best of the best, but in all sincerity it is truly one worth watching.

Patema Inverted focuses around a teenage girl named Patema who lives her underground home to discover that gravity is distorted for the humans living on the surface as she encounters a boy named Age living on the surface. The movie focuses on the two bonding through their rather unique situation with gravity while putting up with the dictatorship government that Age lives under trying to capture Patema and learn of the whereabouts of her people to wipe them all out. In terms of the bond with Age and Patema, it is genuinely convincing with the two learning through one another of the differing problems they ... each face with the gravity situation effecting them and coming to later learn of some tragic developments both have in common triggered from the mentioned dictatorship's influence. Beyond the dynamics of Age and Patema's bond though, the movie is otherwise rather standard for an adventure title as having a dictatorship-style government and a crazed dictator (the baddie in this particular case reminding me almost of Now and Then Here and There's Hamdo in terms of nuttiness) running it are nothing new in anime.

The gravity gimmick for Patema Inverted also lends itself nicely to the film's animation as it is incorporated for action scenes and "flying" moments as Age and Patema use one another to slowly ascend or descend their fall depending on however gravity affects them. Scenery shots are clean and smooth with details and sport subdued color tones with character designs sporting similar treatment in terms of color shading and detail. Animation is mostly emphasized via the gravity premise of the movie, though character are shown onscreen to move about fluidly and I didn't take notice of any shortcuts or loss of detail during moments of heavy movement occurring onscreen.

Overall, Patema Inverted offers up a rather unique premise with its gravity gimmick affecting the lives of Age and Patema in differing ways and how said element comes to make their bond develop throughout the movie's run, essentially being the sole strength of a movie that is otherwise rather standard fate for an adventure title. It's worth a look if you are looking for a unique premise for an anime film.

Sakasama no Patema is the closest I've seen to a modern film capturing Hayao Miyazaki's earlier work from a narrative perspective. The film felt very reminiscent of Castle in the Sky. Miyazaki films tend to sometimes have deep plot in concept, but not in execution, and so the magic in his films -- are the characters, the world, and the themes that are often deep and mature. Miyazaki's films burst with charm, and their simplistic scripts always have an underlying themes that tap into certain elements of life. Miyazakis ability to create complex and interesting worlds/story concepts, and yet keep the actual plot itself simple, ... is one of the reason his films work so well. Anyone can watch his movies, and yet there is something deeper there if you really want to look into it.

So unlike Miyazaki scripts, Sakasama no Patema get a bit more heavy on the actual plot itself. The plot set up is complex and mysterious from the very beginning, and unlike Castle in The Sky (that doesn't dive too deep into the actual complex plotline in the back half), Sakasama no Patema embraces it head on. But this also becomes the films downfall. In the end, the plot gets a bit too tangled up in its own details. The pacing/and execution with the information given to the audience feels clunky. This ultimately leaves the audience disconnected from the plot on an emotional level, while they try to figure out all the details of what actually happened.

There is nothing wrong with complex plots. But there is an art form in how you weave information and plot movements into a coherent whole -- in a way that audiences can digest and connect to. In fact, I wouldn't even say Sakasama no Patema has a terribly complex plot that couldn't be understood. But the method with which they decided to tell this story, makes it more complex than it needs to be. The biggest problem being that, they wait until the last twenty minutes to explain the "twist" of the movie, and never give the audience a second to catch their breath. It becomes a wave of information, and plot immediately rushes to the end. Then the come down (the resolution), is so brief, the audience never gets to catch their breath, and you are left trying to process everything you've just been told. The plot on paper is actually very easy to understand. But the way it's told in this film, you will be wracking your brain trying to understand the exact details. This becomes problematic, because it ends up distracting you from any emotional connection you should have to the plot/characters.

The second biggest flaw of Sakasama no Patema is the characters. They are likable. But they are missing charm. The film sets up each character on their own, and we get an idea of how each character works, as well as how they represent the problems of each "side" of their world. The issue is when they finally come together. The film doesn't really give us enough time to connect emotionally to their relationship. The film does a better job with this with "older characters" done in flashbacks then they do with the actual main characters in the plot. I wish the film would have taken a bit more time to flesh out their relationship, and show how their problems are connected.

Sakasama no Patema is a good film. The animation is stunning, the music is great. The actual story concept itself, is interesting and unique (or at least, a unique take on common story concepts). But the film always keeps the audience at a distance. The characters lack warmth, and it's hard to entirely connect emotionally to their story. And the story trips over itself in the back half, as it tries to explain everything in the final push towards the end. I just wish I wasn't distracted by all of these elements, as I would have liked to have cared more about our characters and their worlds.

Coming from Time of Eve, I looked forward to this movie considerably.

I think that perhaps my higher expectations for the show ruined my enjoyment of it ultimately. Don't get me wrong, the movie was very good. The art, atmosphere, and everything is on par with the classics.

What left me hanging was in the character development field, where things were just too predictable. I was hoping for a less simplistic character development than what the online preview presented. However, the overall direction followed what was expected, with very few surprises. The developing bond between the two main characters also seemed to occur less natural than in ... a Miyazaki movie. Perhaps some slight tweaking of pacing would have made this better.

Aside from this one weak point, the rest of the movie was quite enjoyable. The scenes, the way the world was set up, was all very thought provoking. The twist at the end of the movie was foreshadowed a bit too early for me, so it wasn't as surprising.

For now, I would rate it an 8 overall, but I have a feeling it will be a 9 in the future if I were to come back to the movie in a year or so, with tempered expectations.

This movie would absolutely be a 10, with its groundbreaking cinema and the unique niche it set's our cast's lives in.

The sheer theory around this movie is about gravity and how different gravitational forces can not only be an obstacle, but also bring two lives together.

Sadly, I cannot give this a 10, because this movie is how I discovered I have mild vertigo. I can't watch this movie in earnest without becoming dizzy.

That being said, I share this movie wholeheartedly with my friends because It is just an absurdly good watch.
I personally enjoy the class system and how the politics are due to the ... nature of the world.

Post apocalyptic gravity defying entertainment, Spoiler free review.

This will be a really quick review because I gotta prepare for a presentation in my Japanese class tomorrow. I had some extra time so I watched this pretty awesome movie and now I'm trying to get back to doing homework, but I felt like writing this review first ^_^

The story was very intriguing and kept me interested the whole time.
Story 8/10

For an anime movie made in 2013 the art could have looked a little bit better at times. However, during the many scenes that were designed to be visually stunning they not only succeeded but blew away my expectations. It was breathtaking to watch ... the characters' interactions with the sky and the rotating camera effects trying to capture it all. The locations were all cool and interesting, and there were some very exciting scenes where the characters had to risk their lives and the art was so immersive that you could feel the danger.
Art 9/10

I listened to the english dub and it was good most of the time, but sometimes the characters' voices sounded too young or scratchy and it would be a little annoying. The music and sound effects were pretty good though.
Sound 6/10

The characters were a little below average overall. The main girl and guy were pretty good and likeable, but no one else had much screen time (or the moments they did have were meh). Also the main antagonist could've been so much better.
Character 4/10

This was very unique and memorable, the concepts were great but the execution could have been a bit better (especially with the characters)
Enjoyment 8/10

Overall 8/10

Okay, this is my first review ever.

Sakasama no Patema is a great example of a movie which has a more deeper themes than you initially would think.
The story starts with a girl named Patema living underground in a society of "inverts" who have their gravity inverted. One day she stumbles on the surface and nearly falls in to the sky, until she's grabbed by a boy named Age who lives on the surface in this totalitarian government of "normal" people, and that's how their story begins.

Story:
It's a scary thought getting swallowed by the sky, free falling into never ending oblivion and into the ... space. This movie takes an interesting perspective on themes like totalitarian governments, stereotypes, taking your first step in to the unknown and the most important theme of all..Trust in your fellow humans.


Art:
The art in this movie is top tier. The characters blend perfectly with the vivid and colorful scenery. I'd say their art style is somewhere between P.A. Works and Ghibli.

Sound:
The soundtrack is carefully crafted and of very high quality. It has this wonderful mix emotion and fits in to the theme of the movie. Even though there was some tracks that could of have more emotional impact.

Overall: Overall Sakasama no Patema is a very beautiful movie which has strong themes and interesting setting for the story. It reminds me of those old high quality adventure movies I used to watch as kid. It made me clench my fist every time they were about to do something reckless. For me this movie was 9/10. It could have been 10/10 if they would've set up more lore for the world.

Thank you for reading and sorry for my inferior english!

Sakasama no Patema is a film that took my breath away. From the moment I became immersed in the world its absolutely stunning art created, my attention was held and my expectations completely surpassed. To me, this is a film about the divide the fear of the unknown creates between us, a metaphor for the way we are separated by the way we, as a collective, cope with that fear, and compassion, friendship and empathy.

Story: 9/10 (Great)

The story of Patema Inverted follows a unique take on the theme of "Us and Them" - it takes place in a future in which a botched experiment causes ... a good deal of the population and "invert" and "fall into the sky", as if for only some people and things the law of gravity has changed. The story is set a while after this, when those who are inverted have set up a colony underground, and those who live above ground are forbidden to look at the sky and have it drilled into them their whole lives that it is divine will that the evil people in the world should fall into the sky. The story centers around the events that happen when Patema, the princess of the underground colony, meets someone from above ground, and the events that follow.

Despite the fact that a lot goes unexplained in the film, and the rather 'out-there' premise, the plot is nonetheless very uniquely portrayed, realistic and well written. The only reason it wasn't a 10/10 for me was the fact that I would have liked to have known more about the background of the world - however, I can see why there wasn't time to explain this convincingly in the movie without making a bunch of characters have infodump conversations that add nothing to the plot and exist purely to inform the viewer, since the story takes place over only the course of a couple of days. For what was shown, it was a really interesting idea that was pulled together by stellar writing and directing.

Art: 10/10 (outstanding)
Even if you don't watch this film for the story or the characters, I feel like even just watching it to simply admire the beautiful artwork that is typical of Yoshiura Yasuhiro's works is worthwhile. The setting/backgrounds were breathtaking and the animation was beautifully fluid and realistic; in a film with this kind of premise in which movement is central to the plot, there was a lot of room for the art to shine (which it undeniably did).

Sound: 7/10 (good)
The OST for this film was nothing really spectacular that stood out to me - it was about what you might expect for an average drama film. Some might think of the OST more favorably than me, but I feel that had it had a more atmospheric soundtrack the movie would have been a more evocative work than it already is. That being said, the OST did not detract from the impact and quality of the film whatsoever - it was just nothing memorable.

Character: 8/10 (very good)
For the short amount of time that occurs in "real time" in the film, there was a good amount of realistic character development. I definitely felt myself rooting for the protagonists on the edge of my seat. They might not have been the most unique characters in the world, but they were certainly endearing and engaging and related to eachother in a realistic and evocative way.

Enjoyment: 10/10 (outstanding)
This movie left me completely satisfied. The premise caught my attention, the art was something to behold all the way through, the characters were lovable, and despite the serious nature of what occurred in the plot, there were moments of humour that added a lovely touch to the overall experience.

Overall: 9/10 (great)
I truly had to think long and hard about whether I was going to rate Sakasama no Patema a 10/10, because it ticked just about every box for me. While there are some parts of it that are obviously incomplete, Patema Inverted is a masterpiece in the way it is a sensory experience in my opinion. Though I usually prefer anime with much darker atmosphere, this film was a breath of fresh air, and I would enthusiastically recommend it to just about anyone.

I went in not knowing what I was getting into, and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. Sakasama no Patema is a very sweet story of a girl meeting a boy while in very difficult positions regarding the other. It's almost like Romeo and Juliet, although this story focusses less on romance and more on resolving the issues between both of the sides they are on.

Story: The story was good in the beginning, it was clear what was happening although you were not really sure to which party it was happening, and plot holes barely presented themselves. Later in the movie the story ... trips up a bit though, as it introduces 2 characters that are badly handled. One of them is very clichéd, while the other does not get enough exposure to justify his behavior. The ending also leaves you with a few questions you really should not be having in a film like this.

Art: The art is very decent, and the quality of the animation is hardly something you can speak ill of.

Sound: The sound was generally done well, and it matched the animation very well too. The music was not outstanding by any stretch of the imagination, but it was definitely not annoying either, slinking into the background very well, being more of a device used for ambience than something that makes the scene.

Characters: The main characters were done well. Both of their personalities are adventurous, which is nothing we haven't seen before, but they are handled well and there are really no valid complaints I could make about them.
2 other characters (I won't say who they are to avoid spoilers) are treated very badly though. As I said in my introduction, one of them is a cliché, and the other did not get enough development to justify his actions, which is of course a hard thing to pull off with only 100 minutes of time, but still.

Overall: I enjoyed it. It is a very sweet and heartfelt film, despite its negative points. The film did get a little worse the longer it went on, but a little worse than good is still pretty good, so overall this gets a strong seven from me.

2 Sentence Review: This movie is fantastic. It toys with the idea of perspective both physically in the animation and the mental concept of it, in what I thought to be a very creative manner.

Story 7/10: Not the greatest story in the world. Pretty basic to be perfectly honest. However, it did its job well. Its tone is relatively peaceful yet the message its trying to get across is rather direct. I cannot say much but I will say it could potentially leave an impression on your life outlook, as much of an exaggeration as that may sound.
Art 10/10: Nothing I've seen has so ... perfectly captured so many elements that are so hard to do in art. Parallaxing, Perspective, Velocity, Weight, Lighting, its all there. You know something is well animated when you feel a bit sick looking at times when a character is at risk of falling. If I do have two things to complain about they're the lens flares and the flatness of things. Complaining about flatness in an animation? Well, yes. With the method of parallaxing they used it sometimes looks like characters are flat images rendered in a three dimensional set. Is this bad? A little jarring perhaps, but I think it did at least somewhat add to the visual style.
Sound 8/10: Funny story, I finished Madoka Magica not long before watching this. I did not catch on that the main character was voiced by the girl who played Kyuubey despite them sounding pretty similar, and I feel like that's a testament to the voice acting in the dub. I am one of those people who focuses so much on the visuals that they forget to listen to the music, but I do remember there being a really smooth piano track and a couple incredibly fitting orchestral songs.
Character 6/10: I don't know, they were all a bit standard. They got the job done but I didn't think any of them were all that special. The villain could have stood to be explained a bit more and the protagonists could have done with a notable trait or two, but I think that's just personal preference.
Enjoyment 9/10: It was fun. It looked nice and took a somewhat unique angle on a story of pregiduce. I am a person who will take at least one break during most movies I watch on my own. I don't have a two hour attention span, or so I thought. Patema Inverted kept me thoroughly engaged throughout all of its hundred minute runtime. It faltered a bit during the last ten or so, but the rest blew me away.
Overall 9/10: Patema Inverted is not a "must-see" for those who are big on story and don't care about the animation. This doesn't mean its not good, you just may not get as much enjoyment out of it as I. For those interested in visuals and more experimental concepts, like myself, watch it as soon as you can.

˙ƃuoɹʇs ʎlqɐᴉuǝpun sɐʍ sɹǝʇɹǝʌuoɔ ʇxǝʇ uʍop-ǝpᴉsdn ǝsoɥʇ ɟo ǝuo ƃuᴉsn ʍǝᴉʌǝɹ sᴉɥʇ ƃuᴉʇsod ɟo uoᴉʇɐʇdɯǝʇ ǝɥ┴

Imagine a cave where people have been imprisoned from childhood.
These prisoners are chained so that their legs and necks are fixed, forcing them to gaze at the wall in front of them and not look around at the cave, each other, or themselves.
Behind them is a large bonfire, and between the two there's a walkway where things that get placed on it appear as shadows on the wall in front of the prisoners.
These shadows are cast from people, animals, objects, many things that constitute our reality in their wide ... variety of colors and details. However, for the prisoners who can only see their shadows, those generic dark figures are "reality" because they have never seen anything else; they do not realize that what they see are shadows of objects in front of a fire, much less that these objects are inspired by real living things outside the cave.
Suppose one prisoner is able to escape. Suppose he's dragged out from the cave by someone.
At first he will feel the pain of the sunlight hurting his eyes, he won't be able to see anything, he will hate this outside world and hate the one who dragged him out.
Slowly, his eyes adjust to the light of the sun. First he can only see shadows. Gradually he can see the reflections of people and things in water and then later see the people and things themselves. Eventually he would realize this is the real world, these are the real things. With that notion in mind, he would try to return to the cave and share his findings with the others prisoners.
However, the returning prisoner, whose eyes have become acclimated to the light of the sun, would be blind when he re-enters the cave, just as he was when he was first exposed to the sun. The prisoners would infer from the returning man's blindness that the journey out of the cave had harmed him and that they should not undertake a similar journey, reacting with violence towards anyone who tried to drag them out of the cave.

Popularly known as the Allegory of the Cave, the short story above is a condensed version of one from the many dialogues Plato wrote in his work The Republic. It studies the effects of education in a society and how the human mind is conditioned to fear the unknown and often reject it. Today, it stands as one of the basis of modern philosophy and every graduation student will likely work with it. However, as many complex interpretations it may create, its message still can be read and understood by anyone.
That's one of the strongest points of Plato's work and that is the connection I wish to make with this anime.

If one sees many science fiction works (classic or modern, futuristic or contemporaneous) through philosophical lens, it becomes clear that they are basically allegories. Allegories of our society, our way of life and our thoughts projected into interstellar beings and steampunk technology. They start from a simple, yet strong, moral as foundation for the story-line and surround it with epic (in the true meaning of the word) Sci-Fi plot elements, immersing the audience into a distant world that yet seems so similar to ours. Finally when it's over, there's this lingering feeling that it taught you something but it's hard telling how and when did it happen.
That's Patema Inverted.

Patema's story is yet another revisit of Plato's cave, embellished by the cutest female protagonist it could possibly have, fun with physics and set in a dystopian future which sometimes seems to have advanced technology and sometimes doesn't.
Plato's allegory has a couple of main elements to it. The prisoners, the people outside the cave, those who create the shadows and the cave itself. All of these exist in this movie, it's now up to you finding who is who and which is which.

Overall, it's a great script. Minor flaws, no loose ends and a clear progression that makes for a comfy afternoon watch but nothing memorable to be reminiscent in years to come. Its strongest point is the development of the relationship between Patema and Age, two brave younglings who overcome each their own society's prejudice to help its fellow man (or girl, in this case) with the typical naive bravery of the martyr hero, making it hard not to fall for them.
This great development, however, is butchered by the most one-dimensional cardboard antagonist one could imagine. It simply feels as if the writing team just worked so hard on the setting and progression for the MC that they forgot how it integrated with their surrounding, resulting into a villain with no bigger goals or any excuse for its attitudes aside from being "a bad guy".
Was there even a need for a villain in this story? They could've worked it in some many ways without the need for a Judas, but unfortunately didn't.

On the upside though, it's very interesting how writers managed to use the now-repetitive "secluded society" theme in a refreshing setting. It deviates from the usual underground setting common on many titles such as TTGL and City of Ember and introduces a world where there's literally inverted people. Think gravity, no spoilers.
This was surprisingly well executed in the physics department with only a few acceleration flaws to be accounted for.

Story and its merits aside, the artwork is neat with some very detailed background and gorgeous sky/horizon shots. The way they worked with perspective is very curious to say the least, and there are some scenes that will definitely drive those with vertigo insane.
Utter respect for the crew responsible for particles animation as that must've been a nightmare.

This simple yet careful drawing tied with a very emotional OST does make of Patema a noteworthy experience. Michiru Oshima (same woman who did the music for Sora no Woto) delivers again with a great selection of instrumental pieces and a strong ending theme.
Reason I bring up Sora no Woto is that, those who watched it will recall that the final ending theme was somewhat peculiar. "Servante de feu", by musician Matthieu Ladouce was in french, nothing more fitting for a series that mixes up a bunch of international elements than an international song.
The same happens this time, as "Patema Inverse" by Estelle Micheau is in no other language than Esperanto. An international constructed auxiliary language, created with the objective to make easier the communication between people no matter the nationality. Perfect for a movie which teaches about solidarity and cooperation.

Likely the biggest hit by Yasuhiro Yoshiura this far, as Eve no Jikan and Pale Cocoon continue to be somewhat of underspoken series, Sakasama no Patema is definitely a solid watch be it for its philosophical undertones, creative camera perspective or simply the "love knows no borders" romance.
A bit cliché? Sure, but as fantasy mimics reality, life also can be cliché at times.

A very endearing and heartwarming story with a 1984ish setting
Yup, who would've thought those polar opposites would work so well together?

On the one hand you have the sweet encounter of Patema and Age, bursting with curiosity about eachother's worlds
And on the other, the rejection of said curiousity by their respective societies, with Patema's coming more from a more protective instinc (especially towards their young) but still being kinda open to the idea of exploration, and Age's, from an obsession with order and control (ring a bell?)

Though the initial pace is a little slow, the twist and turns it takes are definitely worth sitting thru to ... the end