Thought-provoking, insightful, and beautifully animated with an intriguing and original story arc, it's quite fantastic what the creators managed to pack into 25 episodes. It's simply brilliant.
If you're looking for an anime with a completely different feel than what most animes bring to the table, you've found it. Shinsekai yori is a very intelligent anime when appreciated to its fullest. If you're looking for a rapid-fire, guts-and-glory, good-versus-evil kind of anime, you might not enjoy this series. It's unique style and melancholy, almost dark feel won't appeal to everybody, as it does not exist purely for mindless entertainment. It will challenge you. Excite you. Blow your mind in such a subtle way you won't really know what to do with yourself at times.
This anime's many conflicts occur within many gray areas; it is not always clear whether the antagonists are truly evil in nature. In other words, it comes off as quite strikingly real, even within a very surreal, dreamlike environment. Although it is, at its most basic, a story based on a group of friends' triumphs and failures, and ultimately a task to save the world from destruction, it brings a pensive, melancholy subtlety that really sets it apart.
The character development is also subtle, but genius. Observing the differences and changes the children go through as they interact with each other into adolescence is very unique and tangible to observe. It's sort of a coming-of-age story with much darker notions. Shinsekai yori is not afraid to directly expose themes and ideas that many shy away from and avoid thinking about. Indeed, it can get quite dark at times. It brings angsty and dramatic undertones that really complement the overall feel that really makes this anime what it is.
The story picks up speed quite suddenly, and action-packed episodes are layered with quieter, story-based episodes in such a way that neither gets tiring. The story's focus switches from topic to topic in a very realistic way: not always crystal-clear to look back on, but clear enough that the viewer doesn't wind up lost in the whimsical, surreality of it all. Shinsekai yori exists in a world based on what-ifs, and it makes for a rather personal experience that can vary greatly in meaning just varying on who's watching.
I find that one of the factors that truly makes or breaks any anime is the complexity of idea it is based on. Shinsekai yori hit the nail on the head for me. Not only did this anime leave me pausing episodes quite frequently simply to take in certain themes and ideas, but it explores many societal norms and themes in a very insightful and original way. The world that it takes place in alone, both primal and complex in nature, leaves much to be pondered and appreciated. The sheer amount of detail put into this anime cannot be appreciated by simply watching episode after episode. It requires time to mull things over and digest what you've seen.
(Note: There is a LOT of backstory and world-explanation portrayed to the viewer rather quickly and frequently for the length of the anime. I find the creators did an excellent job with this medium, however, it is important that the viewer pays attention during explanations, as the story development can be quite complex and direct, and is vital to fully experience the depth of this anime.)
The animation itself is also very beautiful. Stunning environment art, charming and gorgeous character design, and the sheer vastness of the world created in this anime rival any other I've seen to date. To put it simply, the aesthetics easily match the story quality in terms of absolute pleasure and enjoyment.
So, all in all, this anime is a gem worth seeing, even if you've never watched this sort of anime before. I hadn't when I first saw it, and it was very refreshing to experience an anime that broke the mold in such a way. Please take my word for it-- it's amazing. Shinsekai yori gets tens across the board from me, and deserves it completely.
