There is something ominous about this anime. One can’t help but wonder, if what was shown there might actually become a reality in the distant future. It has a powerful vibe and I can’t help but feel Wells, Orwell and Huxley having a combined influence on the story structure; as far as utopia with mind-control, behavior control, and superiority among humans with huge potential differences are considered.
You just sit there and let the anime sweep you alongside it, everything in the anime are perfectly blended, and at one point you’d feel whether the mangaka is actually from the future, writing out a story according to his experiences. Not only is the story deep, thought-provoking and frightening, it also shows a much darker side of humanity; what are the consequences of absolute law? What are consequences of secrecy in a society at large? How much of truth is there in the old saying “curiosity killed the cat?” How far are we willing to go to protect humanity? Why are we the only beings with sentient minds?
So, what makes this anime such a grand piece, or put more aptly, an unappreciated gem.
Animation – 9/10
The animation is done by A-1 Pictures, and well, they outdid themselves again. There is always a forbearing dread that something is lurking in the corner, the animation is brilliant, it shows the darkness with color, yet the scenery with vivid energy, the villages with tranquil, and the new creatures evolved in a thousand years so realistically, one would actually be inclined to believe that they might someday come around. The color achieves so much.
Characters – 9/10
Hail redheads!
One of the things that I loved about this anime was the characters. The characters were just…..beautiful. For such an ominous story to flow one needs characters, and the characters here do justice to the story. They are shown in three points of their lives; childhood, teenage and adulthood. One might remain skeptical about whether character development through three stages of growth is possible in a 25-episode anime, but trust me, Shinsekai Yori pulls it off magnificently, this can be seen clearly with characters like Saki and Satoru, with Saki being the narrator, and the main character of the series. You feel at one with them; there was a time when I was actually saying to myself; “Please let these two survive.” And not only the main characters, even despicable characters like Squealer show magnificent character development. But then again, who am I to call Squealer despicable?
Did I mention I’m completely biased towards Maria?
Music – 9/10
Oh. My. God.
The music can be called something that is truly “beautiful.” You can’t help but fall in love with the haunting melody, chilling composition and how effortlessly, the music complements the story. It’s like two very dark components kiss.
Story – 9/10
A 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.
Well, that’s how the synopsis is described, and telling anything further would be spoilers.
Entertainment – 9.5/10
I binge-watched, in a hospital room, overnight, while munching on spice-less hospital food; that is how much I enjoyed this show. This is not for a casual watch, or for people who’re easily bored or looking for cheap laughs or easy sexual gratification. If you’re looking for a paced thought-provoking story, driving characters and won’t compromise on sound and visuals, this one is for you.
In short, Shinsekai Yori is a beautiful yet underappreciated gem in the current anime scene, where people are more focused on anime with food for the body rather than food for the mind.
Overall score – 9.1
