When a show leaves an incredible impression you're always left wondering one of two things - what the author can do next, and whether the author could possibly hope to match it again. Plastic Memories comes onto my watching list quite a long while since the release of Steins; Gate. While it wasn't perfect the twisting, turning emotional journey I went through in those 24 episodes was undoubtedly one of the strongest anime experiences I've had. So Plastic Memories has quite the hurdle to leap if it wants to equal or potentially exceed its predecessor.
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Life's a game against time; a game where time always wins. But how far can you go before the end?
The memories can be more valuable than the experience, they say. That may be true, but what if one day, you were to lose those memories? In essence, this is what Plastic Memories is all about. It's about memories, the creation and inevitable loss of them.
But knowing that memories have an expiry date, how should we best enjoy the time we're given? The struggle to enjoy the time we have left is what main protagonist Tsukasa constantly faces across the series. Death, although not as we know it, is a common theme across the series. So without further ado, let's get into it!
As the image suggests, this story focuses much on the two main protagonists, Tsukasa and Isla. Isla is a Giftia - a hyper-realistic android indistinguishable from a human, with her own quirks and interests. Giftias are far beyond the usual companion's android - this is made startlingly clear in the first few episodes, as Isla demonstrates a stunning proficiency with tea and interests far beyond a simple robot. And although the story inevitably revolves around the progression of Tsukasa and Isla's relationship as partners, the side characters serve not only to further their relationship, but to also offer background into pre-series events. Although these characters are helpful in developing relationships not only between the main duo but between themselves, deepening character interaction and development, there are occasionally examples of tropes that are overdone (which, for the sake of spoilers, I will not elaborate), and on a whole character designs are not bad but not revolutionary either. So the characters get a 7 - not outstanding, but certainly nothing particularly bad other than a few overdone tropes here and there, as well as rather plain design.
Background art is a different story - the backgrounds of Plastic Memories is one of the most consistently beautiful of this season - it lacks the pure impact of something like Unlimited Blade Works, or the magnificent reflections of Hibike!, or the vibrant and energetic style of Kekkai Sensen, yet it has its own appeal in its simplicity and its suitability to the situations where it is used. Although it is clear Plastic Memories is set in a futuristic world, there is nothing too far-fetched - the environmental design is the strongest aspect of the art in Plastic Memories, especially a specific part of the amusement park, which becomes a significant recurring element throughout the series. There's nothing too futuristic, yet the feel of a neo-technological society can certainly be felt through the neon lighting and the faceted buildings; yet there still exists a touch of the 'old world', so to speak, in the form of familiar sights such as bazaars and amusement parks crowded with people.
As it was in Steins; Gate, music played an invaluable role in establishing the mood of a scene. Certainly in Plastic Memories, the attempt can be seen, and the effect felt. But in the same way as the characters, though there was certainly nothing wrong with it, there was nothing groundbreaking in it, nothing that truly struck where it hurt, where it felt strongest. It cannot be denied, however, that it does get close, and on a few occasions it did suit the scene incredibly well. Sound is a very strong element of Plastic Memories - arguably, the story's faults are balanced out during its powerful moments by equally powerful and monumental musical scores.
And at last, we come to the finale, the decisive element, the most important component. The story.
Plastic Memories, being an anime where death and the 'destruction' of memories occurs repeatedly, does indeed have several heart-pounding and tear-evoking moments. On more than once occasion, I was almost moved to tears. The story ultimately comes to a painful conclusion and fortunately, the deus ex machina event I feared never came to light, and it ended on a high note for the series. However, this is the problem. Why, if its art and its sound are both excellent if not scintillating, and its conclusion is powerful and resonant yet suitable for the anime, does it only score a 7?
Unfortunately, everything that was right about the story was more than balanced out by what was wrong. In a nutshell, Plastic Memories' story has high points and drastically low points. These low points can be summed up simply - poorly placed humour. It is something that carries over from Steins; Gate; the overdone trope of a tsundere within Steins;Gate comes to mind. However, it seems to have been taken to a next level in Plastic Memories - instead of jarring tropes, which as I have detailed above already exist, though not quite at the same level, there is an excess, a superfluity, even, of poorly executed romantic comedy-styled humour. Every single time I saw Michiru's face of jealousy I immediately braced myself for what was to come - initially, I thought it would be similar to Steins;Gate where the bad would soon be bled out of the system and it would progress without hindrance. But unfortunately, it stayed throughout the series and although there is no denying it decreased significantly to the point of near-lack of existence at the final few episodes, this reversal occurred too late in the series. The sheer pain of having to endure the terrible slapstick comedy, not least the episode which spent all 25 minutes on Tsukasa's attempts to further his relationship with his partner, involving terrible advice from all the other characters. It is unbearable, and I eventually got to the point where I had to pause and take a water break due to the sheer amount of frustration I was experiencing, and it is never good for an anime if it causes more frustration than joy. We watch anime not for an objective experience; we watch it not because it's an obligation; we watch it for fun, and if I am forced to have to endure through a series through an obligation to finish a series as much as I can possibly bear, as well as the slim hope that the ending could possibly drag it up from hell, is far too much.
So, Plastic Memories. Is it a worthy successor to Steins; Gate? In some respects, possibly. But as a whole package? I'm afraid not.
