The narrative portrays two parallel and separate plotlines that are occurring simultaneously, both of which are skilfully presented. Renji Asou, the protagonist of the first story, is a voracious reader of books who lacks ambition and also appears to have a dearth of friends. Fate has a tendency to precipitate the most defining and transformative of encounters. Such a turn of events ravels before Renji as he meets a shy and frail girl by the name of Chihiro Shindou at an abandoned train station; setting the foundation for the poignant mixture of tragedy and elation that the series so fittingly utilises. As the friendship between the two intensifies, Renji learns that Chihiro had been in a devastating car accident years ago which left her with a tragic memory defect: her memory only lasts for a period of thirteen hours. After learning that Chihiro’s principle ambition is to write a novel, Renji decides to help his friend fulfil her dream and also benevolently attempts to help her overcome the difficulties imposed by her condition. This storyline is coruscating in that it is the archetypal emotional rollercoaster that touches one’s heart by provoking pity and poignancy through a narrative that is ultimately uplifting.
The second plotline, the one centred on the chronically indecisive and confused Hiro Hirono, is the weaker story since it generally conforms to the conventions of a tragic romance and hence, lacks the idiosyncrasies of Renji’s arc. Hiro Hirono, a talented manga artist, meets an intriguing girl by the name of Miyako Miyamura on Christmas Eve and when he realises that she attends the same school as him, an increasingly intimate relationship ensues. As one would expect from a traditional romantic narrative, it is later revealed that Kei Shindou- Hiro’s childhood friend who has held a crush on him for long time- has become jealous and a typical love triangle manifests itself. This storyline accurately explores the more common relationships of life as Hiro struggles to reconcile his love for Miyako and his friendship with Kei; at the same time his efforts to balance his academic life with his career as a manga artist tend to be hopelessly fruitless. A major strength of this plotline is that it is markedly realistic and pragmatic in that it avoids the overly dramatic aspects of Renji’s story- Hiro’s trials and tribulations are purely relatable. Whilst Hiro’s story lacks the complexities that are a defining feature of Renji and Chihiro’s storyline, it is thoroughly relatable which creates drama that is at times immensely compelling. Hence, the two concurrent stories coalesce to give birth to a thought- provoking and emotion- eliciting masterpiece that presents believable characters that the viewer will be warmly attached to. The intimacy that the producers establish between the viewer and the characters is perhaps the most impressive aspect of an elegant series that lacks flaws.
The characters are reflective of the individuals one encounters in everyday life and this accurate representation of society places relatability at the heart of “Ef: A Tale of Memories”. Renji is initially depicted as a reserved and uninteresting individual who lacks any recognisable friends; he is devoid of clear ambition about what he wants from life which is a common feeling within adolescents and such a portrayal of Renji immediately attracts the viewer to this character. As the story progresses, Renji gains a true friend in Chihiro and as he helps her write a novel, he becomes more knowledgeable about himself as an individual. By witnessing Chihiro’s immensely tragic circumstances he becomes more appreciative of life in general as his compassionate and introspective side glitters. Chihiro is also a complex character who faces many problems as a result of her memory defect which prevents her from attending school and forming friendships. The confidence she acquires through her encounters with Renji is heartening and the strides that she makes as an individual are bolstering since the triumph of a person’s spirit over their adversity is beautifully portrayed. Hiro is at first sight the quintessential exponent of indecisiveness and disorientation as he struggles with both his personal and working life. Eventually, Hiro begins to shatter the shackles of tentativeness and is able to assuage the conflict between his love for Miyako and his friendship with Kei. This transformation demonstrates how potentially damaging mind-sets can be eradicated and that through meaningful introspection, one can truly harness an ordered view of life that is bereft of confusion. The character development that takes place over the course of the series is exceptional through its accurate reflection of human beings in general. The supporting cast, which includes the mysteriously inner-directed Yuu Himura and the hard- working Kyosuke Tsutsumi, provides plenty of diversity to the series and ensures that the viewer will almost certainly find at least a fragment of themselves in the series.
The pulchritudinous artwork distinguishes “Ef: A Tale of Memories” from other anime series as the viewer is given the pleasure of witnessing a visual tour de force with few equals. Many colour contrasts, silhouettes, angles from which the characters are shown and background abstractions are utilised to give rise to a series with a singularly stylish presentation. The soundtrack is masterful in that it exquisitely accompanies the more riveting and significant aspects of the series to ensure that they are cemented within the viewer’s memories.
The meticulous attention to detail that the series “Ef: A Tale of Memories” placed in presenting the story, crafting the artwork and depicting richly pragmatic characters is commendable in that it has given rise to an entity with few flaws. It is the accuracy of its depiction of human beings that enables this series to supersede convention and establish itself as a singular and distinctive series that serves as a recognisable benchmark for future anime.
