It is my belief that Shinsekai Yori is incomparable to even the greats, the very treasures of anime jewels; this is a sparkling diamond hidden in the ruff and you will not find another like it. This fact alone should prompt anybody with critical taste and the desire to expand their mental, to watch. If you take the time to complete it, you will not be sorry for doing so and will walk away feeling fulfilled in your finalization.
The story is broken into three parts. From the beginning, we come to understand the personalities and beliefs of our main protagonists as young men and women, and through the series, as they grow and prosper, those traits glue us to them, making their struggles a thrilling treat to consume. Their ideals, their outlooks and their differing placements in this universe is the pedestal that lifts these characters to heights difficult to reach. To say that Shinsekai Yori has compelling individuals would only be an injustice to their very product. These girls and boys are strong and beautiful, exciting and easy to relate to; by the conclusion of the epic, you’ve felt like you’ve walked through a lifetime with them which solidifies any dispute that the character development in this series is almost otherworldly.
Another point I’d like to touch on is the voice acting. Usually one for subtitles only, upon first viewing, I wasn’t caught. However, when switching to the English dub, I was rewarded with some of the most beautiful and passionate acting I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing. Even our main enemy, a monster that goes by the name Squealer, has the gumption to outweigh most; with a creepy slight and hostile undertones, we’re allowed to realize, from the start, that this monster is somebody who we can’t trust. Each role perfectly embodies their characters personalities and projects them through verbalization, drawing us in and catching us on fluid words and a seamless script.
Animation wise, Shinsekai Yori is as breathtaking as it gets. Each scene oozes artistic prowess, making even more light-hearted and “dull” moments exciting to watch. At times, my breath was stolen away from stills alone. With fantastic color coordination, lighting and a sharp style, this piece isn’t anything less than a crowning jewel.
Adapted from a novel, the series has a very book-like, poetic flow in both script-writing and the events which take place. It works more like a three-part film than an episodic series. Each episode’s conclusion leaves you clinging to the edge of your seat, eager to consume the next bout of detail. Working in the show’s favor when you begin the next episode, it places you exactly where you left off so that there’s no confusion or fishing for detail on what happened last. Because this was a novel first, the series is packed with incredible detail and the ability to flesh out points that might otherwise be murky.
Though some moments are lighthearted, the series as a whole is rather conceptually disturbing. There’s not much gore to speak of, but rather compelling, psychological concepts that will leave your mind and stomach churning. Spooky and dark, Shinsekai Yori was able to keep me alert and hungry for more. Less dramatic with imagery, it leans on its viewer being a quick and smart intellectual so that it can grab you with evil intent rather than brutalizing you with scenes of characters being torn at their limbs. Perfectly used to more gory anime, Shinsekai Yori struck me in a different way, twisting my mental and breaking my heart for the characters who must endure such sadistic intent.
The soundtrack is another gorgeous element. Both eerie and jazzy, all songs seem to capture each scene, drawing you in and fixing your emotions to coincide with what the characters are experiencing in that moment. There’s this one song, marking the point of day in which each villager must return home, and simply thinking about it gives me chills. The Way Home is soft and warm, but captures the idea that something deeper is working underneath its calming chimes and warm tones.
Concluding this review, I will state that Shinsekai Yori has been my favorite anime experience. And for reasons strictly due to the surprise and horror you feel watching, I refuse to spoil anything. From the animation to the script to the character development, twisting plots, fleshed out universe and magical voice acting, this series is one in a million and I would press anybody to embark on this epic.
