Reviews

Apr 13, 2019
A Place Further than the Universe is one of the most thoughtful and emotional coming of age stories of the decade, combining stunning animation, thoughtful realism, and likeable characters into an all-encompassing experience.

A Place Further than the Universe really surprised me as one of the greatest slice of life anime that I have ever seen. Most slice of life genre anime keep things simple with likeable characters, a nice setting, and certain struggles revolving around school, fitting in, or family relationships. However, A Place Further than the Universe is a step up from other efforts as through the eyes of its very well balanced cast interacting in a very grounded setting manages to reach emotional heights that I still remember to this day. In the beginning we are introduced to Mari who may be the most childish out of the group. She is easily excitable, happy, and energetic and yearns for adventure. This may be a typical personality trait but A Place Further than the Universe’s grounded story line and verisimilitude keeps her personality in check as she quickly has to learn that if she is to go on an adventure she has to mature, become responsible, and care for herself. In other words the story never accommodates Mari for her childish personality as the anime really shows how difficult it is to go to a place like Antarctica and at times, how difficult it is to evolve your personality in order to accomplish important goals. Mari’s adventure as the main protagonist is unique and enjoyable as her coming of age story and innocence drives a lot of the charm this anime has to offer. During this time we also meet Shirase, who drives most of the heavier emotions throughout the show as she wishes to follow in her mother’s footsteps by venturing to Antarctica. Shirase is more mature than most of the cast as she is reluctant to bring others along with her on her journey, though throughout most of the show she learns to depend on others for support as she learns the road to Antarctica is physically and emotionally draining especially if one is to attempt the journey alone. Her inflections and reflective personality are made even more beautifully particular as she is voice acted by the great Kana Hanazawa. While many characters around Shirase are looking at the journey as an adventure, Shirase is intensely driven by other factors and when she accomplishes her goals with the help of others around her it is extremely satisfying. While her struggles may not be the most identifiable, Shirase’s drive to heal and her arc’s eventual conclusion makes her character the most emotionally tragic aspect of the show. The other two girls Hinata and Yuzuki drive most of the more simplistic and identifiable struggles in the show revolving around friendship, fitting in, and growing up. However, A Place Further than the Universe manages to avoid the typical derivative formats of other slice of life anime by showing realistic depictions of their thoughts and personalities which avoids aggrandizing their traits. Another reason why Hinata and Yuzuki manage to be very likeable is even with these more typical traits, they are by no means one dimensional characters. Throughout the anime they both still show flashes of maturity, wisdom, and heart even supporting Shirase and Mari throughout the show. The interactions between the well-rounded cast of characters and how they comfort each other as a group throughout the show is one of the reasons why A Place Further than the Universe is such an emotionally gratifying experience.

Other than the cast, the other main reason why A Place Further than the Universe was such an intense experience is due to the amazingly detailed and well-crafted atmosphere the show manages to create. Personally, I love a good anime with a heavy and suspenseful atmosphere and A Place Further than the Universe exemplifies that feeling. The animation itself is a 9/10 as the exorbitantly detailed and colorful backdrops and lighting draw your eye in an extremely immersive fashion to further the setting and story. On top of the animation the pacing of the show is also brilliantly balanced and realistic. Many of the problems and issues the characters have to overcome are challenges that one may expect in traveling overseas. However, the realistic theme of the anime makes it all the more spectacular when our protagonists overcome these challenges as we can view them as normal and identifiable personas rather than typical hardline protagonists. The anime also manages to carry its heavy and emotional atmosphere from start to finish as it walks the happy medium between realism and suspense very well. Much of the time when we see the girls face challenges there is a sense that the anime may take a very unpredictable turn and some of the time it does. However, the anime never over reaches its grasp making for a more subtly emotional experience that allows the audience to interpret their own meaning behind the story which also elevates A Place Further than the Universe.

As much as I loved A Place Further than the Universe, it could still benefit from a few changes. While the show is one of the most grounded and realistic stories you will come across, the anime doesn’t move as fast as it probably could at times. Also, while I love the cast and Shirase’s emotional arcs, I feel the anime could have benefited from something of that nature with the other cast members as well. However, these are both subsidiary issues and they do not take away from the fact that A Place Further than the Universe is one of the most memorable and emotional slice of life anime that you could hope for. This is a must watch for anyone looking for a fulfilling and emotional experience anime.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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