If you're reading this review, you have been most likely guided by fate. After all, this gem is hidden in the vast sea of hidden gems, as if you're trying to find a certain hydrogen atom in the vast universe.
Sometimes, there are anime that people recommend to me. They were nice, I enjoyed them, and I gave them the usual 10. There are also anime that I randomly come upon which I enjoy more than those recommended to me. Island is one of those anime, but the feeling it left me is more than just enjoyment—more than just what any word can describe. Thrill? Pleasure? Entertainment? Amusement? I can't really say. Like I said before, it's the best anime ever. A score as low as a 10 will not suffice. Before I continue, this review will not include spoilers, but some plot points will be inferred based on how I'm going to describe them. Rest easy, though—I'm doing this to make anyone reading this very, very interested, sharing my ideas and feelings, supporting my statement above.
The story begins with a man who washed ashore Urashima, a habited island far from the mainland. He doesn't remember anything, not even his name, aside from his claims that he is a time traveler from the future who has a mission to save the world and a certain girl from harm. Nightfall comes and he meets Rinne Ohara, a girl singing a tune familiar to him, making him remember a specific name, which is Setsuna. Believing that to be his name, he adopts it. Rinne, however, knows another "Setsuna." Hoping the man she just met is that same Setsuna in her memories, she took him home as a servant. Setsuna, in the meantime, while trying to regain his memories, soon discovers the mysterious past and legends the island of Urashima has, and soon enough, it begins to delve into something more complicated as time goes by.
The story is very, very interesting. What happens in the early episodes is nothing like how the story progresses over time, and this story is the foremost reason why I say that this anime is the utter best. The execution at first is poor, and the pacing is very slow. However, it's not really stretched because Island does have a very magnificent development. If one were to analyze how the story goes, the "slow pace" is necessary, especially that when talking about plots where the main character's memories are gone, something like remembering it all afterwards is not something you rush into. This kind of development required the long episodes of preparation as to signify the better things that this anime has to offer. Do you plan to drop it on episode 8? Sure, it may seem that the plot should have been finally developed at that stage, but for this anime, it is still too early. Try to think of it as a lengthy exposition—you're still nowhere near the climax, and dropping it at that stage makes you miss something you should have invested more time for.
I could argue that I could have been bored while watching it, but in total honesty, I sacrificed sleep just to watch it. I don't need sleep, I need answers! When is Setsuna going to remember everything? Is Setsuna the same Setsuna who Rinne knows? What happens if he's going to remember it all? It was a rollercoaster of emotions throughout and it helped me see to it that I finish the anime. I admit that it was kind of a loli bait, but the story is not a mere CGDCT (cute girl doing cute things) or a slice of life. Like what I have been saying earlier, it has a plot—one of the best ones I have ever seen in my entire life. Considering this was directed by Keiichirou Kawaguchi who also directed Mayo Chiki, I expected some sort of ecchi scenes, but even if there was none, I am fully impressed.
The characters' personalities were as well-written as the story as well. Each of the four main characters—Rinne, Setsuna, Sara, and Karen—had their own character developments which developed quite nicely. For example, Setsuna is a kind man and continues to be kind as time passes. However, this doesn't mean that he's a flat character. What he goes through as the anime goes on is just one of the proofs that he is more than just a man with amnesia. Each of the characters have their own backgrounds that, while I admit is not that unique, blends in with the story as a whole. Think of it as ingredients for a well-cooked cuisine. The ingredients can be used on another serving, but it doesn't mean that the food will be equally delicious as the previous one—even if they share the exact same amount. Not because Setsuna is amnesiac means that he's the same as other anime amnesiacs. Karen may be your usual child with parental issues, but it doesn't mean that she's the same as other children with the exact same issues as well. That's how Island's characters blend so well together.
Once again, I admit that I was baited by the cute girls in the illustrations. That's why I say that the art is good. Not only that—the sceneries one can see on the lush and tropical island of Urashima gives off that rural aura that makes you want to take a vacation there or whatnot. The character designs are really good as well, and I must note that the studio that adapted this was very faithful to the visual novel design. Just look at Garandou Sara's large hair that resembles a tumbleweed. Is it ridiculous? Yes! But it's also has its charms that I actually loved it so much. Setsuna's character design reminds me of Kamijou Touma from Toaru Majutsu no Index, and with their similarity in personality, I don't mind it. Rinne kind of looks like a child version of Enterprise from Azur Lane and remembering Enty's famous line "OWARI DA!" hits too hard once the plot kicks in. Karen is Karen. She's also cute. That's all there is to it.
The musical themes were quite splendid as well. The opening themes and ending themes were so melodic and pleasing to the ear that I have a folder dedicated to them, and I listen to all of them on loop while doing something, because I always want to sing alongside those themes. The songs really symbolize where the plot is going. If you can understand Japanese, the better you'll understand that the songs are very meaningful and it's not just there for show. For example, the opening theme entitled "Eien no Hitotsu" and its chorus that goes in English as:
"As if you're hugging me, under the summer's light, (Natsu no hikari dakishimeru you ni)
Wherever you may be, I want you to look for me. (Doko ni itemo, watashi dake wo mitsukete)
I don't want to let go both of our hearts so true, (Hanaretakunai futatsu no kokoro ni)
Anytime this truth will always be the one that's true and that will never fade!" (Itsumade mo shinjitsu wa sou yo hitotsu dakara)
This is just my independent translation and might not be accurate because I worded it so anyone can sing it word for word, but the essence of the song is still there. It's very amazing how this song resonated the anime as a whole and still preserves the feelings one can feel about it.
The enjoyment factors I felt from this anime is not just mere enjoyment. Like how I worded my previous paragraphs, no word can describe how I felt. I am not just happy nor sad about the development, and I am really far from disappointment. I found it really enjoyable, but I can't stop crying as to how amazingly executed the scenes were. Of course, I didn't really cry like a baby, but there is something you call "post-anime depression," where I felt like any other anime became subpar as soon as I finished it. I even went as far as scoring all my anime as 9 in MAL afterwards due to how good the anime really is. But then I realized, rating 9 on anything is not me. However, even if all anime in my list is a 10, the 10 I gave Island as a score really just doesn't suit it, considering how excellent it is. I have felt post-anime depression before, such as from Shinchou Yuusha and Da Capo, but this one takes the cake. I could write an entire term paper about the amazing characteristics of this anime, and if this goes on, I feel like I'm going to create a paradox, and that's just scratching the surface of this great and wonderful masterpiece.
After this anime, I don't think anything will be as satisfactory as an anime as this one. I can continue giving 10s, but my most special 10 is for this anime, and by watching it you can understand why. Its charm is not something one could fully experience when watching episodically, but by binging it in one go. If you ever find this review, please consider this as my recommendation on how to watch it. Watch it in one go—do not let anything distract you. Finish it even if you think it's boring. After all, time will tell all secrets.
Oh yes, I haven't played the visual novel. I'm quite scared, to be perfectly honest.
