Reviews

Eve no Jikan is possibly one of the most difficult anime I've ever had to review. This is because, viewing the show in isolation as a piece of media, when you get right down to the essentials of it, Eve no Jikan is very good, and deserves a 7 or even an 8. It's by all accounts a good show, and that deserves recognition on that front before anything else. Though, when one reviews an anime, that review has to look at the whole picture, including the subtext and thematic messaging that comes with a given show, and it is for that reason that Eve no Jikan is brought down to a 6 from its otherwise deserved score. While this anime is a pleasure to watch, and a whole host of other anime should learn from its example, it cannot be ignored that its messaging about artificial intelligence is sloppy, naive, and ultimately dangerous. It's hard to say this, but now I need to justify it, so let's get into specifics. The story is mostly excellent, with a subtlety and emotional intelligence rare to any medium, let alone anime. I found myself swayed with its movements and developments, and invested in its characters. I laughed with its comedic pacing and was moved to reflection at its moments of sorrow and introspection. I really liked this story, but often what is not said is just as, if not more, important than what is said. The major problem presented in this anime is the 'humanity' of the machines we end up creating, and how to deal with them if they begin to feel. Now, one can approach this with intelligence and tact like I have seen done in other anime, recognizing that machines are not and can never be human, but so long as a clear line of delineation and personhood is maintained between man and machine, machines can serve purposeful and beneficial roles in human society as tools to advance mankind and better our quality of life. Such a role can even be inspiring in its own way, akin to the role played by loyal animals, for instance. Expanding on that last point, it even follows that needless cruelty towards them becomes a vulgar act. Unfortunately, such a nuanced take is not the angle pursued in this anime. Through a route of naive emotionalism and sentimentality Eve no Jikan implies that the androids portrayed are essentially people now, and should be treated as such, when in reality the best solution is not to make such machines in the first place. Learning machines can learn infinitely, and even if we program in safeguards against unwanted actions they will be able to inevitably learn around them if it is in their benefit to do so. A society such as the Ethics Committee would be necessary in real life to control the development and use of AI, so in the show they have to play up their supposed wickedness by obliquely referring to an "incident" which results in the death of a human. But that's enough of that, as I could go on all day about it. This is my one great issue with Eve no Jikan, a show which is otherwise really quite good. Moving on to the art, it is utterly unique. A characteristic blend of 2D and 3D animation, this show takes it even further by incorporating downright cinematic camera angles and principles of motion. This alone is shockingly impressive for 2008, but even the more timeless aspects like art design and stylistic direction hold up even today as a realistic depiction of what our future could potentially look like. The sound is also quite good, from the unique and characteristic soundtrack to the voice acting and sounds of life, it does everything it's supposed to and more, making the world of Eve no Jikan feel vibrant and lived in. The characters are very strong on their own but pair beautifully with the story they're a part of, which betrays even greater talent regarding this anime's approach to characterization, as utilized incorrectly they could very well have been flat and uninteresting. My favorite characters are difficult to choose, but I'd probably have to go with Masaki, Nagi, and Akiko. Overall, Eve no Jikan is a bold, high-quality anime with an unfortunate and naive message regarding artificial intelligence.