“To Your Eternity” review
Every once in a while, there is an anime that somehow manages to leave a strong emotional impression right from the start, with just it’s first episode… and “Fumetsu no Anata e (To Your Eternity)” happens to be one of those anime.
Adapted from the manga of the same name, this story is written by Yoshitoki Ooima. You may have heard of her, she is also well known for the movie adaption of her most prominent manga, “A Silent Voice.”
And just like how “A silent voice” was sad and bittersweet, both in its premise and in its execution, the same is the case with Fumetsu no anata e. But what makes the latter so exceptional is the odd yet fascinating premise, and the element of both adventure and mystery.
We are shown the essence of going on a harsh journey in a cold and seemingly mundane land, and this journey begins and ends in a single episode. The reality of the situation, the dilemma of losing every bit of hope, and the complexity of living in a land of endless white.
The narrative does an excellent job of getting everything right, and it just continues to remain so.
There are so many genuinely good reasons why everyone should watch this ongoing anime, not only is it a sequence of emotionally devastating dilemmas, the unusual premise and its execution also arouse curiosity.
It is a story that can be enjoyed by a diverse audience.
Now, since this post is going to be a review, we’ll try our best not to spoil those who haven’t watched it yet.
The premise is simple, yet very extraordinary.
The story begins with the depiction of an immortal being who is capable of taking the shape of anyone or anything that has a strong core of energy. So, if there is another thing or being that is stimulating enough, this orb will literally take the shape and consciousness of that specific thing or being.
As the narrator put it, the story begins like this,
“At first, It is a sphere.
Then, It imitates the form of a rock.
As the temperature drops and snow falls atop the moss, It inherits the moss.
When an injured, lone wolf comes limping by and lays down to die, It takes on the form of the animal.
Finally, It gains consciousness and begins to traverse the empty tundra until It meets a boy.”
To put this into perspective, this is the story of an immortal existence that could never feel anything and could never think anything before it eventually could. It comes across different stimulating enough things and always continues to evolve into something more than it ever was.
Sooner than later, it lands on earth, and this is the initial starting point of the story.
Imagine the emerge of emotions in a being that has always been both emotionless and lifeless. The moment when it becomes conscious, the act of breathing, experiencing pain for the very first time, feeling pleasure for the very first time, it’s all dreamlike.
The acts of eating, thinking, walking, visualizing, as it all goes on, the orb continues to experience the odd yet surreal nature of life. And of course, this is not all, because life is a lot more than the simple acts of breathing and eating. The moment this really starts to emotionally resonate is when it experiences sadness and sympathy.
Still, it all goes on.
In all honestly, just the first episode of this engrossing series would’ve worked just fine as a standalone, it is by itself, a masterpiece, so even if this was just a 20 minute long movie that left the viewers with nothing but that feeling of awe and ambiguity at the end, it would have still left the same kind of impression on the viewers.
And yet, it all goes on.
The premise itself is indeed very fascinating, and anyone who enjoys unusual emotional drama, this one’s definitely your cup of tea.
But of course, the premise isn’t all there is to a story, it’s the execution and the characters that often matter more.
Well, even though we are only four episodes into the story, as of the moment we are writing this article.
And even though not every episode is as remarkable as the first one, the story by itself still continues without losing its flare, and it’s not just about manipulating the emotions of the viewers either.
It’s the depth of the journey of an alien creature that gradually finds its place on Earth and begins to experience the reality of life. Slowly but surely, its consciousness elevates, and it begins to experience that feeling of temporary euphoria as it becomes aware of the intrinsic emotions of a natural living being.
Not to mention, the protagonist may very well be a supernatural creature, but the main setting of the story remains realistic, and the first episode explores this aspect in a pretty honest manner.
The vague depictions of ideas like loneliness, family, and those you love, it is all there, and it is one of the factors that make the first episode such an emotional dilemma. The idea of hope suddenly disappearing is just too much to take.
It is all shown in a devastatingly straightforward manner.
What makes “Fumetsu no Anata e” shine so much is not superficial cliches or the idea of catering to fans by the overuse of fanservice, it’s because its genuinely good and it was able to stand out on that fact alone.
The anime is going to be 20 episodes long, and the manga is ongoing for almost five years, so if you decide to pick up this series, you will have a lot to look forward to.
As it stands, it is still too early to label it as a masterpiece, considering how the grander narrative of the story is still in its earliest stages. But the first episode was indeed a masterpiece.
There you go, this was a short review of the most prominent new anime, “Fumetsu no Anata e.”
Just give it a shot, you won’t regret it!
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