'A Place Further than the Universe' Is as Reflective as It Is Gorgeous

Stories that explore the great importance of developing meaningful friendships, stepping out of one’s comfort zone, making the most of one’s youth, collecting experiences, and seizing the day are a dime a dozen. But A Place Further than the Universe completely succeeds in tackling these done-to-death but timeless themes in a fresh, impactful manner.

This 13-episode anime series, which ran in the first quarter of 2018, revolves around a quartet of teenage girls, each with her own unique longing and emotional baggage.  Mari Tamaki has come to the realization that her youth is wasting away as she hasn’t done anything noteworthy.  Shirase Kobuchizawa has always dreamed of going to Antarctica, and this obsession leads to her becoming the butt of ridicule in school.  Hinata Miyake, who is intellectually gifted enough to earn the luxury of dropping out of high school, wants to do something special as she has plenty of time before she takes her college entrance exam.  Yuzuki Shiraishi has been constantly busy as an actress/model since she was four, and as a result, has always been hungry for friends.  The four of them start off as strangers, but soon find themselves as earnest friends embarking on a remarkable adventure to Antarctica.

A Place Further than the Universe is like Violet Evergarden in several ways.  First of all, the former’s production quality is fantastic as well, especially the animation, which is nearly as stunning, vibrant, and well-detailed as the latter’s.  But when it comes to the score and sound design, the former seemingly has the edge (though it’s possible that it’s a case of recency bias).  The former has more humor and light-heartedness going for it, while the latter is more heart-rending.  Nevertheless, the former is a poignant, insightful drama, and at its peak points, it can bring the feels as impeccably as the latter can.

In the end, Violet Evergarden is still my choice for most touching anime of the year. But A Place Further than the Universe is a clear second.

Regardless, this anime is an absolute work of art.  The writing is outstanding.  It juggles and fleshes out its characters with exemplary competence, as it interweaves their thoughtful arcs into a profound, multi-faceted overall message.  In turn, the direction deftly optimizes its available production strengths – visuals, sound, editing, etc. – to deliver its best translation into any medium possible.  Meaning, I just can’t imagine this particular story working superbly except through the 13-episode anime series that it is.

In summary, A Place Further than the Universe is an essential viewing for anime fans.  Not only is it a triumph in a technical standpoint, but its substance will adequately inspire its audience to do some deep contemplating.