Time Travel Anime 'Steins;Gate' Is a Flawed Masterpiece

I seldom watch and review anime series that were released in past years and are no longer ongoing.   I only do so when there’s much “must-see” vibes going for it, making it seems like it’s very rewarding and I’m missing out on something of extreme significance.  Such is the case with Steins;Gate, which caught my interest because it popped up in many “best anime series” lists I read.  So I checked it out.  And I loved it!

There’s actually also a Steins;Gate film, which picks up the story after the anime series.  I haven’t seen it yet; I immediately jumped into writing this.  Of course, I will watch and review the movie, too.  But for now, let me first review the anime series.

Based on a visual novel of the same name, it’s set in the year 2010 in Akihabara, Tokyo, and is about a group of teenagers who accidentally invented a time machine out of a microwave oven and a cell phone.  

The main character is Rintarō “Okarin” Okabe (Lab Member No. 001), a self-proclaimed mad scientist who even committed to adopt an arrogant, delusional, and paranoid personality for himself to act out the role.  Along with his friends – the adorable, innocent, simple-minded Mayuri Shiina (Lab Member No. 002) and pervy-ish otaku super-hacker Itaru “Daru” Hashida (No. 003) – he runs the so-called “Future Garget Laboratory” in an apartment.  While conducting experiments with their latest “future gadget”, the “Phonewave”, they discover that they can send texts to the past – “D-mails”, as they later name them – and alter the reality of their present.

Soon afterwards, the “Future Gadget Laboratory” begins to increase in members – made up of old and new friends of theirs – in order to work on the project or to send a D-mail.  No. 004 is Kurisu Makise, a genius who, despite her young age, has already been published and has gained much recognition in the scientific community, creating a rift between her and her jealous, resentful father.  Okabe refers to her as his “assistant”, much to her annoyance.  The two of them often bicker and butt heads, though they also become effective collaborators and confidants.

The other new lab members are: Moeka Kiryū (005), a quiet, severely socially inept girl that can only comfortably communicate through text; Luka Urushibara (006), a boy that dresses up like a girl, and is usually mistaken as such because he’s so perfectly feminine in appearance; Rumiho Akiha a.k.a. Faris Nyannyan (007), a famous cosplayer who’s born in a rich family; and Suzuha Amane (008), a part-timer working for Okabe’s landlord, who is operating a TV repair shop below his apartment.

The characters play an integral part in making Steins;Gate work.  For not only are all of them the key driving forces in moving the complex plot forward, but it’s only when you get to deeply care for them and their interactions that the whole series becomes tremendously moving and investing.

But to be honest, I didn’t immediately like it.  It was only once I was finished with it – 24 episodes plus an important OVA epilogue – that it dawned on me how awesome and worthwhile what I had just seen.  By then, everything adds up.  But during its first episodes, it’s actually a bit tedious, confusing, and unimpressive.  The first half is entertaining enough, but it doesn’t feel special.  However, it gradually builds the intrigue, while it carefully sets up its time travel logic and conveniences; subtly introduces impending, nefarious threats in the background; and – more importantly (see previous paragraph) – fleshes out and develops its quirky, interesting characters.  Then, by its midway point, it will deliver a huge blow to your gut, changing completely the tone of the series.  While the first half of the series is mostly a breezy, slow-paced comedy, the second half is an addicting, poignant, high-stakes thriller that has brilliant revelations, a good deal of tragedy, and a cathartic climax.  A surprisingly impactful, heart-rending love story is thrown in, too.

If there is one weak point about this anime, it’s the animation.  It’s by no means bad or even mediocre.  It’s solid; it’s not even really a “weak point.”  But, it’s just that, it’s simply not one of those anime that will leave a lasting impression because of striking visuals.  However, one notable detail about its animation is it makes some interesting stylistic choices to match the mood or intention of the narrative.

Nevertheless, though Steins;Gate isn’t flawless, for me, it has ample value that makes it worthy to be considered an anime masterpiece.