Review of Time of Eve

Although Eve no Jikan is a work with elements of science fiction, and even uses some theories and themes about the coexistence of humans and machines in the near future, the anime actually seeks to develop this relationship in a more fanciful way with the theme – a kind of modern fantasy with futuristic elements. The first scene in which the characters are introduced to the cafeteria space, a different reality is presented to that of the opening minutes. A reality that will oppose itself in relation to the daily life, both of humans and androids. Upon entering the cafeteria, the anime exhibits a freer tone,making the viewer's perspective on the characters, conversations and situations very personal in that place.
The very exterior of the cafeteria has a somewhat enigmatic light that surrounds that place, as if indicating that there is something abnormal there. Even the corridor where the characters pass from the outside to the inside of the cafeteria also presents elements that suggest a change in realities.

Yoshiura is the director who best uses the CGI technique to his advantage. It's not that CGI used as a kind of “ornament”. Like when the anime uses it without trying to look like it's actually CGI - how some anime seems to be afraid to make it appear in the middle of 2D. Here, Yoshiura not only uses it, but shows it almost explicitly. He really takes the technique as something concrete, as part of that reality. Some spaces in the scenarios gain a kind of “fake” dimensionality, but which has a very effective purpose within this more fanciful space that the anime creates.
Another good use besides scaling the objects and characters very well in these spaces, are some camera movements and shots from a more objective perspective. One of the great strengths of using 3D in animations is being able to move the image more freely, which in 2D is a more difficult result to achieve. This camera movement that observes things, almost as if it were some kind of entity. The anime for many phases makes plans in which the spectator is placed in the vision of some character that walks through that space. This objective and personal perspective of the shot takes on greater importance in the humanization of the characters, especially when the anime makes some more subtle shots.

The human characters have a distant relationship with the androids when not inside the cafeteria. Even in the first episodes, the anime presents a mixed look of these characters with the rest of the things - because until then, they are really objects. The androids' expressions and the way they dialogue when answering a question is always with a distanced tone. This relationship is gradually being deconstructed over time.
Their relationship outside the cafeteria sometimes takes on a more melancholy and dramatic tone. In the scene of Sakisaka walking in the rain with his android, Sammy, when soon after, some people appear right in front, and he leaves her in the rain to get wet out of shame. The android's reaction is to stare at him, and then look straight ahead, but without showing sadness, anger or any emotion at that moment. It's a very strong scene, and despite being simple, it carries the weight of that character, probably hiding or really not being able to express what he feels with that act. Or in the first episode, when the two main characters come across Akito's character while still at school. The anime intersperses two shots of both looking at each other (Sakisaka and Akito), switches to a shot in which we see the character from the protagonist's subjective perspective, and then in the same shot, there is a slight upward movement that reveals a halo, indicating that the character is also an android. And once again, we see a restrained and unfeeling reaction.

Developing a human identity and feelings in machines is not really new in science fiction. However, the difference with Eve in Jikan, and perhaps with the director's entire approach, is that the concepts approached by him only serve as a ladder to something greater that is built in his works.
All this humanized construction of androids does not necessarily have such a direct involvement with scientific theories. And yes, it is true that some things are mentioned, such as the 3 laws of robotics and other theories, but all this scientific logic is in the background, and is brilliantly subverted by this fanciful structure that the anime builds.
The anime actually ends without an explanation or justification for the androids to act like ordinary people. They can actually become or come closest to being human when they are inside the cafeteria; it could be that they have feelings like humans and just repress and hide it when they're out of the cafeteria. But these explanations or truths about what happens to androids inside and outside that place, in the end, don't matter. What really matters is that Yoshiura believes in the real charm that that place presents, even if in the end, he doesn't solve the mystery about him.

This way of solving his themes and approaches in a fanciful way, even starting from some scientific and theoretical ideas, is something already used by the director previously in other of his shorts, and it remains evident in his works after Eve no Jikan. It's a dangerous way to create and approach a theme, since currently, few people still have this sensitivity to connect with works that are based on fantasy, and imagine if this relationship starts from something scientific. (Makoto Shinkai and Shinichiro Watanabe say so).