Review of A Place Further Than The Universe

I've just finished watching all the episodes and now I'm full with satisfaction. This is definitely one of great anime ever. A Japanese word 'Seishun' is a vague one. Many know a term 'Seishun' but no one can explain it. This is typical especially for teenagers, who are really in 'Seishun.' The young never understands what is 'Seishun,' eagerly hoping for enjoying it. Mari, a protagonist of this work, is one of such female high-school students. Initially she was just dreaming of enjoying 'Seishun.' Then, after a bit odd encounter with Shirase, she decided to go to the South Pole. This anime depicts how Mari, Shirase, andother two heroines, Hinata and Yuzuki went through hardships and shined in a place further than the universe ('Sora yori mo Tooi Basho.')

Yes, 'Seishun' is a kind of light. Like spark, those who are in 'Seishun' emit something bright. This fact is the main theme of this prominent anime.

Throughout the series, four protagonists intentionally or unintentionally sparked so much. They all had trouble; some had a tragic episode with the South Pole, while some had retired high-school. Though so, by, or after, deciding to making a long journey, their lives dramatically started to change as everyone got surprised.

The only difference between heroines and other mobs is whether s/he rushes into one's dream or not. Protagonists never looked back ways they had passed; they just saw their common dream. They just ran through their young ages, shining vividly.

After all, 'Seishun' is presented to those who are trying something with enthusiasm. Mari and three heroines is telling us that fact.

This anime conveys us it in various ways. Direction and photography give us how protagonists shine with much amount of metaphor: blinking city lights of night Shinjuku, aurora, and so on. Splash of waves and crystals of ice could be counted, for they reflect light effectively and just for a instance they flash, like girls in 'Seishun.'

Even the ending song tells us their brightness. Memorable introduction is consisted of a notes of keyboard. Each sound contains much brightness and lightness than the ordinal piano, which give us impression of dazzling sparkles. We have to consider why this loop of keyboards always streams throughout the entire song.

Heroines were worn glittering lights by such techniques and step by step they solved their own problems, leading by the shine of 'Seishun.' Each episode has both comical conversations and a moving end. Every time we finish one of episodes we feel something warm in our heart. Watching over heroines' growing, we remember our young days and seize what is 'Seishun' without any word.

A work which tells us what we cannot explain verbally has tremendous value. In this sense, 'Sora yori mo Tooi Basho' is a genuine art; it is a masterpiece in today's anime culture. We should celebrate this rare appearance of the work, and praise excellent staffs of MadHouse, the studio.