Let’s Visit Antarctica! Why You Should Be Watching “A Place Further Than the Universe”!

The current season of anime is chock-full of incredible shows like we would’ve never imagined. From meme-y, four-koma “Pop Team Epic” to mechs in “Darling in the Franx”, there are so many options to choose from that it may be hard to decide what else you need to watch! However, I am here once again to recommend to you a show that is not only full of talented voice acting and art, but also a story that will tug at your heartstrings along the journey!

“A Place Further Than the Universe” is a show published by Kadokawa Pictures who publish incredible shows like “Konosuba”, “Kancolle”, “New Game!”, “Saga of Tanya the Evil”, and more! Most importantly, it’s a Madhouse show and therefore it has the budget to be absolutely gorgeous. It definitely lives up to the big budget with the fluid and expressive animation and the voice acting talent of Iori Minase, Kana Hanazawa, Yuka Iguchi, and Saori Hayami. While those factors alone can create a good show, it’s really the setting, story, and writing that I want to rave about!

Mari Takami is already in her second year of high school when she realizes that she has remained a timid dreamer for far too long. Her complacency has caught up to her and she fears that the best years of her life will amount to absolutely nothing! When she meets Shirase Kobuchizawa, however, she makes a plan to journey to the far ends of the earth with the serious and passionate girl and finally complete something great in these fleeting teenage years. Antarctica is now the goal, but getting the permission from school, parents, the adult crew of the expedition, and raising the money are the first major steps to going on this journey. 

Throughout the first few episodes we get to understand that Shirase has been mocked for her dreams of going to Antarctica so young. We get to see the hardworking nature of Mari as she gets her first part time job and her kindness as she continues to encourage Shirase that she is, in fact, going to go with her on this expedition. We are introduced to Hinata Miyake, the energetic and passionate goofball who also works with Mari at the convenience store. Yuzuki Shiraishi, a young entertainer who has to start her career with a trip to Antarctica, also make the acquaintance of this group of girls and decides to join them and complete her work that she has been asked to do.

Each girl has very different qualities that end up being essential to being part of a good cohesive team when it comes to the travel ahead. Hinata, my personal favorite, tends to be incredibly energetic and has a “Type B” personality, but this comes in handy when the girls get overly passionate and need to be stopped to think about their position. Mari is hardworking and encouraging, where Shirase is passionate and strong-headed. Even Yuzuki, originally not enthralled by the idea of going on the trip, finds a place in the group that she proves to be helpful. When it’s time for them to all depart, the friendship that has begun to form really begins to grow.

Throughout the story the girls have already dealt with feelings of inadequacy, jealousy, fear of the unknown, and the drive to do something so early on in their lives. This anime is a really inspiring story with bittersweet tones in each episode that will make any person want to set and accomplish a major goal! Even if you are just here to support Madhouse in their endeavors to create the most aesthetically appealing and talent-packed anime of all time, you will still find that this show has something that you can personally relate to. If you have missed out on watching this gem, do not worry because Crunchyroll, once again, has you covered! Please check this show out and realize your own huge life dreams!

-Swittx

http://www.crunchyroll.com/a-place-further-than-the-universe