Beyond the Boundary

Have you ever loved someone, romantically or platonically, but felt that the two of you just weren’t meant to be? Perhaps the two of you are from completely different worlds or were the natural opposites of each other, so there was always something wedged in between you. You may have been determined to somehow bridge the gap and come together, even if there were costs to be paid. Human relationships are seldom easy, so you’re not alone when it comes to such feelings. There are many anime that address such dilemmas, but the following series is special in many ways.

”Beyond the Boundary," also known as “Kyokai no Kanata," is a 12-episode TV anime series that aired from the 3rd of October until the 19th of December in fall 2013. Sentai Filmworks obtained the license, Lantis, Pony Canyon, and TBS produced it, and Studio Kyoto Animation brought it to life.

The main staff behind it includes Nakamura Shinichi, Saitou Shigeru, and Senami Riri as producers, and Takanashi Mai as an assistant producer. Featuring the genres of action and fantasy alongside the main theme, it received a rating of PG-13 for teenagers 13 years of age or older. Each episode runs for a total of 24 minutes.

The series is based on the source Light Novel of the same name, covering the storyline of the first two volumes. In addition to being simulcast on Crunchyroll, it had licenses from Sentai Filmworks in North America, Hanabee in Australia, and Animatsu Entertainment in the United Kingdom.

The Kyokai no Kanata Light Novel ran for a total of three volumes from the 9th of June 2012 up until the 2nd of October 2013, but is currently on hiatus and is not serialized anywhere. It features the genres of fantasy, slice of life, and supernatural, and is the work of author Torii Nagomu and artist Kamoi Tomoyo.

They even released a Kyoto Animation commercial for the light novel titled “Kyoto Animation CM: Megane-hen” on May 21, 2012. A 5-episode ONA series titled “Beyond the Boundary: Idol Trial!” was released between November 2013 and July 2014 and featured chibi idol versions of the characters. A seven-episode special series titled “Kyoukai no Kanata: Mini Gekijou" was released in 2014 and ran for five minutes each. A single prequel special episode titled “Kyoukai no Kanata: Shinonome” (Beyond the Boundary: Daybreak) was also released in July 2014 and featured events three years prior to the main series.

A summary was released in the form of a recap movie titled “Kyoukai no Kanata Movie 1: I'll Be Here - Kako-hen” (Beyond the Boundary: I'll Be Here - Past) in March 2015, followed by “Kyoukai no Kanata Movie 2: I'll Be Here - Mirai-hen” (Beyond the Boundary: I'll Be Here - Future) in April 2015, which acts as both the second part of the first movie and series sequel.

The story centers around protagonist Mirai Kuriyama, who is the only survivor of a Spirit World Warriors Clan possessing the power to use their own blood as weapons. Thanks to her lineage, she is duty-bound to hunt down and kill beings known as "youmu," creatures said to be the very manifestation of negative human emotions.

One fateful day, while engrossed in deep thought atop the school roof, she meets co-protagonist Akihito Kanbara, and he just happens to be a very rare half-breed youmu in human form. Thrown into immediate panic, she plunges her Blood Saber into him and realizes that he's actually immortal. Henceforth, the duo form an impromptu friendship where she is constantly trying to kill him in hopes of boosting her own wavering confidence as a Spirit World Warrior.

While the arrangement isn’t the best for him, Akihito manages to convince her to join the school’s Literary Club, where two more powerful Spirit World warriors exist: Hiroomi Nase and Mitsuki Nase. Throughout their misadventures, the group's bonds grow stronger, but so does the threat posed by the youmu surrounding them. Before long, they find themselves in the middle of a fight for survival as an inevitable danger draws closer to them: the release of the most powerful youmu, Beyond the Boundary!

Naturally, the plot focuses on Akihito and Mirai, the heavy burdens they carry, and their unique relationship. Things are awkward at first, but the two slowly grow close to each other, and their feelings bloom naturally as the series progresses. Initially, we aren’t given much information about the mystical world they live in, but the characters are very compelling, and things are generally exciting here, so it’s fine.

As viewers, we have to piece the world together from the various dialogues between the characters, which I didn’t find to be excessive or misplaced most of the time. This show takes the “show, not tell” route at the same time, but you'll likely end up confused if you don’t pay enough attention to what is both shown and said. In order to help us with that, the narrative starts off slow and lets us get well acquainted with the characters, their traits, behaviors, and even fetishes. Don’t worry, the fetishes here aren’t very weird or disturbing.

The series is presented like a Slice of Life anime at first, alongside a “villain-of-the-week” format, where the main cast deals with a youmu in one instance and focuses on character interactions in the next. They live pretty standard high school lives outside of their Spirit World business, but we can feel the tension rising with each episode. Gradually, the plot gains momentum alongside a well-balanced amount of comedy, action, drama, music, and romance. It was such a unique romance that began under the strangest of circumstances, and I genuinely loved watching the main couple just being themselves and growing closer to one another.

As the ending draws near, most of the unanswered questions are dealt with naturally, and certain hidden motivations are brought to light, revealing the built-up tension in one fell swoop as well. The conclusion does feel rushed, however, especially since the rest of the show had a slow pace. At the same time, everything got a lot more interesting too, and we can finally grasp the dire magnitude of their situation. It’s worth noting that there are some side stories that feel like filler episodes thrown into the mix, which were actually pretty entertaining but still killed the momentum of the previous effect.

While there is the occasional comedy, remember that this is mainly a drama, but the little laughs to be had along the way are enjoyable nonetheless. All of these stem from the wonderful characters, whom I grew to love pretty fast thanks to their simple but attractive designs, distinctive personalities, motivations, and roles played. These points come together to make character interactions the best thing in this show, which are hilarious or soul-touching depending on the moment. If you’re in the market for a good laugh, Episode 6 is what you need to look forward to!

As much as I liked the characters, they can be hit or miss depending on your preferences. You can rest assured that you’ll warm up to them over time because their traits compliment the others’ almost perfectly and somehow make them more endearing. Mirai initially comes across as a typical cute and small-built girl who is shy and clumsy and doesn’t seem to know what she’s doing most of the time.

By the middle of the series, however, one of her selfless acts really turns the tables and makes it easier to accept her. Akihito starts off as a normal-looking guy with a Glasses fetish but evolves into a much deeper and more likable character as we learn about his background and his actions. I loved the sibling dynamic between Hiroomi and Mitsuki, the way they complimented the main duo, and their circumstances and interactions as well.

The supporting characters aren’t as memorable and are largely ignored, but they played their parts and served to enhance each episode to some extent. I’m not a fan of how they handled the main antagonist, though, as his real motivations are never revealed and we are left with a very vague explanation. They honestly could have done more with this character and given them closure, but hey, this show isn’t perfect.

When it comes to art and animation, this is Kyoto Animation we are talking about. This department is nothing short of amazing and can even be called its strongest aspect. This is a show that mind-boggling animation enthusiasts should not miss. Almost every scene is screenshot-worthy, and many of them are beautiful enough to become your new wallpaper.

The art is gorgeous; it’s expertly colored and highly detailed, and the animation is fluid enough to keep your eyes glued to the screen, especially during the action scenes. The special effects are spot on, and as simple as the character designs are, they are very memorable and fitting. Even supporting characters are very appealing, and the emotional scenes were oozing with emotion. This department is a true visual spectacle to behold!

While the music and sound department isn't as ground-breaking as the previous one, it is certainly well done. The OSTs fit the environments and scenes perfectly while enhancing them. The opening theme is "Kyoukai no Kanata” by Minori Chihara, and the ending theme is "Daisy" by STEREO DIVE FOUNDATION, both of which suit this show well. I even liked the insert song in Episode 6, which was a nice addition to an already entertaining episode.

Beyond the Boundary starts off slow and may fail to keep your attention at first. So I recommend watching until the halfway point before deciding to drop it or not, because that's when things get good thanks to the momentum it built up. I honestly found this to be a really great anime, and the visuals alone deserve a watch from most. The story is great if you pay enough attention; the characters grow on you; the visuals are breath-taking; and it’s overall heart-touching. Highly recommended!