Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere
“How to Dig Your Own Grave”
2011 is one of the best years in anime history. A year where the big three were airing alongside stuff like Gintama and Fate Zero, now that must've been one hell of a year. But amidst all that, a particular show didn't grab that level of attention. A show by the name of Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere, a title that only a few people have heard of even today.
But is it a bad show that deserves to be buried under the plethora of titles that have come out over the years? Absolutely not. This was the era when Sunrise was all over the place with juggernauts like Gintama and Code Geass under its belt. So, any studio adaptation was bound to turn out great. Well, that indeed holds when it comes to Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere, and I'm here today to walk you through what this show is all about! Let's dive right in!
It's a story that's too convoluted for its own good.
What often ends up killing a series is something of its own doing. Whether it’s the story, the bad pacing, or even worse characters, you never know what might spell the demise of a series, no matter how long it’s been in circulation. But Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere takes it up a notch with a story and a setting that's bound to make you look up some YouTube channels and websites for a proper explanation.
The concept of the Earth becoming uninhabited because of unlivable conditions wasn't new, even 15 years ago. However, upon returning to Earth, humans will discover that only Japan is habitable.
So, to accommodate the masses, pocket dimensions were created all around Japan, where these people live. But things are a mess, and to relive those glory days again, it's been decided that the “Holy Book Testament” will be followed to recreate human history.
That sounds like a dumb idea, but trust me, the anime makes it work for the most part. But by the time 1413 arrived, people living in the pocket dimensions decided to conquer Japan and make the whole feudal warring states era a reality once again.
Now it's 1648, and the previous inhabitants of Japan live aboard Musashi, a city ship that constantly makes rounds around Japan while being under the surveillance of the Testament Union. This is the same authority that manages the whole re-enactment of history that was mentioned earlier.
But things worsened for almost everyone after the Testament Union refused to declare what was to be done after 1648. This is when our protagonist, Aoi Toori from the Musashi Ariadust Academy, leads his fellow brave soldiers to reclaim their long-lost homeland.
I know this didn't make sense for many of you, and even after watching the anime, that won't change. Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere is just one of those shows that requires repeated viewing, so keep that in mind while you're getting into it.
It will have you lost at the very beginning.
This was a thing back in the day, building up the premise for the first couple of episodes, even more if you're a shonen anime. The first ten episodes of a series like Gintama or Steins;Gate must establish the plot. The same holds for Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere.
Now, that's enough to brush away half of the audience even more when you take the modern ADHD-driven Gen Z. But don't let this make you drop the series. If you're patient, you'll be rewarded since it's one of the most different anime out there.
The story sets it apart from almost any kind of show that you've watched, and some of the characters are great, to be honest. Sadly, it's never seen the light of day in over a decade, but I've come across series fans who stood by it through thick and thin.
The light novel that the anime is based on has finished. It had a more than decade-long run back in 2018, and it's hard to go for more than ten years if you're not a series. That's bad if that makes sense. Continuing the light novel is a fair choice since the story gets better after the anime adaptation, and people who enjoy watching the show want to experience that.
A mix of genres
Defining Horizon in the Middle of Nowhere as either an action or a sci-fi show wouldn't do the series any justice. It's a mix of everything. What drew me towards the series in the first place was its comedy. But the action scenes are done well, and the fantasy/sci-fi blend shines through and delivers a story that's got a bit for everyone out there.
The anime has a fair share of girls who could qualify for the not-so-coveted Ecchi tag. But for the most part, that's not a problem. It just shows how creators have started adding the fanservice element to almost every series.
The protagonist's appearance may bother some viewers—and I understand that. That smirk on his face, while he looks like someone from Clannad or Kanon, just upscaled thanks to Studio Sunrise's insane budget, makes him look anything but a main character of a rather complex series. But we've got a lot more to choose from, and one thing that's not lacking is the character department, that's for sure. Plus, the faces and names keep growing throughout the series, making it all the sweeter for you.
Fine ass music!
Okay, let's be honest here: the music is where it's at. I don't know how Sunrise always manages to make these titles have the best soundtracks, but it does. The score is well composed and fits the series throughout the different moments it features for the entirety of its runtime. Trust me, you'll be taken aback as well since expecting a good outing from a series like this is the last thing on your mind. But not everything is what it seems, as they say.
In addition to not feeling too similar to "Sunrise," the animation has this fresh quality, which is a good thing since it makes the anime stand out a lot more. Of course, the opening theme is my favorite, which isn’t me saying that the ending theme is terrible, but you be the judge yourself!
If you're a modern anime fan sick and tired of isekai titles filling every other spot on these seasonal lineups, this show is definitely for you. It's one of the most different stories, which adds to its charm. It's a fantasy/sci-fi that I'm sure everyone will like, provided they're patient enough to give it a chance and see where this takes them.
There's also a second season that aired a year later, in 2012, that really polished its mistakes and does things even better than its predecessor, so that's also a huge plus. Plus, there’s the light novel I mentioned earlier that you can easily find online. The decade-long run of chapters might keep you busy for a while.
But hey, if you liked the series, it’s better to see it through to the end, right? As for a rating, I’ll have to give it a 7.5. It executes some of the stuff really well while working on the rest in the second season, with the sequel clearly showing great improvement.
Again, I can’t emphasize enough how you must approach the show with nothing but patience since you’re bound to drop it after the first two or three episodes. That said, it’s rather apparent that I recommend checking this show out. It'll be worth your time! Heck, it’s better than most of the stuff that’s coming out right now, and me and you both know that!
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https://pinnedupink.com/blogs/random-thoughts-because-mondays-suck
https://pinnedupink.com/blogs/on-screen
https://pinnedupink.com/blogs/flashbacks
