From the New World
Some anime series seem to just drop out of nowhere, leave a mindblowing impression on all viewers and then simply fade away into time, the only thing keeping them alive being the fans who can never forget them. From the New World or Shinsekai Yori is such an iconic title that just took the community by storm, no one saw it coming, and no one expected it, but it delivered something so spectacular.
Shinsekai Yori is a 25 episode TV anime series that falls under Drama, Horror, Mystery, Psychological, Sci-Fi, and Supernatural. It began airing on September 29th, 2012, and went on until March 23rd, 2013, as a Fall 2012 anime. Aniplex produced it, TV Asahi and Pony Canyon, Licensed by Sentai Filmworks and brought to life by Studio A-1 Pictures.
The source material for the series is the Novel. Thus the adaptation is from both the seven Volume Manga series by Author Kishi Yusuke and Artist Oikawa Tooru of the same title and the two-volume Light Novel titled “Shin Sekai Yori.” Don’t let appearances and initial impressions fool you; the series is rated R - 17+ for audiences above 17 for its violence & profanity.
The main staff behind the series are Producer Ochikoshi Tomonori; Sound Director Motoyama Satoshi; Director, Episode Director, Storyboard and Animation Director Ishihama Masashi; and Episode Director and Storyboard Yaginuma Kazuyoshi.
The story looks at the peculiar town of Kamisu 66, where protagonist Saki Watanabe had just awakened to her psychic powers at the age of 12 years. She is finally so relieved to rejoin her friends at the Sage Academy, a special school for psychics. Her friends include the mischievous Satoru Asahina, the shy Mamoru Itou, the cheerful Maria Akizuki, and a mysterious boy whom Saki admires named Shun Aonuma.
It sounds like a nice, heartfelt story is about to begin at Sage Academy, but of course, their journey isn’t going to be as simple. Slowly but surely, unease begins to loom as Saki begins to question the fate of those unable to awaken to their powers. This question would eventually lead these children to get tangled up and involved in secretive matters such as the rumored Tainted Cats, said to abduct children. There is no going back, and this was the beginning of their ultimate fate.
Thus Shinsekai Yori tells the unique coming-of-age story of Saki and her friends as they tirelessly journey to grow into their roles within the supposed utopia.
Accepting these roles will be a gigantic feat, however, and might prove extremely difficult when faced with the dark and shocking truths of their society. The impending havoc born from the new world is inevitable, and the main cast of characters needs to face it head-on.
Almost no one would decide to watch Shinsekai Yori of their own accord; it simply looks too bland and uneventful from its cover. But for those select few who gave it a try and got a face full of its genius, this is a must-recommend series.
The promotional picture itself does not amount to much, and they did a lousy job of selling this anime, and even the premise seems pretty dull and generic. Even though it wasn’t put out well, it worked thanks to a few people who tried it and told everyone they knew of its magnificence.
In the end, the series was very successful, after all, through an indirect and wayward way. After finishing the anime, it is a given that this is a true spectacle of a series, a natural diamond in the rough. All it asks is that you give it a chance and watch till the end.
The story takes place in a future Japan, a thousand years from the present time. The focus is on a particular utopia where only a portion of the population possesses a unique power termed psychokinesis. From the onset, the story follows the peculiar group of five children as they steadily grow up and develop within their bizarre community bound by stringent rules.
Their decisions will ultimately alter the course of their lives and that of the entire society they dwell in. The plot flows very cleanly and nicely from one episode to the next as it creepily approaches the climax. Be prepared for the massive plot twist, though, as the storyline greatly divulges from that point, flipping the very foundations of the series upside down in a way no one saw coming.
The characters of Shinsekai Yori are true masterpieces, especially with Saki taking center stage as the most brilliant star. All the main characters start in the series as mere ignorant children, but by the end of the anime, they are all full-fledged adults, topped with a proper illustration of splendid character development.
Not every anime can portray this transformation very well, and it's no easy feat to pull it off well, esp[ecially within the span of one single season. Shinsekai Yori did this, though, in an absolutely brilliant way that it does not seem forced or rushed in any way. Realistically speaking, twenty-five anime episodes are nowhere near enough to transition children into adults along with appropriate character development.
So how this series managed is an excellent pointer for anime to come and should be appreciated. Viewers will attest that the journey was smooth, especially seen so well in Saki and Satoru, which even goes as far as to apply to the supporting characters. Not even one character will behave in one way in a particular episode and be the polar opposite of themself in the next episode; every change is well explained and portrayed naturally.
The Art and animation of Shinsekai Yori isn’t anything over the top nor breathtaking, but the quality is on par with the anime standards of its time, being clear, crisp, and pleasing to the eye. The characters and the environments in each scene are drawn to a level of great detail.
A nice balance is maintained by being not too simple and not too far into detail either. It’s just somewhere in the middle. The art style makes viewers focus on the profound message that the anime conveys. Because of this, they focus less on the “Amazing art and animation” factor.
The music and sound of Shinsekai Yori are made exceptionally well. The Opening theme is "Yuki ni Saku Hana" by Maria Akizuki (Kana Hanazawa) and the two Ending themes are "Wareta Ringo" by Saki Watanabe (Risa Taneda) and Yuki ni Saku Hana" by Maria Akizuki (Kana Hanazawa).
Every single sound that can quickly go ignored is implemented into every episode and added in just the right places, with perfect timing. This includes the eerie echoing of voices within a dim room and the rippling of water flowing from a simple stream. The Original Sound Tracks (OSTs) are impressive, especially the battle theme. It will entice even the weariest of viewers into the anime.
So how entertaining is Shinsekai Yori? In terms of sheer enjoyment, the anime does not start on a high note and continues its pace from there.
The first two episodes or so really butters the viewers up, but upon the onset of the fourth episode or so, the series will have hooked the viewers to the point that they will just watch one episode after another until they reach the climax.
Even for fans of clashing themes to that of Shinsekai Yori, like romance, comedy, and action, this anime will definitely hook even them. It is definitely worth a watch and will probably open the doors for many other anime series as well.
Overall, Shinsekai Yori is highly entertaining. People need only give it a try, and it will most probably end up being one of their favorites. It may not be so appealing at first glance, hence the “diamond in the rough'' standing, but once things start picking up, the show is set to be marathoned straight through.
Once someone finishes this anime, they can look back and realize one of the best highlights of this series is its inherent ability to take the morals and values of the world we dwell in and put them into perspective via the character we are watching, as they interact with each other and make decisions leading to critical outcomes. Just give Shinsekai Yori a try, and you will not be disappointed! It is highly recommended!
