Title: Shinsekai Yori (From the New World) Studio: A-1 Pictures Genre: Sci-Fi Release: Sept. 29
Premise: Based on the popular 2008 novel by Yusuke Kishi. 1000 years in the future, a group of children with psychic abilities lives in relative tranquility in a remote village. However, they are soon set on a path of mystery and intrigue that will lead to the discovery of a terrible secret about their seemingly peaceful world.
Initial Thoughts: Seems like a no-brainer. The trailers that I have been watching for months have shown a rich, lovingly animated world that I find myself eager to explore. The studio, A-1 Pictures, is known to deliver, having worked on everything from sports anime like Big Windup! to dramas like Anohana and this summer's excellent sci-fi actioner Sword Art Online. Practically without fail, I care about their characters, savor their fluid animation, and suffer weekly as I wait for each episode to air. But the cherry on top has to be the talented (and beautiful) seiyuu Kana Hanazawa, who has voiced a character in at least one of my favorite animes each year for the last 3 years or so. Let's hope all parties involved can continue their excellence...
Post-Credits Verdict: Wow - doesn't seem like A-1 has lost any of their magic yet. They kick the episode off with a little prologue that grabs your attention - in present-day Japan, random people begin displaying Akira-like abilities and popping people around them like water balloons. Fast-forward a thousand years, and the world of tomorrow seems to have regressed to an almost feudal state. The physical environment and manner of dress are both quite old-fashioned (think Edo Period or earlier), and the prevalence of shrines and traditional rituals is quite pronounced.
The protagonist, Saki Watanabe, is part of a circle of preteen friends who have developed psychic abilities (referred to as "the spirit of adulthood" in the show). When these abilities emerge, they graduate from "Wakien," a school for children, and gain entrance into "Zenji," a sort of special prep academy for these gifted individuals. Saki's own powers have only recently awakened, allowing her to join the rest of her friends at Zenji. But unsettling occurrences, like her parents excessive relief at her powers developing and rumors of children "disappearing" before they could graduate from Wakien, have Saki feeling a bit on edge.
By episode's end it is clear that there's something sinister going on here, but for now director Masashi Ishihama seems content to let us squirm and speculate until next week. I for one will be certain to tune in.
