A Place Further Than the Universe

Ever since high school girl Shirase Kobuchizawa's mother disappeared during an expedition in Antarctica she has saved up so that she can visit that frozen continent. She meets fellow student Mari Tamaki, who is determined to do something with her life but can't decide what... inevitably it isn't long before she too wants to go to Antarctica. Later they are joined in their goal by Hinata Miyake and Yuzuki Shiraishi. After some time trying to get on an expedition they finally succeed and head south; first flying to Singapore then on to Australia where they board the ship to Antarctica.

There are plenty of anime series about groups of ordinary school girls doing various things together; as far as activities go heading to Antarctica is one of the more unusual! The series could easily have been silly but actually it was a highlight of the season. The characters are likeable and their motives for wanting to go to Antarctica nicely varied. Shirase's motive leads to some fairly emotional moments as it is fairly obvious that her mother must have died. The story is well paced with much of its run time dedicated to the girl's attempts to get on an expedition. There is a nice blend of comedy and drama and likeable characters. The animation is pretty good with distinctive characters and impressive backgrounds. Overall I'd recommend this to fans of school girl dramas looking for something a little different.

These comments are based on watching the series in Japanese with English subtitles.

In all honesty, wholesome is the perfect word to describe this anime series. It was really nice to watch in my free time and more of a "slice of life" anime. I thought the art style was captivating and cute as well. Although, I feel like I do need to point out that it isn't the best I've ever watched and I occasionally stopped throughout just because it wasn't always my go to since at some points it gets just a tiny bit boring, hence why it isn't a ten. Overall, this anime was great! It almost made me cry, it made me chuckle, like I said, just perfectly wholesome.

Any anime that can make me feel things is automatically a few steps above the rest in my opinion. The visuals are really top notch, the music is impressive, and the story is amazing. The only reason this doesn't get a 10 is because I usually reserve 10s for something that revolutionizes anime or is just SO incredibly good that if anyone suggested it is something other than a 10 I would argue with them until they saw things my way. Overall, an amazing show, you WILL NOT regret watching this. That is a promise.

Jumped into this not knowing what to expect and ended up getting hooked on the journey of these girls aiming to reach Antarctica. It's more than just an adventure; it's about breaking free from your comfort zone and chasing your dreams, which is pretty inspiring. The way each character has their own reasons and fears, but still pushes forward, makes the story relatable and the group dynamic interesting. Plus, the animation when they showcase the landscapes and the harsh beauty of Antarctica is seriously cool, adding a whole new level to the experience.

But while the concept and the character development are top-notch, there were times when the pacing felt off, like some episodes dragged on longer than they needed to. It's a 7/10 for me because, despite these slower moments, the overall message and the emotional highs make it worth watching. The anime does a great job at mixing light-hearted moments with serious themes, making you laugh one minute and reflect the next. It's definitely a unique take on the slice-of-life genre, showing that sometimes, the most extraordinary adventures can come from the simplest desires.

It starts with a story of a high school girl and how she wanted to do more while she was young. On the path to going somewhere new she meets new people that end up being the best of friends. A story of friendship on a journey to a place further than the universe.