A Place Further Than the Universe

This may just be the most wholesome anime I've yet to see. I thought the premise was a bit silly or cheesy at first but boy does it end up hitting close to home. Give it a shot and you won't be disappointed!

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.

If I were to describe a place further than the universe in one word, I would probably use the word "wholesome". All it took was 4 girls from different backgrounds and story wanting to something amazing in their life. Nothing extraordinary, just cute girls doing amazing things and that is what attracted me. I first came across this anime when I was watching one of Gigguk's video and he highly recommend this anime to every viewer. At first, I thought that is this anime that special? All I see was an ordinary anime and it turns out I was wrong. From the moment I started watching, I was deeply immersed within the storyline. The character development of every character was extraordinary, bringing out the characteristics of each individual while hinting the obstacles that were preventing them from moving forward. Challenges such as avoiding challenges, seeking the true meaning of friendship and trust were all well developed throughout the series while maintaining the "moe" element of the characters. Throughout the series, I admired the staff that worked on the sceneries and the places that were involved in the anime. Small things such as Merlion, durian and details that we did not know about the Antarctica were well described in the series, which shows the viewers that the research team behind the scene did their research. The seiyuu for the series was also spot on as the voice actors that were chosen for each role were able to bring the characters to life, adding their personality into it as well. The songs for the opening and closing also carries meaningful meanings and the song that impressed me the most was the filler song "one step" that describes the girls marching towards their goal one step at a time. Last but not least, I have learned a lot throughout this anime in terms of determination, never give up and courage. The determination that the characters showed in the anime proved to me that nothing is impossible as long as you are determined to do it. Who cares if we are strangers, who cares if everyone in the world rejects us, as long as we are here, in the end we will always reach the destination that we always desired, even reaching out to a place further than the universe, hence the title for the anime "a place further than the universe" gave a different vibe to the series itself. I totally recommend this anime if you are into slice of life anime and trust me, you will never regret every second of the show. 10/10 is the score I am giving to this masterpiece! Let's go on another journey someday and hope for more shows like this to come out in the future!

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.