Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
ricebucket
Really glad I came across this. A slice-of-life adventure story with well written characters, great pacing, and great music! The four main girls are super likeable, unique in their own way, and brave into a big adventure that ends up being much more meaningful than anticipated. As a father of a daughter, I really hope my kid can have friendships and adventures like this.
Really glad I came across this. A slice-of-life adventure story with well written characters, great pacing, and great music! The four main girls are super likeable, unique in their own way, and brave into a big adventure that ends up being much more meaningful than anticipated. As a father of a daughter, I really hope my kid can have friendships and adventures like this.
Really glad I came across this. A slice-of-life adv…
Read at the sourceyour_123ii
Man what a journey this was.
A Place Further Than The Universe was one of the most critically acclaimed anime of 2018 and for good reason. This anime virtually has zero glaring flaws within it's writing and the stellar work that Studio Madhouse did in aspects such as animation and ost is what makes this anime that much better. But let me expand more on why that is.
We follow the mc Tamaki Mari or "Kimari" as she struggles with feeling empty due to not doing anything with her youth, already being second year and nearing graduation. It all changes when she meets Shirase whose goal is to reach Antarctica no matter what, she decides to join with her seeing how this adventure could be a way to satisfy her youth. We also get the other main casts later on and they are all good and charming in th…
Read at the sourcetyler_dbz
A Place Further Than the Universe really did not do it for me. Now, I guess in some defense, going into this anime, I'd just finished Ghost in the Shell: Standalone Complex, which is one of the best, most grounded animes I've seen in a while. So then, immediately jumping into A Place Further Than the Universe was the most tonal whiplash I think I've ever experienced in my life.
It's very anime, if that makes sense. The humor, visuals, everything seems very of its time, and this anime didn't even come out that long ago. But none of it really landed with me. I think the show relies heavily on the humor in the opening episodes to set up these characters that you'll be going on a journey with, and I didn't vibe with it at all. I think it's targeting a very specific audience of anime fandoms,…
Read at the sourceEnshourT_
Among the many incredible shows that aired during Winter 2018, A Place Further Than the Universe is without a doubt the best anime of Winter 2018 a rare masterpiece that takes a simple journey to Antarctica and transforms it into an unforgettable journey of friendship, growth, and self discovery.
- STORY: SIMPLE BUT WITH HEART
At first it sounds like a fun adventure anime about CGDCT going to Antarctica and well that's what technically happens, the journey itself is only part of the story. The story follows Mari Tamaki also known as Kimari a high school girl who feels like she is letting her youth pass by without doing anything memorable. She dreams of having an adventure but struggles with taking action because of fear and uncertainty. Her ordinary life changes when she meets Shirase Kob…
Read at the sourcemarvinarviin
A heartfelt journey about friendship and personal growth, the series follows four strangers who slowly become close friends while chasing their dreams. Its slice-of-life storytelling does a wonderful job building a genuine bond between the girls, making their journey feel personal and meaningful. Setting the story in Antarctica feels incredibly refreshing, and I loved watching them prepare for such an ambitious journey. However, once they arrive, I felt the expedition itself was rushed, with the three-month stay condensed into only a few episodes, leaving me wanting more time with their experiences there. Even so, I loved the message about taking chances, stepping outside your comfort zone, and making the most of life’s opportunities.
Read at the sourcetetravious
Sora yori mo Tooi Basho is much more than a cute-girls adventure anime; it's a heartfelt story about youth, friendship, and taking the first step toward something extraordinary. What starts as a journey to Antarctica quickly becomes an emotional and inspiring experience as four girls chase their dreams and grow closer along the way.
The chemistry between the main cast is fantastic, balancing comedy with genuinely touching moments. The series also does an excellent job of portraying the excitement and hardships of such an ambitious journey, making the adventure feel both believable and rewarding.
Beautiful visuals, memorable music, and several emotionally powerful episodes elevate the experience even further. While it may look like a typical slice-of-life at first glance, it delivers a su…
Read at the sourceVortexOfLight
Take a strong premise, some research, somewhat interesting drama… and stretch them to Antarctica. (I’m mostly joking.)
A Place Further Than the Universe immediately had my attention with an ambitious premise and enough practical research to make its narrative progression believably interesting. It undeniably captures the combination of excitement and uncertainty that makes travelling rewarding (especially when it comes from a marauding sense of self-exploration; part of its initial premise), but I found it really stretched its characters for melodrama. The lingering focus on the drama generated by four girls with mostly ordinary backgrounds felt strangely forced in light of the grand premise, making for a fun but diluted experience.
Read at the sourcesikibi
To keep it short, it’s a fun journey that is filled with a lot of heartfelt moments, well-written and relatable characters, and themes that many can relate to, such as stepping outside of your comfort zone, friendship, loss, and bittersweet impermanence. In 13 episodes, it does the most it can, and sticks the landing in a satisfying way. It has a lot of small details, such as the way the title cards for the episodes are done, along with a good art style and a very good OP and ED that fit with the theme of the anime. A Place Further Than The Universe is a great series that is inspiring in its own way, making what could have been a basic journey to Antarctica much more meaningful.
Read at the sourcem_ridley_
I hadn't thought about this anime in ages, but upon rewatching I soon remembered why I gave it a 10 back when it came out. This is one of those anime that leaves you glowing after every single episode. There are many anime that you might count as inspiring, but unlike shonen anime that get you excited to see a hero overcome a challenge, or emotional dramas that can get a good cry out of you, I would say this is THE anime that is most likely to ACTUALLY make a change in someone's life. The message to get out there and go on a journey without a plan and experience something new in your life and the way it gets across in this anime is excellent. And the infectious optimism that you catch with every episode is strong enough to inspire real change in people. It quite literally changed my life w…
Read at the sourcemeiwah
My first thought when I came across this anime was, ‘It’s just another cute girl doing cute things show, how could that be fun?’
The story is actually about Hinata, a girl who never really managed to stick with anything, until she meets Shirase, a determined girl working hard so she can search for her missing mother.
The series shows the different ways these girls chase their dreams. It’s a slice of life anime blended with powerful drama that hits you out of nowhere. The charm of these girls wanting to live life in their own way makes the story feel complete, like your favorite homemade dish...warm, heartfelt, and deeply satisfying.
Even if you don’t usually enjoy “cute girl doing cute things,” I’d encourage you to give this one a chance. You’ll realize that you can’t judge an anime jus…
Read at the sourceImpala
I don't trust earnestness. When something tries too hard to be inspirational, my default setting is to check for the trapdoor and the bag of money. So, when A Place Further Than the Universe swaggered onto the screen with its wide-eyed, pastel-colored determination to steal my heart, I crossed my arms and said, "Go on, then. Try me."
And try it did. This anime is a meticulously engineered emotional product, a factory where heartfelt moments are assembled with the precision of a Swiss watch. It's effective, I'll give it that. But you can sometimes hear the machinery whirring.
The plot follows four high school girls who decide the best use of their adolescent years is not, say, studying or developing a healthy sleep schedule, but to become stowaways on a scientific expedition to Antarctica…
Read at the source--EYEPATCH--
A Profound, Life-Affirming Journey
Years after my first watch, Sora yori mo Tooi Basho remains one of the most emotionally impactful and masterfully crafted anime I have ever seen. It’s a series that I, like many, initially misjudged. What appears on the surface to be a simple "Cute Girls Doing Cute Things" (CGDCT) adventure is, in reality, a profound 10/10 masterpiece about grief, ambition, and the courage to seize a life beyond the ordinary.
Story: 10/10
The narrative is paced to perfection. It dedicates its initial episodes to a slow, deliberate build-up, allowing you to settle in with the four protagonists and their seemingly impossible dream. As their journey to Antarctica gains momentum, the story's emotional weight grows with it. The flow is brilliant, balancing heartfelt characte…
Read at the sourceKusoBakaSenpai
A Place Further Than the Universe is one of those rare shows that feels both larger than life and deeply personal. Ostensibly, it is about a group of high school girls traveling to Antarctica. But at a deeper level, it is about courage, loss, friendship, and meaning in the void.
The pacing is commendable. It is not the case that the story ever drags, but it is not the case that it feels rushed, either. Each episode builds naturally toward the girls’ emotional and physical journey, and that is no small feat in keeping the story engaging from start to finish.
Every main character is fully fleshed out. It is not the case that each one is just an archetype, for each has her own unique insecurities, motivations, and growth. By the end, you feel like you truly know each one personally. Their c…
Read at the sourceArticaArtica
I thought I knew what was coming. Then one moment hit and I went from 0 to 100 in a single frame. It completely one-shotted me. I went from totally fine to crying hard in literally one second. The emotional precision to pull that off is crazy. I had no idea the hit was coming from that angle or with that much force.
What got me about this anime is how it shows real friendship... the actual thing where people connect over something meaningful and go through it together. It's hard to find shows that nail this feeling. Reminds you why certain human experiences matter so much. Also, I loved the girls, they're so funny and unique each one xD
Really grateful I got to experience this one...
Read at the sourceAngel3097
HAHAHAHHAHAHA I AM INSPIRED.
soundtrack, story, characters. It had all the bells and whistles of a solid and enjoyable anime. There was never a dull moment where I was like "is this over yet" and often I was cracking up because it was genuinely funny. If you watched K-ON! You'll definitely love the anime, and it puts a new twist on your typical girl group.
On top of that. You get a life lesson snuck in. A true win win.
Did I cry? A bit
Am I sad that it's ended. Hell yeah
But hey, just because it ended, doesn't mean it's less valuable.
Read at the sourceKrenZane
*Brief Review-Reflections*
~~
Fiction that gives you the uncontrollable urge to do the impossible, to move--onwards just to get rid of the itch that has long been fermenting in depressing domes, proves to the world that stories can always be something more than mere everyday pastime to distract and stunt growth. *SoraYori* is a testament that a creator's emotional sensitivity pulses deep-rooted resonance across an audience's soul, and that four Japanese high school girls taking the adventure of a lifetime on an Antarctic cruise, most importantly as youth, changes the trajectories of countless lives without exaggeration. The anime does right by the art of auspicious drama and our deliverance from pent-up inhibitions within only 13 episodes, something many artists dream of achieving. It is…
Read at the sourceAvinash1999
It has a good rating, over 8/10, and very positive reviews. I don’t understand why that is.
The story itself is really good. It’s about a high school girl (around 15–17 years old) who lost her mother in Antarctica, I think (I forgot the exact place). She wants to go there to find her.
She does everything she can — earning money at such a young age, pushing herself hard — and her determination even causes trouble for others. But she eventually gets the opportunity to join a project that allows her to go there. Along the way, she makes some friends and shares meaningful moments with them. That’s the plot.
So, why did I hate it? Why did I give it only a 6/10? Why don’t I recommend it?
Because the story progresses very slowly. Many episodes feel emotionless, boring. There's little fun, alm…
Read at the sourceMelodyOfMemory
Widely regarded as a landmark anime, one that showed that cute girls can do more than just cute things, A Place Further than the Universe feels more like a classic adventure anime than its slice-of-life predecessors, though ostensibly more realistic with its destination being Antarctica and including nods to Japan's history with the continent. Shirase, named after Japan's iconic icebreaker named after a glacier named after historic explorer Nobu Shirase, is a compelling leading lady, with her dogged determination and straight honesty being the main push for this adventure, even though she's still an impulsive teenager and thus ends up being the centre of the show's comedy, frequently ending up in situations way over her head. Her primary motivation is to find her lost mother in Antarctica,…
Read at the sourceStevenLin0626
This is not much of a review, rather a thank you letter for this anime.
I have rewatched A Place Further Than The Universe countless times at this point, and not a single time did I succeed to hold my tears. The story of a Place Further Than the Universe is quite simple at first, it is just a story of four girls embarking on their journey to Antarctica, yet it somehow manages to get me emotional every single time. A Place Further than the Universe does not have crazy plot twists or progression, it just holds on to its few core themes of friendships, dreams and ambitions, family, and pushes it to absolute perfection. Every tearjerker show needs an emotional music to support it, and A Place Further than the Universe somehow manages to have one for every episode, hitting right in my heart ev…
Read at the sourceAlien_bvmi12
This is a good anime, it's true that after watching it you will feel that this anime leaves certain impressions. However, if you want to watch this anime, YOU MUST BE IN TOP CONDITION, NOT TOO SLEEPY, NOT TOO MUCH BURDEN ON YOUR MIND, AND DON'T THINK THIS IS A SOL CGDCT ANIME, BULLSHIT. Because of the factors above, I was only able to enjoy it in the last 2 episodes. The good thing about this anime is that there are memorable moments at the end of each episode. After you watch this anime. You'll feel like you've been on a very long journey, even though the episodes aren't as long as One Piece, maybe it feels like that because they have a place to go home...
Objectively, this anime is good, but subjectively, my feelings are mixed, there are many other anime that are more memorable in my he…
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