Introduction
Shuuzou "Shuu" Matsutani lives his ordinary life in peace. He has friends, a crush, and a passion for kendo. Dejected after losing to his kendo rival, Shuu climbs a smokestack to watch the sunset where he finds Lala-Ru, a quiet, blue-haired girl wearing a strange pendant. Shuu attempts to befriend her, despite her uninterested, bland responses.
However, his hopes are crushed when a woman, accompanied by two serpentine machines, appear out of thin air with one goal in mind: capture Lala-Ru. Shuu, bull-headed as he is, tries to save his new friend from her kidnappers and is transported to a desert world, unlike anything he has ever seen before. Yet, despite the circumstances, Shuu only thinks of saving Lala-Ru, until he is thoroughly beaten up by some soldiers. As he soon finds out, Lala-Ru can manipulate water and her pendant is the source from which she is able to bring forth the liquid, a scarce commodity in his new environment. But now, the pendant is lost, and Shuu is the prime suspect.
Ima, Soko ni Iru Boku is the haunting story of a dystopian world, and of Shuu, who has to endure torture, hunger, and the horrors of war in order to save the lonely girl he found sitting atop a smokestack.
[Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
Vezen
This is a fairly cohesive work, both from an emotional standpoint and a narrative one. Even now, nearly 30 years after its release, it still holds up well and even appears original once again against the backdrop of the modern, uniform direction of anime development. Yet at the same time, one cannot help but note the simplicity of the characters and the plot itself. Character or world-building barely figures in the work at all. The twists of the second half of the narrative are extremely forced. But despite all this, I still enjoyed watching it. The forced twists are redeemed by unexpected turns that have been erased from the monomorphous mass of modern media, and the lack of world-building, against doubts about its coherence or realism to any degree, is a problem precisely because the pre…
Read at the sourcen0ise_Junk
[WARNING] This anime is not for the faint of heart, there are a A LOT of difficult subjects covered in it's duration.
On the surface, the show is about a boy who is teleported from his home to an apocalyptic, far-future version of earth, where he must save the being Lala Ru from a madman king. HOWEVER, the show is really a deep dive into human behaviour under unprecedented circumstances. The corrupting nature of power, how far a person will go to survive, hate, despair and hope; all of these are covered across the 13 episodes of this masterpiece.
One thing to consider while watching; Matsutani Shuuzou (the lead character) is a representation of hope. He is stubborn, thick-headed, single-minded and almost completely useless - that is - until the characters around him start to believe in h…
Read at the sourceMichaelBellonis
“Where the hell am I? This isn’t Japan.”
Welcome to another contender for my Top 100 Anime of All Time List: An Isekai from a time before all of the ridiculously titled over-the-top Power Fantasies. It’s 1999, and Akitarô Daichi has yet to direct the 2001 adaption of Fruits Basket - instead, he’s directing Now and Then, Here and There. An anime all about a young boy who’s unwittingly caught in a war between a young girl with a mysterious pendant and a Mad King after being transported to another world.
It’s a dystopian-sci-fi-Isekai anime that takes the terrifying concept of children being forced to fight in a war, and cranks it up to 11 as they fight for survival in a desolate world that lacks water, lead by their unhinged Mad King. Which makes sense, since the director also spent time…
Read at the sourceRealkaku
9/10 Not because it's comforting. Not because it offers hope. But because it stares straight into the brutality of war and never looks away.
I've seen a lot of anime that deal with war, trauma, and child soldiers—Victory Gundam, Ideon, 08th MS Team, Bokurano, Grave of the Fireflies, and even Made in Abyss. So I thought I was ready.
I wasn't.
Now and Then, Here and There doesn't rely on giant robots or sci-fi politics. It just shows war at its most brutal: starvation, abuse, manipulation, and the destruction of innocence. The moment when Sara finds out she's pregnant from being raped and then tries to take her own life completely shattered me. It's one of the most brutal scenes I've ever watched.
And yet, Shu's optimism, his refusal to give in or give up, ends up being the heart of the…
Read at the sourceCaeruleus_CCXVI
7.75/10 ~ Wild trip, not for the feint of heart
whollyfuckingshit this was quite the ride of the show, especially by 2025 standards, I really dont think something like this would even be made today. I decided to to rewatch this as I didnt remember what happened from 20+ years ago, and I came to realize I never watched it in its entirety. NTHT is just a wild show including but not limited to:
✅Child murder/Murdering children
✅Sexual assault / Straight up rape to make child soldiers
✅full blown PTSD and total psychosis
✅full blown animal abuse
✅full blown manipulation of the masses, and gaslighting oneself / each other to continue the cycle above
- All mixed together with you very traditional 80/90's MC that refuses to kill, is obnoxious as hell and hes like 12yo boy who is just a self ins…
Read at the sourceZakah
The series is very worthwhile watch however if you’re looking for escapism this isn’t it. The depiction of humanity is very accurate albeit depressing but unfortunately that’s how the truth is.
The first episode starts out with some lowbrow comedic elements but advances quickly after a few episodes to more serious tone but then it takes dark turn I wasn’t expecting. Even though the series doesn’t have graphic depiction of the dark turn, it shows the aftermath which was somehow massively worse.
The character Sara experiences the most development though the series and has a highlight of courage at one point which makes her likable and the only character worthy of emotional investment, but unfortunately it ends with her being manipulated by the cowards again. In the end she made the wrong t…
Read at the sourceDompa112
Ended up giving it a 7/10 after thinking it being worthy a 6/10 at best. It didnt really click with me. Nothing stood out for most part. Music wasnt anything special. The ED was very beautiful though ill say.
The story fell mostly flat for me. There was no depth to the overall plot. The world. The events. History behind. Nothing was explained and no effort taken. Same goes for the characters. Didnt feel much for the since we dont get to know them much. Like the bad guy in the story. Just no depth to him. We barely get to know him or his motivations.
Animation was ok.
Felt a bit old Ghibli like in its execution overall.
As i said earlier nothing stood out. For most part that was. There was one thing that did stood out and left a lasting impression which ultimately ended up adding a p…
Read at the sourceChloesMAL
Given the title I expected this to be some sort of time travel hopping show but it wasn't and the series is PAINFULLY slow and that was with me Literally wactching at 1.5x speed. Cartoonishly silly bad guy, no explanation of how 'the machine worked' could they not just go somewhere else instead of some vaugely explained war, perhaps not recruit children to be soldiers.
The overall vibe I got from this show is that it should have just been a movie, It really has that 90's Anime feature with weird unexplained concepts, I dare say this could Easily be edited down into 1h 15min movie and lose absoluetly nothing. I didn't hate this show usually I will drop one after 3 episodes but I hung on for some explanation and world building .. and there isnt any.
If you like your protaganist to be a one…
Read at the sourceSoloNecromancer
One Of The Greatest Anime Of All Time
This anime made very good impact on me judging the other feel good anime's,
movie's and comedy n isekai shoenen show's
Rating = 9/10
Great Anime with excellent music and That Op is just Wonderful =8
Mc character development, lala ru silent character, hidden moralities and deep meaning's showed in this anime are remarkable, and many more = +1
Plot : Now and then here and there is the haunting story of a dystopian world, and of Shuu, who has to endure torture, hunger, and the horrors of war in order to save the lonely girl he found sitting atop a smokestack.
It starts as a typical isekai anime where mc travels to the other world in ep1,
" after that the whole story change's to a realistic atmosphere where there is no freedom, no water, dessert every…
Read at the sourceBiisoo
What is war? Is it necessary? Are there any victors?
Well, To answer that question, You must experience this grounded and dark story that is by no means meant for children (Despite how it looks). This is a very dark anime that deals with some serious subjects, War, Abuse, Child abuse, Rape and Personality disorders. These are some of the things which are shown in the series so beware if you get triggered easily.
Animation/Art : Really great tbh. Blew me away especially the vibe that the anime sets early on. Really grips you in. The art has an old charm to it tbh. Although it can feel dated obviously but I think one shouldn't put this anime down or demerit it for it's animation. For its time, The anime looked amazing probably. There are also these moments in the anime where some character…
Read at the sourceLionfrog13
Never have I experienced a work of art that is so raw yet optimistic. Now and Then, Here and There is in many ways an answer to art that seeks to be realistic and gritty without depth. It aknowledges some of the darkest part of humanity and then contends that living is still worth it. It is uncompromising in its statement that you deserve to live. I am someone who believes in non violence and optimism, but never has a work of art more made me contend with that stance. I believe things will get better in a world that lets child soldiers exist. I believe that people are inately good and that belief must contend with the acts of extreme violence human beings can commit against eachother. I did not have a good time watching this anime, but I will never forget and will continue to think about i…
Read at the sourceWorm_Death
Now and Then, Here and There is a hidden gem, I believe. The story has a strong sense of flow throughout the entire thing, and for just 13 episodes, they pack a lot in each one while still not feeling rushed. There are plenty of quiet moments which I see as very important moments for character building. The anime will constantly bombard you with a lot of heavy topics, but I believe they're handled well; we can see how traumatizing it is for the characters going through what they do. The villain, King Hamdo, is genuinely evil, and while some anime might brush over or even see what he does as a quirk, this story treats him like the worthless piece of dirt that he is, which is extremely refreshing. The story is straightforward in that way: good side vs bad. Hamdo is not a sympathetic villain,…
Read at the sourcekorix_
Transported to a war-torn desert in another world (supposedly), our MC Shu sets out on a rough journey to return home. The grim universe Now and Then, Here and There paints is brought to life through its sufficiently good production and art. Some people may fault the still-frame-ridden animation, but honestly, considering some of the shows that come out these days, it's more than decent in comparison.
While the world of this anime managed to suck me in from episode 1, accompanied by an interesting premise that quickly builds up the tension, as I kept watching, the setbacks it suffered from became more apparent.
This sort of setting requires a cast of flawed characters who have been impacted by the hopeless world around them, but that type of decent characterization was surprisingly spa…
Read at the sourceKrenZane
*The world is what it is*
~~
!! SPOILER REVIEW !!
~~
Warm colors and a cold hand,
Misty morals in a desert land, Dreams escape until the ends of time,
Till the child of the past's uphill climb
I am reminded of the somber signs of sunsets,
The brief hope of an ending day,
Through the ranges of the years,
And how its hues are mixed with red
~~
Now and Then, Here and There is a frightening display, frightening due to its explicit gunshot realism without warning as if we're Shu suddenly thrown away from the usual comfort brought by routine and into one of the more darker sides of human experience. This collapse from the generic anime setup at the very beginning of the show, with the rushing eater accented by the comedy-iconic food storm, the free-flow movements tolerably inconsequential…
Read at the sourcerobinde67
I don't usually write reviews, but this one was a ride, and overall I would actually say I actually liked this anime. Most characters are believable, i could see them responding in the way they did if a human was put in the same position. with the sole exception being our main character, who has a willpower the strength of a goddamn diamond. The premise is good and one that has been rarely explored. However, there is one thing that bothered me as the series went on, something that was never addressed, something that made the premise kind of irrelevant and implausible.
It's in the synopsis, our MC is brought to another world, not someplace on earth, he is teleported there by technology, not magic. That's right, the antagonists have the technology to traverse worlds at will, seemingly witho…
Read at the sourceRebelPanda
*This review contains spoilers in a marked section*
I finally watched the cult classic "Now and Then, Here and There" the anti-war series released two decades ago. Over the years, it has been labeled a masterpiece and one of the best Isekai anime ever. I had to see it for myself, but all I can say is… Seriously?
Throughout 13 tedious episodes, I found a beautifully produced but ultimately poorly written anime. Although I liked the sound and art direction, I couldn't get invested in the plot or care about any of the characters. Despite the story's attempts at social commentary, it has a surprisingly 1-dimensional view of war. It presents war and violence with the subtlety of a wrecking ball that often feels more like shallow exploitation meant to disturb you.
The story is centered around…
Read at the sourcebstar414
This anime is a gem. If you stubbled on it consider yourself lucky. I see some absurdly low scores for this anime and it's downright annoying. I don't know why so many anime watchers have to be snobs who can't just sit back and enjoy the ride without nitpicking every little thing.
The story starts very lightheartedly for only about 15 min into the first episode. Then you are thrust into this harrowing world. Our protagonist Shu is your run-of-the-mill "I don't kill" and super determined MC. However, this completely works for this story. The whole story is extremely bleak and having Shu bravely standing up for others put a huge smile on my face. Watching Shu made me feel like a kid again. the show had me questioning would I be brave in those situations or would I be another order follower.…
Read at the sourcedelzog
There was a good story in here, but the main character is such an annoying prat that it's hard to watch. He blathers on about things as if he's got a clue. NOBODY could be so obtuse, certainly not after being beaten, knowing his friend was 'violated' and all while waving around a stick as if he's being heroic. It shows the MC as being a completely naïve and pathetic character. To watch this show is a torment at times to watch because the main character is such a dweeb, clumsy, moronic, and worst of all completely sophomoric.
Watching the other characters being similarly stupid is also annoying. The evil leader is pretty much insane and the anime gives no reason as to why people follow him. Moreover, the other characters are just as ludicrous, causing you to dislike pretty much everyone.…
Read at the sourceCobraLibidinosa
Ima, Soko Ni Iru Boku follows Shu, an energetic and cheerful boy with no sense of danger, who befriends a mysterious girl and tries to save her from her kidnappers. This journey leads him into a twisted world filled with pain, which he must endure to help his newfound friend. The narrative echoes Castle in the Sky, but its profound tragedy resembles a soft neorealist aesthetic.
The series is a beautiful exploration of an anti-war message, delivered with striking visuals and emotional depth. Its rawness and stunning imagery leave a lasting impact, making it a worthwhile watch even today, as it offers a short yet bittersweet experience.
Read at the sourceBigBoiOnDuty
"My sorrows are overwhelming, but my virtue is left to me."
Before starting "Now and Then, Here and There" I was sure that I've seen everything that isekai genre has to offer. However to my suprise it turned out that there are still anime that I was wrong and that fantasy anime that explore themes such as war, trauma, torture, exploitation and totalitarianism in a ways that neither fall into the exploitation of cheap shock value category nor are they pretentious and too in-your-face exist. "Now and Then, Here and There" is a mature anime that tackles it's themes with respect and understanding, despite being only 13 episodes long it tells a full story of characters fighting with despair in the most trying times.
Story
This story begins like most isekais do, at first you may even think th…
Read at the source
