Audience reviews
20 · Sample from the first available page, separate from the total number of ratings.
szmi
A hallmark of many a great work of sci-fi is its ability to turn the extra-ordinary, ordinary. There are those in contemporary fiction that try the opposite: making the unremarkable, remarkable. Perhaps the idea is that the juxtaposition of contrasting elements created in this process may act to evoke a similar sense of wonder. I wouldn't know, as I've never seen this effect done well. Hune wo Amu is no exception.
Absent of the environmental novelty that makes speculative fiction capture our imagination so, one of the biggest appeals of true-to-life art is the feeling of rawness that it engenders. Its medium of choice is one familiar to author and audience: their shared reality. And in lieu of taking place in a larger-than-life world, fiction can remind us that life, too, is large.
Yet,…
Read at the sourceTeardropstar
"The great passage" has an interesting & unknown plot for many anime audience. It's a slice of life, however compared to other animes of similar genre, it focuses on a very different topic, the lives of dictionary editors & people surrounding them. It sounds dull but, maybe give it a try? At least, that's what i told myself.
Many might find the plot complex, less intriguing, but to many, or at least to me the storytelling & pacing was unknown yet very comforting work. For example, it captured the true work culture of Japan, the surroundings, corporate challenges and how people from dictionary writing professions feel or how they can be at work.
The anime doesn’t have dramatic events at all and this may or may not suit everyone. And, I think this is a very important point, as many anime a…
Read at the sourceNkalaB
Majime is a calculated man with his words, but his expression is explored within this slow, but captivating series. Araki and Matsumoto alongside Nishioka and Sasaki decide to embark on a long project to write an expansive dictionary called Daitokai. The word means a sea of Words.
It's basically a workplace based anime about the importance of grammar and small details in which definitions can expand based on the reader and/or writer. Araki is the stern mentor, whilst the Matsumoto is the experienced supervisor. Sasaki and Nishioka are supporting this team and guiding Majime understand how to use words better. Araki lives up to the meaning of his name called Evidence as he always instills the stern double checking and revision of work to Majime, especially in the first half where he's loo…
Read at the sourceCatastrophicAlly
Very memorable to this day...
I don't know how to explain this but... Watching someone's entire life within 11 episodes really made me feel a certain way that I can't explain.
> Do you think others will enjoy/dislike this series, even if you didn't? Why?
This show is definitely not something that you are sure to enjoy but if you are aimless, directionless and purposeless like I was when I watched this, maybe you will like this.
Sorry for this rambling of a review but I really just needed to get this out of me.
> Is the story unique? If it was predictable, did you enjoy it anyway because you like this genre/set-up?
Definitely felt unique to me.
> Do you think the art style is fitting for the story?
Absolutely
> Were the characters well-rounded? Did they have flaws and strengths, o…
Read at the sourceSiaksx
How would I describe "The Great Passage"? It’s akin to a fairy tale about life, viewed through the eyes of adults, for adults. It is unmistakably a beautifully written story that highlights the importance of words, the role of communication, and the significance of relationships.
Plot: 10/10
Some might find this anime mundane, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching various individuals collaborate as a team for a greater purpose. Notably, this purpose was not to save the world, which I found refreshing. Instead, it was about helping people navigate the vast ocean of words, fostering better understanding, and conveying emotions, feelings, and thoughts. Who would have thought that a small team in the dictionary editorial division at Genbu Publishing could work together for decades to complete Dai…
Read at the sourceSgtSalamander
It's true what they say, there really is an anime for everything, and as an anime about writing a dictionary, The Great Passage is proof of that. Though, where most anime which demonstrate this concept are funny or absurd, The Great Passage is slow, beautiful, and genuinely heartfelt. The passion and artistry that goes into a work such as a good dictionary is something most people rarely consider, and the way this anime represents those things highlights the quiet nobility in truly dedicating your life to something, be it big or small. At the end of the day it's the dedication that counts. Beginning with the story, the audience is presented with the rather unusual setup of an introverted man, his love for words, and his lengthy journey with the production of a particular dictionary, alongs…
Read at the sourceEnderVsqz626
Muriel Rukeyser said that the universe is made of stories and not atoms, and as stories are made of words we can conclude that ultimately the universe is made of words. And with this in mind the anime I am going to review below gives us a beautiful love song to words and how they allow us to connect with others and the world around us.
Fune wo Amu or as it was titled in English, The Great Passage is an 11-episode anime based on the light novel written by Shion Miura, premiered during the fall 2016 season in the NoitaminA block. It was animated by Zexcs studio under the direction of Toshimasa Kuroyanagi.
The story begins when the head of the dictionary department of the Genbu Shobo publishing house, Kohei Araki, who is about to retire to devote time to his ailing wife, searches for an e…
Read at the sourceTZUN4I
As slice of life as it can be, this anime is VERY niche. No doubt a hidden gem but it is seinen at its core. Not because of gore or adult content - I think it's just directed to an older audience. I am without question in awe! No reincarnations, no heroic battles, no tearjerkers, just normal people living their normal WORKING lives.
For someone like mevwho's dealing with words the series are spot on. Although I have an acquaintance involved in compiling a dictionary, I was amazed at the effort required to compile a dictionary specifically in Japanese mainly because of the characteristics of the language. I'm a little envious of native Japanese viewers, because even with my cursory knowledge of the language, I can tell that the level of conversation between the characters is above average.…
Read at the sourcebergars
A small contribution to a small niche, they always have a story behind, for as simple as it may be. But, how can a story about publishing a dictionary be this good?
I've delved into the slice of life genre for a while, most times finding a formula that eventually sets into a repetitive, slightly boring rhythm. This isn't exactly that, but it isn't a workplace drama either. It's a mesh of genre that actually tackles its plot with fresh lenses. A movie plot, that doesn't really have big stakes. This is a small task, for a small team. The importance is focused on those doing the task.
You're not gonna find a complicated story, but I can't deny my investment. I couldn't stop watching people talk about publishing, publicity, gossip, or the new obstacle. The character dynamic feels so out of…
Read at the sourceSei_Shinohara484
Words are the vehicle to transform the abstract (thoughts, feeling and emotion) into concrete phrases, stories that make sense or spark curiosity. As Edward de Bono stated- "In a sense, words are encyclopedias of ignorance because they freeze perceptions at one moment in history and then insist we continue to use these frozen perceptions when we should be doing better. "Great words allows one to understand each other and understand the meaning of past events or convert those events into what they were not.
Such can also be said in the case of a series named The Great Passage (Japanese Name: Fune wo Amu) (2016). This series showed the story of Majime Mitsuya, an employer at sales division of Genbu Publishing had being recruited into the dictionary editorial division by Araki Kouhei, a reti…
Read at the sourcePalash0007
As this is a slice of life anime, no one should just watch this anime to expect something surprising or unbelievable. The anime is a simple slice of life anime and discusses the life of a normal person Majime, who works in Genbu publications as a salesman. The Dictionary department of Genbu publications is looking for a person who can help with completing their dream dictionary - "THE GREAT PASSAGE". And the department decides to recruit Majime for this work. The story then depicts on how actually a dictionary is completed and what problems are faced during the complete process. It makes you realize how small thing like a dictionary also requires efforts of so many people to complete it and how nerve wrecking a work it is, though we as a user don't actually realize that. It certainly is a…
Read at the source3f3auy4
Fune wo Amu, a story about compiling words for a dictionary, wasn't too niche. The scope of its message was.
There moments of greatness in this story. The discussions on how people choose to define words are genuinely interesting if you can enjoy the show in Japanese, and one of the later discussions about why its actually good that there are no government funded dictionaries were some of the most impactful discussions in the show.
However these scenes are a rarity. They are not related to the core message of the story, and often the same tricks are re-used like stock photos.
The central defining message of what a dictionary is not properly developed, and the story shifts from being character driven to being technically driven. (Technical, as in complications in publishing a dictionar…
Read at the sourceanterebellum
This remarkable anime deserves WAY more attention.
I Really like seing these passionate characters doing their best in making a dictionary. Majime, the laid back, introverted man who lacks social skills has deep interest in words and linguistic had a satisfying character development here. He went from a social outcast to a leader. It is really amazing, because I can relate to him so much. Seeing him not giving up and be able to work with people who appreciated him encouraged me that I, too, can be like him. Their long and trying journey in making Daitokai was trully amazing. Overall this anime gave me a breath of fresh air from the usual mainstream anime tropes and it was a fantastic journey.
ALSO TAKAHIRO SAKURAI'S SMOOTH, SEDUCING HUSKY VOICE IS EVERYTHING!! THE FACT THAT MAJIME USES "…
Read at the sourcePyroSpaceCat
I quite liked the story and I thought the characters were decent. Some of its attempts at poetry and symbolism fell short, however, that may be because parts were lost in translation.
Regular favourites in anime of 'adults do things at work"anime, like the bureaucracy of Japanese businesses is certainly present, but not the main focus.. So don't expect Love is hard for an Otaku or anything like that.
My one major gripe, would be the annoying kiddy animations that break up each episode. It's incredibly jarring to be enjoying a dramatic character moment, then have it broken up by cartoon books making lame attempts at humour. I have seen such gimmicks work well in other shows, but in here at least I think it should have been scrapped.
Overall, I think people who find themselves drawn to s…
Read at the sourceaquatakugirl
This review contains minimal/vague spoilers.
I picked up Fune wo Amu from a quick glimpse of it on YouTube, and instantly became very hooked after the first episode. Maybe it was because of my own mood, or because I needed a change of pace; but the mature, realistic, and subtle atmosphere of the beginning of this show drew me in greatly. I've given the art a score of 8 because the animators have highlighted mannerisms and posture in each different character, which isn't what I was expecting from a short, low-key seasonal show like this one. I think it helps bring the characters to life and makes the entire watching experience almost like a live action Japanese TV drama. The voice actors comprise of quite a few big names, and all of them have skilfully portrayed the nuances and fluctuation…
Read at the sourceMigiSanIchi
It seems alot of people didn't try this anime because its an anime about making a dictionary, which is fine, but they're missing out on a lot. A LOT
At first i was hesitant because i didn't particulary like this genre but decided to give it a go because why not. And here's my review:
Episode 1-3 paints the story in a very good way, making the audience interested to what the MC can do and will do anf the potential of the anime is really good, which got me hooked
The pacing in the anime is great, you won't get bored because there's a lot going on and as you watch the struggles that the character has, you will get to know them better.
IMO, its interesting because this anime tells a story about a world that I never knew existed in our lives, mainly because I didn't think it even existed in…
Read at the sourcehohohaha
I enjoy Fune wo Amu. It's a show that I can rewatch.
The storyline is a bit off, at times, there aren't many surprises in how the story progresses. I ended up guessing correctly many things. So it ain't for the looking-for-fun mood. It's somewhere, between soothing and intriguing. I started off purely because of curiosity and kept watching because of the characters.
Majime-san is a weird one, Nishioka-san a fun one, and many others. It's satisfying seeing the passion in people's eyes. They are genuine, real, and likable. I don't see so much character development, they sure are persistent, their core values don't change over time. However, they do realize stuff, that was already inside them, they just discover it. I wonder that's character development too.
I'm just a "saigyou", trying to…
Read at the sourceYuki_Raine
I started this to see a different perspective of the daily life of an adult which isn't too common in anime. It did that beautifully!
The story is relaxing and spans through many years. The end is perfectly fitting, completing this series in a very fitting way in my opinion.
I never gave much thought to dictionaries, but through this groups passion I found myself enjoying the logic and care behind them, as well as their purpose and history. That group of very passionate and tight knit individuals, whose personalities really helped drive and make the show complete. The team faces many problems to achieve their goal that they have to overcome, like funding, little personnel & many more. The way they handle them is very pleasant to watch, without becoming as stressful as it could be perhaps.…
Read at the sourcelaranpadduman
It’s about dictionaries! About making dictionaries and about selecting words for a dictionary!
For many of us, our first introduction to anime involves magical laser beams, men that can move or destroy actual mountains or fight scenes of robots vs. ninjas. And much like movies or books, in anime, if we stick with it long enough, our interests start to expand. Now and again, we stir away from the childish fantasies we so love about anime and venture into more grounded, more “indie” and mature and wholly human content.
Fune wo amu or The Great Passage is one such anime. It is adapted from the novel of the same name, written by Shion Miura
When Araki, the editor-in-chief of the dictionary department of Genbu Publishing decides for early retirement, he passes the baton to Mitsuya Majime.
M…
Read at the sourcefairatbest
The Great Passage is a poetic if slightly underwhelming exploration of how words can shape our lives and relationships. As an adaptation of the novel, the series is an ambitious undertaking, coming in at a scant 11 episodes tasked with thematic exploration of language and character development spanning 13 years in the lives of protagonist Majime and company. It’s a respectable project, but the series ultimately comes up short due to the time constraint and writing that leaves a lot to be desired.
It’s clear that this story probably plays better in a longer novel format, where there’s more room for the characterization to breathe and for literary motifs to be explored to their fullest. As it is here, The Great Passage feels kind of peculiar, as if very little is actually happening even as…
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