Shinsekai Yori

**Elcura** · 2012-10-14 06:20

Summary: About one thousand years into the future, civilization has been retrograded and humans are living dispersed within small communities. People in this era have a psychic power called "Juryoku" which materializes things they imagine. In the absence of advanced scientific technology, people are using this power as a major source of energy.

One day, a girl called Saki, along with her friends, finds a small archive robot outside the town. It records the ancient history of humans. It tells them that Juryoku was found in the 21st century and the discovery caused a world war between psychics and non-psychics. The psychics won this war and thus their reign of terror began.

When the adults in town figure out that the children discovered this forbidden knowledge, they seal their Juryoku and exile them. Saki and the others end up in a forest where they meet a huge hairless bipedal mouse known as a "Bakenezumi" and get involved in a violent war the creatures are currently engaged in.

**Deadgye** · 2012-10-15 00:55

I watched the first episode of this, and all I can say is what the fuck did I just watch. Somebody put it on down at the club and I woke up to the start of it where everyone was exploding. Debating on whether or not I want to watch it as it airs; I think my mind would break if I tried to marathon it. Animation quality is really good so far too.

**Silenka** · 2012-10-15 05:04

I find the animation quality a little lacking in this show compared to other shows this season like Chuunibyou (well it's Kyoani so maybe it doesn't count) and Tonari no Kaibutsu-kun. At least, the characters designs are a little bit off for me. But still the animation is quite good. And the music is great, though a little sparse.

Right now the plot is reminding me of The Giver (the book), but I can't wait to see where this show ends up going. It's already kind of nestled itself comfortably in mindfuck land, and there's nothing I like more in a show than a good mindfuck. In that respect it's a little bit like Madoka so far, where you know things just aren't quite right based on the setting and the way some of the characters act/the things they decide to show you.

Honestly I'd say this is the #2 most interesting show for me this season but I haven't checked out all the offerings yet.

**BerenTebogo** · 2012-10-15 10:23

Amazing so far. Tied for #1 for me with Tonari. Hate having to wait a full week between episodes.

**Franzer** · 2012-10-15 16:05

Well that was an interesting first episode, pretty much left me "wat." Seems cool though.

**Silenka** · 2012-10-20 12:37

4th episode continues to impress, confirmed for The Giver at this point >_>

But man, I love me some moral grey area in anime. It's so nice when the characters don't have clear cut red and blue auras.

**Elcura** · 2012-11-10 07:26

I have a basic idea of what's going on, but generally this anime leaves me scratching my head. Not that it's bad, because the animation is very impressive and the music is awesome. Never seen The Giver, so I'm pretty in the dark about what the basic premise could be going through the whole show.

Also, is it just me or are character's called Saki automatically annoying?

**Silenka** · 2012-11-10 16:13

Originally Posted by Elcura

I have a basic idea of what's going on, but generally this anime leaves me scratching my head. Not that it's bad, because the animation is very impressive and the music is awesome. Never seen The Giver, so I'm pretty in the dark about what the basic premise could be going through the whole show.

It's a book. Most kids are introduced to it in intermediate/middle school...pretty sure I read it in 6th grade. It's one of the best books I've ever read and it is assigned as required reading for good reason. I really think anyone who hasn't read it ought to. Plus, anything that is described as a "dystopian children's novel" has to be good, right? XD

As far as reflecting the plot of the book, Shinsekai yori doesn't follow it that closely, but there are definite parallels.

Also, is it just me or are character's called Saki automatically annoying?

I'm pretty sure it's a rule.

**Avvesione** · 2012-11-10 20:43

Originally Posted by Elcura

Also, is it just me or are character's called Saki automatically annoying?

...but I like Saki

**Khajit** · 2012-11-10 22:11

It really only resembles The Giver since it's the first dystopian novel most people have read. Most dystopian settings have the same elements we see here in the narrative.

**Silenka** · 2012-11-11 01:50

Well, that's kind of what I mean when I say it's like The Giver. It's just the most well-known/first example I could think of that has those elements. I think most people would go "oh yeah, I can see that" if it's likened to The Giver vs some other, lesser known story.

I'm definitely not trying to say that the show's plot is copying in any way, but may just be inspired by that story. Or it may just be a coincidence because, like you said, the dystopian elements are kind of similar across the board.

There are some nice specific parallels which reminded me of the book though,

Spoiler: show

**Cantih** · 2012-12-05 01:18

Bad news.
SSY BD vol.1 went on sale this week, and didn't even chart.

**Elcura** · 2012-12-05 07:25

How lame, this show is great for its animation, atmosphere and mystery. Even if Saki is annoying, I can't hate this show.

**Silenka** · 2012-12-06 01:39

That IS lame. I will admit the animation kind of annoys me - it seems like it should either go simpler or more complex but the way it's stuck between the two bothers me most of the time.

The story is a little hard to follow at times, mainly because of weird scene transitions but overall it's so interesting I can't stop watching it. Shit just went down last episode, I can't wait to see how this series resolves (or whether it does at all - I know it's based on another source material and I dunno how far the series is through that stuff)

**Khajit** · 2013-02-23 15:43

I kinda had to Wat at todays episode.

Spoiler: show

**EternityEnd** · 2013-02-24 04:09

Spoiler: show

Have you considered that the inhabitants of Shinsekai Yori's dystopian universe are more knowledgeable about the state of the remainder of the world outside Japan than you? It seems like you're attempting to be pedantic about the setting when you don't possess the information that would allow you to be. You're making a lot of assumptions about topics that haven't been clarified.

For instance, during the False Minoshiro's dialogue in episode 4, it describes an over 600 year period wherein the primary communities of the world were feudal slave empires, completely lacking in the technology you claim to be easily reproducible. The scientists in that era (the ones who archived history and lost knowledge, and who built the mobile libraries) bided their time until the large-scale empires collapsed, then labored to establish communities where humans would be incapable of violence and emphasize sexuality. Knowing that, and postulating that the scientific community was small enough to elude notice, it wouldn't be farfetched to conclude that they primarily cultivated Japan, and so the false minoshiros don't exist elsewhere.

Not only that, but it absolutely hasn't been shown that indirect homicide doesn't trigger death feedback—in fact, it's heavily implied otherwise, else why would a fiend pose any threat at all? If Shisei, the most powerful PK user in Kamisu 66, didn't try to indirectly kill the fiend (only slow it), then it seems logical to conclude that death feedback and conditioning not only come into effect after you actually murder another person, but when you even think about killing with PK. That's why they're so hopelessly outmatched. It's also debatable whether the concept of death feedback is a "stupid system," when their communities have lived in absolute peace until now, with the only disruptions coming from fiends. The only completely nonsensical action on the villages' part is that they don't invest resources into finding the cause of/cure for Raman-Klogius syndrome.

**Elcura** · 2013-02-24 12:52

Originally Posted by EternityEnd

Spoiler: show

Have you considered that the inhabitants of Shinsekai Yori's dystopian universe are more knowledgeable about the state of the remainder of the world outside Japan than you? It seems like you're attempting to be pedantic about the setting when you don't possess the information that would allow you to be. You're making a lot of assumptions about topics that haven't been clarified.

For instance, during the False Minoshiro's dialogue in episode 4, it describes an over 600 year period wherein the primary communities of the world were feudal slave empires, completely lacking in the technology you claim to be easily reproducible. The scientists in that era (the ones who archived history and lost knowledge, and who built the mobile libraries) bided their time until the large-scale empires collapsed, then labored to establish communities where humans would be incapable of violence and emphasize sexuality. Knowing that, and postulating that the scientific community was small enough to elude notice, it wouldn't be farfetched to conclude that they primarily cultivated Japan, and so the false minoshiros don't exist elsewhere.

Not only that, but it absolutely hasn't been shown that indirect homicide doesn't trigger death feedback—in fact, it's heavily implied otherwise, else why would a fiend pose any threat at all? If Shisei, the most powerful PK user in Kamisu 66, didn't try to indirectly kill the fiend (only slow it), then it seems logical to conclude that death feedback and conditioning not only come into effect after you actually murder another person, but when you even think about killing with PK. That's why they're so hopelessly outmatched. It's also debatable whether the concept of death feedback is a "stupid system," when their communities have lived in absolute peace until now, with the only disruptions coming from fiends. The only completely nonsensical action on the villages' part is that they don't invest resources into finding the cause of/cure for Raman-Klogius syndrome.

Pretty much this. There's far too much we don't know about the world to assume what they say is far-fetched or ridiculous. I don't see how that one line could affect you so heavily, but then again when your first solution is NUKE 'EM ALL then you probably aren't thinking very hard.

**mightyg** · 2013-03-06 23:26

Really glad I checked this one out. It's really engaging and complicated and well written. Also disturbing. Definitely pulled me in.

**Silenka** · 2013-03-26 20:32

So this series finished finally.

I have never read the novels. Overall I was very impressed by this series. The ethical and moral arguments brought up and the grey-area stuff is really interesting and tearjerking at times.

There is only one thing I really didn't get.
Last few episodes spoilers:

Spoiler: show

I was quite satisfied with the ending actually, but I wish more time was spent on Saki's feelings about the fiend. They barely touched on that.

I will definitely be watching this one a second time.

**Xanthe** · 2013-03-27 07:15

Originally Posted by Silenka

So this series finished finally.

I have never read the novels. Overall I was very impressed by this series. The ethical and moral arguments brought up and the grey-area stuff is really interesting and tearjerking at times.

There is only one thing I really didn't get.
Last few episodes spoilers:

Spoiler: show

I was quite satisfied with the ending actually, but I wish more time was spent on Saki's feelings about the fiend. They barely touched on that.

I will definitely be watching this one a second time.

Spoiler: show

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