2016-nen no kimi e

I had heard about this anime before, and when I saw how highly it was rated, I thought, "Is it overrated?" But I was wrong. I went in without knowing the plot and barely knowing anything about the manga -I had only just heard of it-. I honestly wasn't expecting such a brutal and well-crafted pilot episode.

Why is it so effective?

Visual & Emotional Integrity: The visuals create an innocent warmth that contrasts sharply with the terrifying story underneath. The combination of darkness and sweetness in the guro-moe style is especially reminiscent of Made in Abyss.

Powerful Themes: The first episode tackles heavy topics such as depression, parental neglect, bullying, animal abuse, and even child suicide-all at once. But it doesn't just use them for shock value; it explores them in a meaningful, thought-provoking way that leaves a strong impression.

The Impact of Takopi's Character: Takopi's innocent perspective and his distance from the harshness of human psychology evoke a deep emotional reaction. His well-intentioned but naive approach questions the idea that "happiness fixes everything." The story demonstrates, in a balanced way, that deep psychological wounds can't be healed so easily

How the Story Unfolds: The plot skillfully blends time travel and "Happy Gadgets" without disrupting the narrative flow. Instead of making things easier, these elements add complexity and tension, raising curiosity to the max. The fact that it does this without feeling ridiculous is a mark of great storytelling. I'm especially curious to see how the two main girls evolve-and even the character of Azuma, who helps Shizuka, hints at unexpected depth.

My Overall Opinion: Though it may look like a light summer anime at first glance, it's anything but. The first episode is thought-provoking, unsettling, and emotionally intense. It hits hard in just 35 minutes. With only six episodes planned, I believe the series will maintain its quality and could become one of the most talked-about anime of 2025. I'll be following it weekly for sure.

I'm confident this is going to be absolutely worth watching. The animation is nothing short of breathtaking-fluid, detailed, and visually captivating. Every frame feels alive, and the artistic direction is on point. The plot already shows signs of growing into something rich and meaningful, with characters and storylines that grab your attention from the start. There's a unique atmosphere that sets the tone just right, and I really hope it keeps the same vibes all the way through. If the pacing and emotional depth stay consistent, this could turn out to be a truly unforgettable experience. I'm very excited to see what's next!

I wasn't expecting it to be this dark and deep. At first, i thought it would be a Doraemon like anime, but i was mistaken... It's still a interesting and good watch. But the sad thing is, this probably happens in real life especially in japan. That what makes it more interesting, it made you think and feel pitiful and sorry for these kids...

This anime is amazing, of course the production and the animation are unique and worth watching for itself but the way the anime's story goes and how each scene transition you pray that something bad doesn't happen. I love how it represents hatred, joy hopelessness and things, it's a must watch to rather understand the despair everyone goes through that may not be visible in their everyday routine.

The content does remind of the anime "Erased" but the way it is represented here is something else. If you are going to watch this be prepared for that anything can happen i think. I haven't read the manga unlike other watchers so I had first hand experience and it delivered.

I love it so far.

This episode is probably the single most interesting in any show, it mixes two very interesting story plot devices 1) The groundhog day 2) dealing with depression and self harm which I've never seen done in any media. The show is setup in a very good way. I have one concern that the show might get convoluted if the alien tries to solve every characters problem. I think if the show just focuses on one conflict and shows why it's not very easy to solve such things just like the scene where the alien realises that it can't patch things up. But if the show essentially becomes about the alien fixing everyone's lives, the emotional impact of the whole show would reduce. Rather I hope the show focuses on just Takopi.