Orb: On the Movements of the Earth

When I first saw Orb, I never expected the anime to turn out the way it did!

The story mainly takes place during the 15th century a time when people truly believed the Earth was at the center of the universe and that all other celestial bodies revolved around it, a model known as Geocentrism. Since the anime is set in this era, the Orthodox Church holds significant power and influence over society.

The anime primarily focuses on promoting the idea of Heliocentrism the concept that the sun is actually at the center and the planets revolve around it.

Just to clarify, it's not just an anime where the protagonist learns the truth about the Earth's movement, explores cosmology, and battles with the Church over science. It's far more than that. Without giving away too much, I can say it's not centered on a single character and their development, but rather on the idea of Heliocentrism itself. While it includes various elements of astronomy, it goes beyond that-it explores human nature, people's belief in God, and different aspects of personal and societal development.

As the story progresses, the anime becomes darker and more intense, and at times, it can even be mentally disturbing. It's not for everyone, but I definitely recommend watching it for its unique pacing and storyline.

Overall, Orb is a truly unique and interesting anime refreshingly different from the typical gore, action, and magic-focused series we often see today. It's definitely underrated, and I might even say it's the best anime to come out of 2024.

As a historical fiction, this is a fairly accurate depiction of how the church controlled the narrative through violence.

All the supposed witches who were burned and drowned, all the scientists who were executed are not forgotten. This is a tribute to those who gave up their life gladly so that we can pursue the truth.

Even though it is fiction, the situation depicted here is fairly accurate for majority who pursued science in the face of persecussion by the church. The fact that the church had an "Index of Forbidden Books", a changing list of publications deemed heretical or contrary to morality, makes it harder for the audience to take this as a fiction. The anime did a great job depicting that time period.

If you are interested in questions of faith, philosophy and the history of astronomy in medieval times, this one is for you.

The characters are very well written and have convincing themes and motivations. Their actions are relatable and the plot is overall well paced, understandable while maintaining a high amount of tension.

Visually the highlight of this series is the gorgeous shots of the nightsky. Overall i would say it has a decent quality of animation and an even better than decent overall 'style'.

My one missing star is due to some scenes including torture. The series does not attempt to make the torture a 'selling point'; it feels like more of a necessary evil of the setting; yet for my taste they could have cut away (even more than they already do) in some scenes.

It is one of the few truly inspiring shows that shows what the power of Truth means. It puts the idea front and center.

It manages to show what poeple like Marie Curie or other people who gave thier life for science must have gone through.

The art style is beautiful when it wants to be beautiful.

Each and every characters are thoughtfully written. Only show where almost everyone goes through the phases from an "initial purpose/perception", the "happenings" and the character development/conclusion.

It shows the darkest times, with the brightest individuals.

It is an instant classic, and this the series for you if you are looking for something short but exhilarating.

"LFirst off, this is an animated series slated to run for 25 episodes. While I rely on captions for the English translation, it doesn't detract from the experience at all. The show is fiction, but its themes resonate with the early years of the church, set in what feels like the Dark Ages-a time when science and math clashed with religious dogma.

The storytelling can feel a bit scattered at times, but that doesn't lessen the intrigue. As of now, eight more episodes are set to release weekly, and I look forward to them eagerly. Saturday mornings have become my time to watch the latest episode, and it's a ritual I genuinely cherish.

The series evokes deep, reflective emotions-often tinged with sadness, but in a way that feels meaningful rather than bleak. I truly enjoy it and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone. That said, while it's animated, this is not a show for young children. It's mature, thought-provoking, and captivating.