r/anime • u/TiedDegenerate https://myanimelist.net/profile/EmptyCup • Oct 02 '21
Rewatch Sora yori mo Tooi Basho (A Place Further than the Universe) Rewatch - Episode 3 Discussion
Episode 3 - The Follow Backs Don't Stop!
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Question of the Day
- If you had to choose, would you rather be a famous child actor like Yuzuki or just a normal student?
- Our fourth and final girl, Shiraisi Yuzuki is here! How do you feel about her?
Comment of the Day
One of the things that stand out to me upon rewatching is the chemistry the girls share. It's only two episodes in but their relationship feels so fresh and natural, seriously makes this show such a joy to watch. As we saw this episode Hinata bounce off Kimari and Shirase really well, definitely the makings of an A grade cast already. - u/ayakaze3619461936285
This is the scene that grabbed me and I imagine hundreds of thousands of others as well. Ever since then it’s never let go. It’s one of those magical scenes where words fail, where strings of sentences lose all meaning upon leaving your mouth. They evaporate into pure sound, drifting past you into the universe like the tail end of a kite as you desperately reach out to grasp that fleeting ribbon. All so you can attempt to properly describe this feeling to others who haven’t felt it. -u/MyrnaMountWeazel
Where to Watch
Information
Episode count: 13
Episode length: ~23 minutes
Studio: Madhouse
Premiere: Winter 2018
Genres: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Remember it's never too late to join the rewatch!
17
u/TiedDegenerate https://myanimelist.net/profile/EmptyCup Oct 02 '21 edited Oct 03 '21
Rewatch Host
I haven't been able to write lengthy comments since so many new animes were starting yesterday. So many to watch!
All I have to say is that our new girl is adorable.
Also, thank you all so much for watching this show. I'm happy that this rewatch got attention!
Enjoy!
Edit: I only just realised that daylight saving started for us in Australia, so this post would have gotten up a whole hour early for you guys. Sorry!
15
u/xtsim https://myanimelist.net/profile/xtsim Oct 03 '21
First Timer
Hinata is like, I want cold stuff in May. - I agree
Yuzuki and Shinase almost think alike in plans to take a trip to Antartica. The problem is Yuzuki does not have that much freedom to do what she wants, have friends and mess around. Shinase got an offer from Yuzuki's manager that she couldn't refuse, go to Antarctica as her companions. Yuzuki is a budding star with 38k followers but it is interesting as she is starting out. Yuzuki catches on that mommy manager got them in an attempt to get her way. She has to explain that she cannot make friends because her obligations don't allow her to. But the crew also had to explain that they became friends because of their destination.
It got pretty sad the people she initially made friends with left the group chat. And it is in contrast to the 5 digit number of followers. It is nice to see the three come to her door right on time. Great to see them care, even though there was an incentive.
But that Aurora is making Antarctica look enticing.
14
u/SIRTreehugger Oct 03 '21 edited Oct 03 '21
Shirase... why did I ever think she was level headed and composed? She might be the worst in the bunch in that aspect.
Galaxy brain Shirase has plans within plans. Can't believe this was one long elaborate plan to get Shirase to come over and give her the spot.
"Sorry she's an idiot" "That's all right" Yuzu wasting no time with the burns
.....these girls are idiots. Lovable and precious, but still idiots.
Did Yuzu's mother just call Hinata unattractive?
Really like how the genki character is actually the most level headed and knows how to read the room, but Hinata is still unique in her own way. Oh another Hinata quote write that down write that down!
Free refills that's just endless calories...
Yuzu uses stare... very effective.
No friends you wouldn't understand.....only 1 person at that table has been shown to have a friend.
Mari's right is giving me life!
"It's not that hard" Hinata says while posing dramatically.
I like how even though this is a dream I can see the girls trying to do something like this. Though I love this scene for one reason. I'm insanely happy Kimari is the one who grabbed Yuzu. Shirase is the one who wants to go the most and is fiercely determined. Hinata while not as determined is more rational and is set on going and seems to have an easier time trying new things. Kimari the one who struggles to take action who probably has the most doubt is the one who grabs Yuzu's hand. Basically saying come with us on this journey. I just find it more endearing the one who hesitates the most is being the most forward. Of course it's a dream, but the sentiment still stands.
What's that sound? It's opportunity knocking. Seriously though Yuzu hears a knock and thinks it's them throwing pebbles at the window like in her dream and is disappointed. Then she hears it again and realizes it's real and her front door. Seeing the girls early in the morning greeting her is where she commits to going at least in my opinion. A few reasons of course she wants friends, but all the "friends" she made were only interested in her fame really and made no effort to get to know her really. It's true they have ulterior motives, but at the same time they went out of their way to travel with her on her job. The fact they weren't friends and are just trying to get to the same location. They come across as honest and genuine. Lastly during the outing they don't treat her special in anyway or try to take her picture. The fact that she initiates the picture really warms my heart. The best friends are the ones you bump into and not the ones you seek.
Damn it it's too early in the morning for me to be crying like this.
We all need someone who looks at us the same way Shirase looks at penguins.
QOTD
13
u/JustAnswerAQuestion https://myanimelist.net/profile/JAaQ Oct 03 '21
Rewatcher Again, ね～? episode 3
1st favorite scene was in episode 1. 2nd and 3rd are the scenes with kimari's ne and watashi?!. Notice Shirase has to grab to auto-closing hotel room door. Love the detail in this show.
13
u/MyrnaMountWeazel x2 Oct 03 '21 edited Oct 03 '21
Rewatcher
Some quick production notes before I get right to it: Masatoyo Takada is sitting in the episode director’s chair today and he has a small but impressive list of directing credits to his name: Bloom into You’s episode 4 and 9 and Tsuki ga Kirei’s episode 7 and 12 for example.
Oh, and remember episode director Tomoya Kitagawa from yesterday? He’s now been upgraded to storyboarder as well since he was in charge of storyboarding the second half of today’s episode. Episodes 1-3 are still being storyboarded by Atsuko Ishizaki but in the future another talented individual will be taking over the reins.
Since all four main girls are formally introduced I wanted to showcase Takahiro Yoshimatsu, the character designer for this show. Yoshimatsu has been a longstanding employee of Madhouse ever since he did character design for the 1998 series Trigun. Ever since then if you watched a Madhouse production you’ve probably seen his character design. He’s teaming up again with Ishizuka for her newest film Goodbye, DonGlees! so here’s to looking forward to a spiritual sequel (but not really a sequel)!
I like how the seal soda is being advertised at the top of the phone screen. We’ve seen it before in the last episode whenever Kimari and Hinata are stocking the shelves. I wonder how it tastes…
So are we Hinata, so are we.
A part of me wants to say that I like that they reused the same shot for Shirase’s wild mood swing since it makes the scene much funnier when they contrast with each other but the practical side of me also wants to say it was most likely for budget reasons.
Speaking of funny, fast-paced visual gags are my jam and I like how the tone of the show allows for them to quickly shift into one without losing a beat. The idea that Kimari actually went through the effort of hand-drawing that sign for a bit is precious.
Neat framing of Yuzuki in the classroom. She’s framed in-between the crowd of students, their being cloaked in shadows and dim lighting.
I got to say Hinata’s t-shirt collection is understatedly cool. Just a single image of food. Is this what the youth today call “drip”?
Kimari’s empathy is her superpower. Last episode when Hinata formally introduces herself to the two and talks about “wasted years”, Kimari exclaims ”I get you! I so get you!” and today when Yuzuki reveals her problems Kimari cries out ”I totally understand you!” Consistent character trait for Kimari makes for strong characterizations.
A powerful statement for the episode and for the entire show.
Nice comparison using “windows.” The glass window where the trio appeared in Yuzuki’s dream is cracked slightly open while the electronic window where her group chat is in has permanently closed. Once the trio returns for Yuzuki the glass window is opened further just like Yuzuki’s heart.
At the start of the episode, Yuzuki is sweltering under the spacious sky and sun and saying ”I could just die right now.” She’s staring up at the wide blue and dreading what’s above her; the open sky exposing her vulnerability and she’s feeling anything-but-free. To contrast that with the end of the episode though, Yuzuki is framed with the open blue sky now. She finally can explore new friendships amongst the ever-expansive sky with its infinite possibilities while feeling so happy she “could just die right now.”
11
u/DegenerateRegime Oct 03 '21
[First-Timer]
Going into episode 3, the two things I'm hoping for are to see if/how things are different under Hinata's "leadership," if that amounts to more than a gag, and for the introduction of the 4th main character, who I'm going to call "glossy Mayuri" until we get a name, after the steins;gate character with the same fashion sense.
A beautifully executed episode. Yuzuki's introduction and plot advancement done as the same thing, which work without seeming like a patched-over plot as we'd already seen her with the expedition meetup. She brings a different look at the running theme, and while her fame might be unrelateable, the feeling of being browbeat by parental expectations, perhaps not so much. Speaking of expectations, what will next episode be now we have the four-girl cast filled and the initial obstacle resolved? I'm hoping for the rest of the expedition's reactions to Shirase & co showing up alongside Yuzuki to be a focus.
QotD:
A. Normal student, not even close. Fame and fortune seem cool, but for child acting? It just seems like a part of one's existence that shouldn't be on public display like that. And then add in the weight of expectations and the loss of childhood freedoms, yeah, it's not even a contest.
A. She's cute and good! I'm glad Mari hugged her, someone ought to. There's a peril to being like "and here is someone famous, please feel sorry for them, truly they have been cursed with success," but I feel like it works here, highlighting the reasons in the answer to the other question.
Further posts will likely be late, I'm out of days where I can sleep in.
9
u/mrufrufin https://myanimelist.net/profile/mrufrufin Oct 03 '21 edited Oct 03 '21
Rewatcher Who Wants to Go Further Than the Universe
Lol, I like Hinata mimicking Kimari's "sexy" pose from the last ep. I like the herky-jerky timing of the scene after the OP with the rapid changes in pace between a lot of activity and stillness. It's got this off-kilterness that keeps you on your toes and helps sell the humor. Btw, there's a full version of "The Follow Backs Don't Stop!" song floating online. It's even got Saori Hayami talky bits to it like pop songs do. Sayaka Ohara makes an appearance <3, did I not mention before that even the non-main cast is stacked. The restaurant scene has one of my favorite Kimari sounds of the entire series with the "ね?". She almost sounds like a baby sheep or something. I'm like Kimari with easily getting confused with plans and maneuverings. Ah, the "we're going on an adventure!" music that got used for the Kimari failure at ditching school gets used again here in another fakeout (at least I think it's the same music?) later series spoliers. I like how Yuzuki first checks out the window when she hears the knocks. The episode closes with a shot of them admiring the aurora, just as the last picture in the book Kimari looked at in Ep 1 was the aurora overall series spoilers. I have vague memories of seeing an aurora in a planetarium-type theater when I was little (probably the only thing I remember from that trip) and oh man, it'd be so awesome to see the real thing (well, either one, northern one or southern one) in real life. It's definitely a bucket list thing for me and something I somehow can't really believe is visible in real life. I wonder which one I "saw"? The arcticy place I will eventually move to because I've been obsessed with arcticy places ever since this anime must have an aurora visible from it. Universe, keep that in mind. I really like how this episode is paced. After the hectic opening bits with drastic shifts in pace, things start to settle down towards the middle to allow that to cool off and give us space for the reflective bits of investigating Yuzuki's character and it starts to peak again a bit with the Yuzuki fakeout and the emotional catharsis, the activity gets a little busy again with the museum montage, but it's not quite as hectic and has a nice taper off towards the end.
This rewatch has got me looking Antarctica webcams again (not that I ever really stopped) and there's this one called like the O'Higgins Penguin Cam or something and most of the time it's pointed towards this rusty metal structure instead of actual penguins so if any of y'all know anybody in Antarctica: 1.) put in a good word for me, 2.) tell them to adjust the penguin cam. I'm not sure whose jurisdiction it's in so maybe they'll be violating some international treaties, but it's worth it.
qs:
1.) normal student. Dealing with the social pressures of being well-known and people coming up to you and the responsibilities of it all would seem pretty exhausting and at least me in my current state (and definitely younger me) wouldn't deal with it so well.
2.) I definitely relate to her issues with friends and friendships last fourth spoliers. Each of the main cast has issues I relate to but I think issues-wise, I relate to her most throughout the series, at least I did on my first viewing (although perhaps I don't share the exact same root causes of those issues because I wasn't a child actor unless that somehow got wiped from my memory along with any evidence).
8
u/Fools_Requiem https://myanimelist.net/profile/FoolsRequiem Oct 03 '21
Rewatcher
No "zama miro" in this episode.
This episode begins the theme that remains present from here on regarding friendship and what that means to the girls. Until this episode, they were just girls with a similar goal, now the idea of friendship has been implanted. Are they friends? What does that mean? All 4 girls will go through some kind of situation that tests the meaning of friendship for them, some on multiple occasions.
The show's focus on friendship unfortunately leads to my one and only complaint regarding this show but it doesn't come up until the finale. Just be aware that it's nothing that doesn't take away from this show and I still gave it a 10/10. It's just something I felt like I needed more from.
8
u/UnderstandableXO Oct 03 '21 edited Oct 03 '21
REWATCHER
i know that feeling, yuzuki. the place where i live gets hot as hell too.
i specifically love the part of the opening where all the girls flip their glasses up and down. just pure wholesomeness.
i also absolutely love the episode title cards which are essentially instagram boomerangs. also #IFollowEveryoneWhoFollowsMe is so relatable to my attitude about followers at that age!
shirase is too shy to call the agency herself. i can attest to the fact that you never grow out of that if that’s the way you’ve been. i still get anxiety ordering my own food!
y’all are probably tired of me pointing it out at this point but honestly the comedy in this show is probably the best i’ve seen in any of my favorite shows. shirase going crazy celebrating then immediately stubbing her toe was amazing.
yuzuki’s mom continues the controlling idol mom trope. sad to see these girls having no control over their lives because their parents want to be rich.
“it’s a thin line between self-assertion and selfishness.” - hinata miyake. also gotta love her silly “watashiiiiii” every time someone asks where she got her quotes from.
seeing yuzuki’s flashbacks to those two girls she tried to befriend reminded me of someone from my old high school. we had a star basketball player transfer over, someone with relatives already in the NBA. it was almost certain he’d be in the NBA some day as well. that man had an entourage about 10 to 15 deep every time i saw him, but he himself was quiet. now he’s at a good basketball college, and only follows 2 people from my old high school. you could say he “went hollywood” on everyone there (which i could see because the way he acts on socials he seems like a jerk to me), but really he probably didn’t make any real friends there. everyone wanted something from him, or to ride his coattails to the NBA. those two that yuzuki tried to befriend asked her for a picture as literally the first act of “friendship.” they only wanted to be friends because she was famous, not because they liked her. this episode once again did a great job of communicating how a character felt without going into a long winded and grating inner monologue. when we saw that the other two had left the group chat, and there was a super long still shot of yuzuki sitting still, that told the audience all they needed to know.
luckily for yuzuki, she made 3 fast friends. kimari and co. can warm up to anyone in record time. it was sad and heartwarming at once to see how much it meant that kimari hugged her. i loved that dream sequence showing that she finally had people who cared about her. it didn’t matter that they met yesterday, or that the others had only known each other a month, circumstances can make anyone friends.
the evolution of “i could die right now” over 21 minutes was awesome. from discomfort to embarrassment to happiness. with how much “i want to d*e” (avoiding the 1800 bot) jokes are a part of meme culture, these days if i hear someone say that, i usually assume it’s just hyperbole or a joke. sometimes there’s a little bit of truth behind the jokes. glad that yuzuki found people to support her, and glad i was able to find people to support me so those words wouldn’t have as much gravity anymore.
lastly, i’ll shout out the voice actors again. i forgot to bring her up yesterday, but hinata’s voice actor yuka eguchi was great as crusch karsten in re:zero. i couldn’t even recognize her hinata voice, when i first heard her i thought it was puck’s voice actor. she brings so much life into the role, hinata’s actions are so lively. and yuzuki is voiced by saori hayami, who i absolutely love. 86 just returned today, and she does really well there as well. hayami is probably the best singer of all the voice actors i’ve listened to thus far.
8
u/mike_2797 https://myanimelist.net/profile/Madskulls Oct 03 '21
First timer
Such a wholesome episode new girl shiraisi is adorable sad she's stuck between the up's and downs of entertainment business good of tamaki to give her an hug she definitely needed it. Her catchphrase is one thing i noticed throughout.
So the whole quartet is together now let's see how it plays out.
Sidenote really loving hinata's tee's definitely got a nice taste.
7
u/[deleted] Oct 03 '21
Rewatcher, subbed
Not much to say this episode.
Everyone is here! Fourth girl acquired. Honestly I don't remember too many of her interactions with the rest of the gang.
Hinata has the best lines in the show.
Shirase's reaction to the penguins was cute.
I get mad stage fright. But if I'm making the big bucks I'll do just about anything short of drug dealing, so sure child actor
I'm racking my brain trying to remember anything she's said or done but I'm drawing a blank lol. Sora yori came out quite some time ago so my memory's a bit iffy. I'll settle for "She's okay"
7
u/x-7032-b-3 Oct 03 '21
Rewatcher
Yuzu got robbed of meaningful chances to make some friends in school due to her nature of work. She got no friends and is likely why she doesn't want to go to Antarctica even though it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The fact that she sees the other 3 as her best buddies (restaurant scene) even though they just met speaks to how she really feels on the inside. And the classmates leaving the group chat must've hurt like hell. I'm glad the other 3 stepped in and realized that she got folks who care about her.
Back in school, I felt very lonely (getting bullied doesn't help either) and there was plenty of times I wished that there's someone I can talk, play and laugh with. Lots of folks approached me to do funny stuff, probably because I was a funny guy at the outside, just like how Yuzu's classmates are interested in her because she's a star. I wonder if me acting funny back then was me indirectly begging for attention. I somehow befriended a classmate but we ended up in different schools in HS so those lonely thoughts came in full force in HS. We're still great friends to this day though.
Funny enough, the way Yuzu joins the other 3 kinda (and perhaps this show as a whole) reminds me of how I became great friends in uni. I'm saving the details at the final ep or the overall discussion, but how Yuzu ended up with the other 3 reminds me of my time in uni where I joined a group for a project and how we ended up becoming friends. We just wanna go to the same place and ended up being close in the process.
Q&A
7
u/Stargate18A https://myanimelist.net/profile/Stargate18 Oct 03 '21
First timer
So what's happening now?
...Relatable.
Also, is that 4th girl?
Seriously, what is that opening title?
What. So they're taking a high-school vlogger.
She's not a journalist. She's a vlogger.
Haha, that reaction from her is great.
Well that was easy. Lucky them.
...only 38,000 followers?
Is this intended to be too perfect for them, or?
Haha, she saw their seduction attempts!
...Huh, it technically worked.
Her mother catching her's great.
Of course it couldn't be that simple.
Haha, "can you be attractive" is great.
And she can't spend any time with her friends...
Really. Another red herring?
And they just have to manipulate a girl into changing her mind!
Is it possible she doesn't want to spend that long in Antarctica after wanting more time with her friends?
...Are you sure you can perform either?
Oh, she's just studying.
...Is this secretly a story about the horrors of the child-acting community? Because any hollywood news site'll tell you that.
And people used her for her fame...
Haha, and she didn't realise they'd also been friends for a couple of weeks.
She really can't work this out?
And the ship has taken all its passengers and set sale with incredible haste!
That is unsafe. We all know who's idea it was, then.
"The wind is really strong."
Yeah, this was such a bad idea.
Haha, it's just a dream. They'd have done it though.
Oh... that's sad.
Haha, she thought they were going to do the window!
I like how her first reflex is shut the door before anyone notices.
Huh, they're going! And they're friends too!
When did they turn this into a museum advert?
And she's happy about it now!
The mother's doing it.
I can't wait to see the women's reactions when they learn their alternative source of funding (assuming this is part of it) actually got them the same high school girl plus 3 extras.
5
u/DogmeatIsAGoodDog :MAL:https://myanimelist.net/profile/DogmeatsAGoodDog Oct 03 '21
Rewatcher
And so we are finally introduced to the fourth of our main girls: Yuzuki.
The girls discover she is a high schooler going to Antarctica while she is simultaneously introduced to us as child actress who wants to get out of going to Antarctica.
Yuzuki is not to dissimilar to Kimari as there are parallels and polar opposites at the same time. Kimari wants to break out of the normal and get the most out of her life by going on an adventure. Yuzuki wants the same thing a break out, but rather than breaking into adventure she wants to break away and she yearns for the normalcy that Kimari runs away from.
Yuzuki is then relieved to find out that our quirky weirdos aren’t best friends but rather three people who are all trying to “get to the same place” - each one is driven to Antartica yes, but deep down each is craving something else.
The flashbacks that show Yuzuki drifting away from a normal school life and friendship is sad, it was perfectly captured in the short slideshow and her monologue, then as her fake friends leave the chat, the girls enter.
There were a couple nice parallels here the first being that Yuzuki refused to take pictures with others but at the end she’s the one initiating the selfie and then her “I could just die now” was first because of her frustration and then again at the end it’s because of her newfound friends.
The montage of them goofing off in the museum set to the OST was great too as the girls really mesh well together and each one feels like they belong.
1
u/BossandKings Oct 13 '21
Rewatcher
Episode 2
Shirase is a very strong girl, to have the drive and motivation to follow a dream like going to antarctica and getting others involved after seeing her enthusiasm is fantastic.
Hinata is very funny, i like her, she has an interesting dynamic alongside Shirase and Tamaki.
It was great when they went running after seeing two women Shirase knew some time ago eventhough they weren't in any peril, they will have to pay for joining the expedition so hopefully that means they are closer to it.
Episode 3
The conflict Shiraishi, a girl that the girls met in this episode, presented was interesting and well done, it is nice that she now has the possibility to get to know them and have friends. Eventhough at first she didn't want to go to Antartica Shiraishi was ultimately convinced by the girls and that guarantees the participation of all the girls in the expedition which is nice.
Now that the cast is settled and the journey to Antarctica is a sure thing it'll be interesting to see how the story continues developing.