I can tell you my secret because it’s been keeping me awake at night for months now!
Time Traveling is still so awesome. As much as I love anime like Gundam (or even Gundam Live Action) that are some of my favourite shows, it makes me sad that they have to make things more futuristic every year because of how popular those things get. The concept that a person has to go back in time in order to do something or have a conversation with someone doesn’t feel right, nor does the idea of having to look through everyone else’s belongings or even their fridge, which sounds great if you like finding old food hidden in your cupboards and all. This is why anime like Black Butler are such big hits: there’s not an overabundance of things to compare. Steins is a brilliant example of this, in fact the first episode is about how you can see someone from many years ago. If you don’t believe what I say then sit on the edge of a chair in front of them and watch Steins Gate.
Steins Gate is actually quite easy to understand, but I am going to try explain it again.
The story of the show begins with two young boys who grew up together after escaping their home, only to return home at the same time so that they could play together, much to the displeasure and disappointment of their parents, who were scared that they would have harmed each other in the process. They found themselves trapped in their own world and had to come to terms with reality on their own terms. Once the girls found out what happened before, they tried to fix everything and fix everything wrong and find any way to keep the family together.
The brothers and their parents were shocked by their actions. In a later part of the show we learn that they weren’t able to control their emotions in the moment and didn’t realise what a good friend they were until they broke down. When the sisters found out about what happened at school, the father had no understanding of what his sister did for him. He simply didn’t know what he really wanted, just that she was “good” to care for him no matter what. At first the siblings thought this was just another plot point for a new movie but then we find the truth, it’s actually very telling. But not only that, they also discover that a lot of people around them think differently than they actually do. The real world isn’t going to stay the same regardless of us or anyone else’s opinion of our actions. We’re all different and there’s almost too much negativity around trying to change the world to look pretty or have a happy ending, as evident here:
It gets worse the further the brothers go. It becomes increasingly clear that we’re in a fantasy world in which all that matters is being loved and having access to the answers. Although, this is what the entire town believes. After all, if a person knows the answer to anything, they’ve got an advantage. Eventually though, the brothers are forced to face reality, and the girls have to figure out what they want.
The girls aren’t worried about doing badly to their father or brother anymore, as long as he’s happy. While others would’ve been upset if they had discovered that they could turn into monsters instead of being born human, the sisters are fine with her and take all the abuse and torment at their disposal.
I loved the action of it. I loved the humour and I loved the characters. What’s amazing is how well they blend their own little universes with theirs, and create something so believable yet so incredibly original. A whole new kind of science fiction is created that leaves you wanting more despite yourself. There’s really a few examples of this, mainly in the scene where all three siblings meet at the store and talk about how much they dislike how nobody tells them how they should treat them when they act stupid. Everything that happens in the sequence is important. Even though this isn’t the main focus of the film, it’s a fantastic example of how the brothers can manipulate others, how the girls can manage their emotions, and the way that the parents are quick to judge and judgement is completely absent, making these scenes even more memorable.
What caught our attention was the relationship. How much the fathers actually cared for the children and how they showed it. They never showed any emotion and acted like they were cold. They looked absolutely disgusting, and yet that made them the perfect dad. To add on that, the mother seemed like a total liar. She constantly lied to the father. And we never really see these kinds of relationships in media in recent times.
What will probably upset viewers the most is the way they act. Yes, they’re teenagers, but most importantly they care about the other person and understand what they’re feeling. For this reason we can’t help but cringe at situations as we see how the characters struggle to cope with their feelings. Whether it’s their parents being embarrassed for not noticing that they’re acting this way, whether they’re struggling to express their sadness and how they cannot seem to understand the meaning of their words. Because each character’s story is unique, it’s even harder to relate to them, it seems like it takes a lot of effort to understand them, and even they don’t always succeed in understanding what they’re feeling. These are the small details that give us the biggest insight to them, and that makes these parts so incredibly touching and genuine. Not to mention how the songs are done perfectly, the cinematography, and the overall presentation, all of which make this TV show stand out from its contemporaries.
The writing of the scripts is sensational. One is called Good Boy, while the other is called Bad Guy. And both have the following endings: Good Girl or Girl Baked With Fire in both cases respectively. Both follow similar beats and styles of storytelling, making it easier for viewers to understand exactly what the kids are thinking when they’re dealing with their emotions. Unfortunately though, due to a number of problems, these endings were cut, leaving audiences with either of them. So it is a difficult choice. One is better than the other, especially in regards to storytelling and the way that it is presented. This is one which people may go through multiple stages to figure out for themselves.
A major strength about the film is the soundtrack. Each song adds on to how amazing the sound design is in general. From Steins Gate's opening song of "Someday" and "I Can See Your Breath", you can see how the actors and crew are putting effort into creating a magical atmosphere while showing off what this world would be like to live in.
The best thing about the music however is how diverse it is. Almost any genre that is currently trending will definitely be present in Steins Gate. However, you won't find any generic influences and the songs are extremely catchy. Their lyrics are fun to listen to and they'll make sure to draw your mind towards the next scene.
As for other elements, the animation is phenomenal. Throughout the rest of the story we also see the effects of the war on Earth and how it affects the character’s emotions on screen, as well as their reaction to each situation. All of these elements add to the incredible production values and make it so realistic.
There are plenty of technical aspects as well. On top of a stellar cast and the fantastic direction, it looks stunning on the computer. My personal favourites being the fight scenes in certain places and the visual effects of people flying through space on the train tracks, plus the special effects that we see during the attack on the city walls. It is truly epic. The camera work alone keeps you watching and waiting for the battle to begin. The editing and cinematography are some of the greatest works, considering how much time they spent creating it. It’s something that deserves praise from everybody, and that includes me.
Overall this is a must-watch anime. It’s beautifully shot and it has lots of great performances from the cast. Each character has something valuable to say, despite their flaws. The dynamic between the characters and how they act throughout the whole series is amazingly powerful and leaves you begging for more.
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