The name of this anime has popped up multiple times in conversations I have had with other anime watchers. "You should watch that Antarctica anime, that one is pretty good". I don't think 'pretty good' is an accurate descriptor for what 'Sora yori mo Tooi Basho' aka 'A Place Further Than The Universe' is. I could describe the characters as 'colourful', 'fun', 'interesting' or even 'realistic'. That wouldn't do them justice, though. In the same vein, I wouldn't be able to find the right words to describe the art style, though 'amazing' gets close. The beautiful, easy elegance of how this simple story was told cannot be understated. You merely follow four high-school girls in their quest to join an expedition to Antarctica. But this show really isn't about the destination, but about the journey. You get to see the girls struggle with their personal lives, their circumstances, the different kinds of pressure each of them is under and how they each come to deal with their problems. All the while, their friendship grows deeper and deeper.

The Characters

Tamaki Mari aka Kimari is an energetic and cheerful girl who grew to hate that she never has done anything exciting. Each day for her is the same as the previous, and she never tries anything new, because she is terrified of the possibility that she might fail. Though a girl of many quirks, she is being shown to be very loyal to her friends and is generally sympathetic and friendly.

Kobuchizawa Shirase might be the most emotional girl of the group, though she rarely shows it. Usually, she tries to hide behind a serious or cool expression, which quickly falls apart when her emotions get the better of her. For years, it has been her ambition to get to Antarctica, and she would do anything to make this dream into reality. Her immense dedication combined with some other fun personality traits make her a very engaging character to follow.

Miyake Hinata never fails to wear a smile on her face, even in serious situations. She always stays positive, whatever the situation, though you can later see that there are more layers to her character than visible at first. Her expressiveness is always a joy to watch.

Lastly, we have Shiraishi Yuzuki, maybe the most collected girl of the group. Her celebrity status has made it all but impossible for her to make friends previously, but the expedition to Antarctica gives her the chance to finally open up and learn the meaning of friendship. Yes, that phrase sounds cliché, what about it? The execution is anything but.

To sum things up: This anime is amazing, especially if you are a fan of great animation, amazing characters and everything good in this world. 9/10