Now and then here and there, it took some time but i finally watched it. Big shout-out to Watashi Shocho cause i found this anime through his YouTube channel like 2 years ago.
‹›
So let's begin shall we? "Now and there here and there" is pretty brutal. From the outside, it doesn’t look that brutal, right? The calm, rural Japan setting lures you in. But once Shu gets dragged into Hellywood, things flip hard. He’s just trying to save Lala Ru—a quiet girl with a mysterious pendant, and suddenly he’s stuck in a nightmare ruled by pure madness
…
A basic premises of Hellywood shall we...HellyWood is a place controlled by Hamdo, he is basically the king of Hellywood. They call Hellywood a "nation" and in Hellywood are soldiers who work under him. Hamdo is basically a dictator. The soldiers consists of child to adult. How are those soldiers recruited? Simple —> destroy villages, steal their resources, kill anyone who resists, and kidnap their kids. Those kids are then brainwashed and trained to fight until they drop.
‹›
The characters are the main strength of this series by a long shot. Lala Ru, Shu, Nabuca, Sara, Hamdo, Abelia, Boo, Tabool, Sis, Soon, and even Kazam and Elamba they make this series what it is.
img60%(https://files.catbox.moe/jefrfg.jpg)
Should i begin with Hamdo? Hamdo as a villain is a job well done. He is a full on Narcissists who can't stand being questioned. Basically… Hamdo is what happens when unchecked insecurity and ego get tossed into a blender with delusion and handed a gun. His childish ego doesn't make things any better. Yeh i hate him. Can't help it can i? His childish temper, obsession with control, and god complex make him both pathetic and terrifying. An obsessive control freak who can't stand a bit of anyone. Hamdo's goal is to be the king of the world. He wants to rule over all and everything—but his personality doesn't help him as the fall of Hellywood can be solely blamed on him.
img60%(https://media.tenor.com/uGUxy5qFFM0AAAAM/now-and-then-here-and-there-ima-soko-ni-iru-boku.gif)
Abelia is definitely interesting. We can see from the beginning that yeh she is definitely not like Hamdo at all. She’s calm, composed, and seems to understand how hopeless his rule is—yet she stays loyal anyway. What is her relationship with him? Well god knows that but yeh she is the number two of Hamdo, faithful till his fall or was she? Her character inspection is kinda hard? But she was definitely getting a grapsh of how Hamdo's plan was a total mess. Hamdo didn't care for his people and Abelia knew this but still she supported him. Without Abelia, Hamdo's nothing, literally Nothing. Wanna know how things proceeded? Watch the show dammit.
img60%(https://media.tenor.com/NBGspbZ4HV8AAAAM/now-and-then-here-and-there-ima-soko-ni-iru-boku.gif)
Shu our main character is a typical bright anime protagonist. Determination written all over his face, the “never give up” type. But as his journey through Hellywood goes on, that determination gets tested again and again—but that didn't stop him. Throughout the series seeing his character experience various different things for the first time was pretty sad and brutal. His journey of trying to free himself and Lala Ru turns into something way more then just that.
img60%(https://media.tenor.com/r-4dWYSpN1QAAAAM/now-and-then-here-and-there-ima-soko-ni-iru-boku.gif)
Horrors of war like torture, genocide, hunger, sexual assault and child exploitation are present throughout this series. Speaking of sexual assault a character comes to mind, Sara. Sara is strong and her story is just fucked up. The respect i have for her at the end of the series is unmatched. Sara was "accidentally" abducted by Hamdo's and his people but now they won't let her go home, will they? And then what follows her is just so beyond fucked. Well you definitely know what I'am trying to imply here. Fucking brutal throughout. She’s living proof of resilience—a person who’s been through hell but refuses to let that define her.
img60%(https://files.catbox.moe/74pk8u.jpg)
Nabuca, Boo and Tabool are now three of the soldiers at Hellywood and their conclusion at the end of the series is totally different from each other. I just get sad thinking about it rn. It's just so fkd man. Fuck Hamdo. I don't wanna say much tbh as I've already said enough about the other characters and i do want the people reading this review to watch the series if they haven't already but just remember that these three are all victims of Hamdo. I won’t spoil their endings, but each one hits differently and all of them remind you how Hamdo’s insanity destroyed countless innocent lives.
Sis, Soon, Kazam, and Elamba mainly play big part towards the second half of the series and they are equally important characters in their own right. The thing is i feel so bad for Soon, i can't do anything but just feel bad for her can i. Even Sis, Kazam (not really ig), and Elamba just go through different fate's and watching them all is just sad.
img60%(https://files.catbox.moe/nsnau7.jpg)
Finally Lala Ru. The main foundation of this series is that Hamdo want's Lala Ru so that his plan to rule the world will be successful. Hamdo’s obsession, Shu’s motivation, the spark that sets it all off. Lala Ru is a important character—a very important character she is. I don't really wanna spoil exactly why Hamdo needs Lala Ru and her pendent but just get it that it's something that is a must for all humans.
‹›
Also i wanna talk about the sound design of this anime as i really love it. The opening, ending and the OST's are just chief's kiss. The sound design just made this anime hit me way more. Everybody who worked on this anime, I'am grateful and thanks for your hard work!
…
The conclusion of "Now and then here and there" is a hopeful one which gives you the courage to carry forward. It's not "happy", it's sad yet gives you the push to move forward. It's hopeful and honest. It's not just about saving the world is it? It's about saving yourself. It's about living through hardships and moving forward for a better future and your know what that message hits me at the core—it really does. Being able to experience this story was beautiful yet a painful experience, and I'am glad i got to experienced it.
The sunset is beautiful, isn't it?