
a review by kathelynn
6 years ago·Apr 14, 2020

a review by kathelynn
6 years ago·Apr 14, 2020
Update: Note that my perception in what's considered "the best" is still widening as I watch more anime, but this one shows how impactful it is despite the simplicity, and I present it to you in a form of a long review.
I never had to make a review before.
For those who never watched, it's definitely worth 6 minutes of your time, and probably more. Please watch the video first and then read this review from my perspective, as I hope it's also worth a few minutes of reading.
For me though, it simply works. It's sad...brilliantly and simply.
Presented with a beautiful girl named Rin and the music video's one-word title "Shelter" to represent what it has in store, a downward slope to realization and sadness. Her beautiful blatant lie of "I am not alone" weights it; an irony that we eventually learn isn't, her Meaningful Echo that represent her life as she goes on a virtual world that she eventually learned to master on her own.
But not everything is a sad ending. We see her waking up every day to explore the reality she makes, her creativeness is inspired by nothing but reminiscing memories.
Subtleties such as being barefooted almost entirely, her bedroom filled with her past presents, her fascination with the drawing tablet of her father, her child-like behavior despite almost reaching the adult stage, her eagerness of waiting for a message in those 2,539 days. Her looks made of her ideal self than the teenager version of her Adorably Precocious self.
Her character shaped by her relationship with her father. Her missing mother declared to have passed away before she could make a lively appearance. How their actions make who they are and how important they are to each other. Rin's parents' decision for her to be happy, may seem ironic but conveyed through as You Are Not Alone.
Their attention to detail is worthy of the name "music video" where the music is an accompaniment instead of being the main piece, the animation itself is beautiful and well-executed. Both seem to try and achieve different things until they collide in the end to piece each other.
It doesn't end here. The implication of this anime showcases the people that create experiences, a meaningful message that artists explore their creativity filled with determination. The wanting to share the same thrilling experience with their fellow viewers and fans, a luxury that Rin would be happy to have.
"What will become of me from now on"
To go back with that meaningful echo of living alone, to only imagine how sad she lives her life as the intention of this music video where you can shape her story. It's part of letting you explore the emotions of the story you've created along the journey after being inspired by such. The freedom of having our own experiences.
Unfortunately, how creative you can get doesn't represent the music video, it isn't just as unique. It may not be extraordinary, but it still does what it wants to do very well. And just as much to talk about how simple it is, to the point that it's show and tell except for the freeze-frame message that was eventually sent to Rin in Japanese (which fans have translated).
Eventually, we are reminded that a message can be shared without such cliches and long dialogues of indicating that Stuff Happens. To make a lengthy one cour at such a budget is a huge sacrifice by reducing the quality of such a masterpiece. The amount of thought here is commendable. Porter Robinson & Madeon & A-1 Pictures has made such an incredible job and I can't wait to see more anime-related works from them.
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