The Place Promised in Our Early Days - Planet Exile
- Planet Exile
- Mae Capalla
- 08/08/05
- click here
"The Place Promised in Our Early Days is going to be an anime classic."
The anime prodigy, Makoto Shinkai, created
Voices of a Distant Star in the year of 2002. He single handedly created his anime films using only a Macintosh G4/400 computer and design/animation programs available on the shelf. His creation was surprisingly professional in feel. The complexity of
Voices of the Distant Star made Shinkai received the prestigious ?Most Valuable Newcomer? award at the 2002 Tokyo International Anime Fair.
In 2005, Makoto created and directed a remarkable science fiction story about promises and dreams. The film started with a man reminiscing about the girl that moved his heart. Then it flashes back to the year of 1996 introducing the enormous, mysterious tower built on the southern shore of Hokkaido. Its purpose of creation was unidentified.
The Place Promised in Our Early Days tells the story of two gifted teenager boys who have a dream to go the mysterious tower. Hiroki and Takuya shared the same aspirations and determinations to go to the mysterious tower and find out its secrets. With such tenacity, they spend most of their spare time building an airplane with the help of the military. Also, they both admired their classmate, Sayuri Hirotori, who is a charming girl that plays violin and always had a recurring dream involving the tower. They made a promise to Sayuri to take her with them to the tower when they finish the plane. The promise strengthens a friendship between the three students.
However, three years after Sayuri's disappearance, the boys stopped working on their project and became separated. They both went to different high schools and parted paths. While still a high school student, Takuya got accepted with the government research facility studying parallel worlds and moves on to his life. On the other hand, Hiroki goes to school in Tokyo where he often thinks of Sayuri and wonders what happened to her. Unknown to the boys, Sayuri lays unconscious in a hospital; she has a mysterious sleeping disorder that kept her in a coma for the last few years. Will this promise be pursued?
The story is a mixture of science fiction, politics, drama, and a hint of romance. The story focuses on the relationships of the main characters from middle school to high school. Sayuri reminds me of Sleeping Beauty who waits for her prince to rescue her. Also, it keeps you wondering about the secrets of the tower. With plenty of risk, perseverance to keep a promise is very inspiring.
The animation quality is superb! I cannot stop looking at the background scenery, especially the cloud textures that have the quality of Hayao Miyasaki's animation studio seen in Castle in the Sky. The dubbing is well done and the main theme consisted of soothing strings which touches your soul when you listen to it. It is very suitable for everyone due to the warm nature of the story.
The Place Promised in Our Early Days is going to be an anime classic. It is really worth buying! The animation and music is high class, while the story is touching and very memorable.
Posted on Monday, August 08, 2005 (Archive on Thursday, September 08, 2005)