Shin Sekai Yori (From the New World)

Truly one of this year's best, Shin Sekai Yori grabs you the by expectations from the very beginning and doesn't let up until you're past the final credits; it is, in my opinion, one of only a few series that succeeds at matching the depth of its resolution to the ambitious set up we're given at the start.

Aesthetically its gorgeous. The soundtrack does its job with subtle but remarkable changes in mood and tone, and the animation is seamless in every regard (the few possible exceptions to this - two very painful "forest" episodes come to mind... - are saved by character and story progression, which completely overshadow any and all technical oversight). But SSY's success, like most productions of its kind, is as multifaceted and surprising as the story at its heart, one that, like its characters, starts small and unfolds beautifully. No revelation comes too soon. None of the plot twists seems out of place. The cliffhangers are tantalising narrative devices rather than gimmicks and - SURPRISE! - even the time skips are done well.

More than an under-promoted and underrated masterpiece, Shin Sekai Yori is simply storytelling done very, very right.

This anime is certainly one of the best I've ever seen, and I would (and do) recommend it to anyone. The story is incredibly clever and thought-provoking, and each episode left me thinking not only about what had happened in the show, but about the greater implications of such possibilities. I chose to watch the show based on some cool-looking stills I'd seen on the internet, and a brief description of the plot and original book, but those could never do it justice. It ended up being something so much deeper, darker, and better than I'd ever expected. Watch Shin Sekai Yori and be ready to have your mind completely blown. (Also, be ready to cry. Possibly a lot.)

This is my first and only review, so please be patient with me, Shin Sekai Yori is an exception for me.

Just as most viewers, I feel this anime was very poorly advertised. It also had some very prominent pacing issues in the early episodes, but once you get past those things... wow. Every single episode ended too soon, leaving the viewer wanting more... not just wanting it, needing it. Rarely have I seen such amazingly frustrating cliffhangers! Being taken through these character's lives in this truly messed up dystopian society full of power users who are scared to death of their children. Enough with all that though, let's get down to business. If you don't want spoilers, then don't look at them.

Story:

Shin Sekai Yori (SSY) has one of the most involved stories I've seen in a long time, one that just draws you in and doesn't let up for a second. Through this entire series I have felt every emotion possible... ... if for no other reason, give this a chance for the story, as I said before, it starts out slow, just be patient... you willl not regret it!

Art:

Zero complaints here, SSY is absolutely breathtaking visually. Nothing more needs to be said in my opinion.

Characters:

Well thought out and great development, I found myself getting attached to the main three (Saki, Satoru, and Shun imo).
Music:

The first ending theme (I should mention that there aren't any openers) is Wareta Ringo by Risa Taneda... I cannot get this song out of my head, it... is... amazing!!! Has the perfect feel for this anime! To be quite honest, the second ending Yuki ni Saku Hana by Kana Hanazawa didn't really stick with me. The addition of Dvorak’s Symphony No. 9 was a nice choice for the "going home" song though.

All in all, it's time to wrap this up. SSY is full of so much, laughs, feels, angst, terror (almost nightmare worthy), thrills, sadness... the series just screams for sympathy from it's viewers. You are expected to get invested, not only with the main characters (humans), but with the monster rats as well... the original author wanted your feels!! Now that it's all over the only thing I could possibly ask for is that the novel be translated... I would love nothing more than to read the original work.

Thank you so much for bringing this gem to us CR!!!

It is rare that I write a review, but this one warrents one. This anime is aimed at adults and educated people. If you are looking for harem or teen issues, this is not that kind of show Without spoiling it, just give it a try for three episodes. If you are not totally hooked, then you are not into these types of shows. But if you like comments on how humans progress through the ages, then you should watch this one. 5 stars!

Despite the description, this is a very mature and somewhat dark, philosophical show.

The dystopian (?) future world made me want to watch more to learn what happened. Each episode was laid out well enough to make me want to watch the next.

The animation itself seemed to change slightly for the worse after the first few episodes, but otherwise the animation was alright and the execution and direction were pretty good.

Unfortunately the characters were largely flat and I felt little-to-no emotional investment in most of them.

As far as the philosophy and message of the show, some elements are extremely heavy-handed and others are so subtle as to be near undetectable.

I think the show is overrated by a lot of the reviews. I certainly didn't get any good belly laughs or teary eyes, but if you're in the mood for an anime with a more serious mood, this show is worth a watch. A lot more thought went into this story than most.