Eve no Jikan (2009)

Type: Futuristic, Slice of Life
Year: 2009
Studio: Studio Rikka
Overall Rating: 4.22
Reccomendation: Must Watch
Episode Recaps: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

This relatively short series is directed by Yasuhiro Yoshiura, product of Studio Rikka. The highlight of this series is its 2D character animation on 3D background. The art and animation is fabulous. Each episode features a “Monster (Robot) of the Week”, with a larger plot carrying throughout the series, but remains unconcluded by the end of episodes. The premise of the story is intriguing, taking a leaf out of Issac Asimov’s I Robot, and presenting it in a realistic setting, addressing ethical issues of AI use. But to tell the truth, nothing is quite comparable to its fantastic art – for which alone, this is a Must Watch.

Ratings Breakdown:
Visuals: 5.0
A breakthrough in Japanese animation, with several other series going in the same direction. After watching Eve no Jikan, you’ll come to the realisation that old-style 2D animation is fast becoming a relic of the past. Look under Episode Recap for an almost-complete Eve no Jikan gallery.

Music: 4.5
The music has slight techno/ trance influence, which fits the setting very well. The cheery sound also helps to offset the melancholy inspired by some of the individual stories.

Setting: 3.8
Although the setting is quite run-of-the-mill, somewhere-in-the-far-future sort of thing which takes place in most sci-fi series, it is integral to the themes of the series and not merely a convenient plot device, like other sci-fi series, so I gave it plus points.

Plot: 3.8
Each individual sub-plot is not very interesting, but when taken together, they are meant to establish some sort of rapport between humans and AIs, setting the stage for bigger things to come. Themes and relevant, philosophical and presented within a realistc setting.

Characters: 4
Rikuo and Masaki are ordinary high school boys who are easy to relate to, and their family backgrounds are quite intriguing. The inclusion of AI characters disturbed me a bit, because the creator encouraged us to sympathise with their concerns, which in reality could only be stimulated emotions. Somewhere along the way, I realise that audience reaction mirrors the tension and uneasiness felt by our principle characters, with regards to the socialisation and intrusion of AI in society, so it all works out.