To Your Eternity: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		0.0
Overall		3.0

To Your Eternity: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie Review

To Your Eternity: Season 1 is an action-adventure fantasy. Created by Yoshitoki Ōima, To Your Eternity: Season 1 features animation production by Brain's Base (The Kawai Complex Guide to Manors and Hostel Behavior, My Teen Romantic Comedy SNAFU). To Your Eternity: Season 1 is distributed on physical media by VIZ. To Your Eternity: Season 1 was originally broadcast on NHK Education. The Crunchyroll series has arrived with a three-disc release for fans of the production to add to their collection.

Produced by Aya Iishi, To Your Eternity: Season 1 features opening theme music performed by the great Japanese pop icon Hikaru Utada.  To Your Eternity: Season 1 has voice-performances by a wide cast including Reiji Kawashima, Aya Uchida, Eri Inagawa, Kenjirō Tsuda, Kentarō Tone, Konomi Kohara, Manaka Iwami, Mitsuki Saiga, Nobuyuki Kobushi, Rie Hikisaka, Ryoko Shiraishi, Sayuri Hara, Taku Yashiro, Yū Kobayashi, and Yūko Natsuyoshi. To Your Eternity: Season 1 is only the beginning of the journey.

A mysterious orb is sent to Earth. The orb is not a simple inanimate orb, it is an orb with an ability to morph into other things around it. The orb is capable of transcending life itself and even survives by coming back after death. The orb can shift its form and transform from an orb into a rock. As the orb explores the world around it, the orb also morphs itself into a wolf and then eventually the form of a young boy. When the orb spends time with a young human boy, the orb becomes one with Fushi (Reiji Kawashima).

Now the orb is a young boy and it begins a whole new journey unlike anything else it has experienced before. Now the orb is more than a sphere, the orb is learning what it means to be human. Yet the orb experiences the joys and sorrows of being a human being, including the darkness that can come with it. The orb encounters an enemy named Nokker. The orb also encounters new friends and acquaintances that help the orb to learn more about the surrounding world. Will the orb live eternal life through the bond formed with boy Fushi – and what will the orb have learned about humanity?

The concept of the orb is something that audiences may find to be a bit compelling and philosophical. The idea is a bit creative and more distinct than some productions. Through the orb, the experiences happen with the other characters. The journey of Fushi is a long one and the boy has a lot to discover. The character designs by Koji Yabuno (Firefighter Daigo: Rescuer in Orange, Space Brothers) are well done. The aesthetics of the series character designs feel somewhat simplistic but it is in this quiet simplicity that the designs stand out from the crowd. The designs provide a midway between the fantastical and a more grounded design style.

The animation is impressive and one of the best qualities of the entire production. To Your Eternity: Season 1 features art direction by Yukihiro Shibutani (Case Closed, Natsume's Book of Friends). An impressive art director, Shibutani is a strong contributor to the production. With gems like Natsume's Book of Friends under their belt, To Your Eternity: Season 1 is a nicely animated series. The animation is impressive with nice background animation and character artwork. The style works well for the type of series. The animators did a solid job with the series.

The cinematography by Yorinobu Oda (Firefighter Daigo: Rescuer in Orange, Gakuen Basara: Samurai High School) is a highlight of the series, too. The cinematography provides a nice balance between lighter and darker shades of animation. The style is surreal at times and this adds to the philosophical quality of the series. The cinematography certainly highlights both the art style and the aesthetics of the production.

The score composed by Ryo Kawasaki (Tying the Knot With an Amagami Sister, Yu-Gi-Oh! Sevens) is a decent backdrop for the production. The music works well for the genre. The score provides some worthwhile music for the character moments and the more adventurous parts of the series. The composer has fun with the world and landscape. In addition to the series score, the main theme by Japanese pop icon Hikaru Utada is a nice addition to the series and something worth praising. In fact, Hikaru Utada is one of my personal favorite J- Pop musicians. I have been a fan since my teens and it is nice hearing some of her music accompanying the production. Hikaru Utada has a legacy as one of the greatest pop artists from Japan and the theme music will make some more interested in the anime.

Written by Shinzō Fujita (Digimon Ghost Game, Pokémon: Black and White), To Your Eternity: Season 1 is series that may tug at the heartstrings of some audiences. The series has a philosophical tone at times. The series is not a typical action-adventure. The concept is a bit different from the norm and this can provide a more interesting approach for the screenwriter of the series.

Directed by Masahiko Murata (Naruto, Naruto Shippūden), To Your Eternity: Season 1 has gained a bit of a cult following. To Your Eternity: Season 1 is well regarded as a compelling anime. Director Masahiko Murata does something a bit different from the norm with the anime series. Fans of the series will certainly delight in seeing VIZ Media provide a physical media release for collectors – and it is a bit unexpected for the Crunchyroll production.

To Your Eternity: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Released on Blu-ray by VIZ Media, To Your Eternity: Season 1 is presented in 1080p MPEG-4 AVC encoded high-definition in the original television broadcast aspect ratio of 1.78:1 widescreen. Distributor VIZ Media has done a good job handling the Crunchyroll series. The anime has a quality presentation. The animation is well-reproduced – the line art and background animation are well detailed on the release. The crisp animation may occasionally have a soft edge but it looks quite impressive on the whole. The release does have some occasional banding and minor issues but otherwise looks pleasing in high-definition.

To Your Eternity: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The release includes a selection of lossless audio options: English DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 and Japanese DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (with English subtitles). The release capably preserves the sound direction by Takeshi Takadera (Diary of Our Days at the Breakwater, Oshi no Ko). The lossless audio presentation enhances the soundstage for both the original Japanese language version as well as the English dubbed option. The release provides a 2.0 mix for either audio selection and fans can expect similar results with either option. The score is well emphasized on the presentation. Dialogue is crisp, clear, and impressive. The English subtitles on the release are well-done and free from egregious spelling or grammatical errors.

To Your Eternity: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

The release comes in a standard Blu-ray case. The release comes with an o-card slipcover. The slipcover artwork is identical to the artwork highlighted underneath the slipcover. The inside cover-art has some nice background art printed on the back of the cover art sleeve. The disc artwork on the release is also notable and has nice full-color art on each disc included in the box-set. A nice package design touch for the release by VIZ Media.

Unfortunately, there are no bonus features on the release. This is surprising as even some offerings considered "barebones" to physical media fans can usually be expected. Rounding out the package with some audio commentaries, making-of featurettes, cast/crew interviews, photo galleries, trailers, and more would have added some extra value to the collection. The lack of any meaningful supplements often is the difference between an easy-purchase and a pass for collectors. Fans will have to weigh purchase pros and cons in regards to the lack of supplements on the release.

To Your Eternity: Season 1 Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

To Your Eternity: Season 1 begins the action-adventure journey. To Your Eternity: Season 1 also features theme music performed by J-Pop icon Hikaru Utada. The series aired in Japan on NHK Education and has a bit of a philosophical side. The anime was then licensed for streaming by Crunchyroll. VIZ Media has collaborated with Crunchyroll and has provided a physical media release.

The Blu-ray provides a solid high-definition presentation and lossless audio encoding. The release does not include any bonus features. The total lack of extras is quite surprising and prospective buyers might feel underwhelmed. At least the Blu-ray release comes with a decent slipcover – although it doesn't feature alternative artwork underneath the slipcover. Fans should consider a purchase if ownership is desired.