The World is Still Beautiful

With the glaring number of praising reviews, and a decent enough of the overall, I had thought to find at least something that would temporarily be a time-killer of sorts. Unfortunately, what I found was a show riddled with problems, unbearable story and poor characters. Throughout the entire show, the only thing that stuck out was production value - something that matters the least in the show of this genre. What Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii has is not a story - it's rather an abomination, shrouded in overlapping layers of discomfort, insanity and terrible writing. Story is crippled by its inability to stay consistent, subtleor thought-provoking in any kind of a manner. By the time the torture was finally over, I could do nothing but laugh at how terrible it was. You can go as far as calling it a disgrace to the world of literature if you will ... and you wouldn't be far off. So, what's wrong with it, you wonder? The premise in itself is not bad, and the first episode does, somewhat, provide a hook onto the show. However, it already began showcasing the major problems the story has - the writer had absolutely zero idea what the hell he/she wanted to do with it. Plot-hole galore is already present by the time you've watched half of the anime, and you can't help but wonder did anyone even have a grasp of what was supposed to be happening within the world created. If you're looking for a political warfare - forget it. If you're looking for economic discussion of kingdoms - forget it. If you're looking for wars - forget it. If you're looking for struggle to reign over kingdom - forget it. If you're looking for romance - forget it. This story doesn't offer any of those in the slightest measure of what should be considered acceptable. Ranging from the actions of characters that are just completely random, to the drama that's so forced you just cringe, to the sob-filled flashbacks that only add more confusion to what already is "why and how and what" type of a show. I won't go into much detail, but here's one: in the first episode, it's showcased that Nike is unable to use her powers while hungry. While it was done in a comical way, it still set a standard of rule within the world. Suffice to say, you can forget it. Furthermore, she made a big fuss about making rain, but each time she summons it, she's singing THE EXACT SAME SONG. The rules this world sets are ignored on every single corner. Furthermore, in the later episodes, the guards / soldiers / servants / king / everyone, let the princess partake in an event that could potentially lead to her death. No. Just, no. Then, we get the introduction of "villains". It even pains me to call them so. Their motives and reasoning are pathetic, and even more insulting is that they give up on them so quickly it feels as if it was pointless to have them to begin with. For instance, bad guy number one, was against the marriage because he felt the rain to be bad omen to the Kingdom of Sun. He even went as far as to try and assassinate the princess. Minutes come and go, rain, viola, refreshing, I approve. I won't go into more details for fear of spoiling it (to be honest, there isn't much to spoil so ... ah, well), but, rest assured, that if you're looking for a story, stay as far away as possibly can. Some may argue that this wasn't supposed to be a story-driven series, and that characters carry it (I'll come to them), but if you bother trying to put a front of the story, at least make sure that front doesn't fall apart before story even begins. The author clearly abandons the rules he/she set, and uses things on convenience of the characters, essentially nullifying any possible conflict that would arise, rendering it pointless in a nutshell. As I mentioned beforehand, the only thing worth a damn in this show is the production. I enjoyed character designs, the way they did rain on certain occasions, as well as more than a few background shots. Animation, on the other hand, is ... average at best. It does its job, but the factor of excitement is nowhere to be found, since nothing about animation excited me in this show. From the information I've gathered, another thing that's simply worth of another "what?" is that Nike is 17 years old while the King is 15 years old. Why is there such a difference in height between the two of them I cannot answer. This also ties in to the story - is someone who's 17 really that much more of an "adult" than someone who's 15? On the sound side, there were more than a few pieces I enjoyed, but I really hated the repetitive "call down the rain" song - it wasn't even that good to begin with. You'll be skipping both OP and ED one episode in, so don't even bother. Now, as far as the characters go, they aren't as terrible as the story, but they're still quite dreadful. The biggest complaint I've got is the inconsistency and the backtrack of development, or rather the sudden development. Nike is referred to as a tomboy, but as far as I'm concerned, she's a bad example of one. She's rash, at times brainless and flat out ignorant, and, while you may say it's part of her charm, I'll say it's part of why she's a terrible character. She hauls the same mistakes over and over again, seemingly, again, abandoning the principle of "follow what you set, goddamnit". For a breakdown: in one of the scenes, she wakes up next to the King, and she isn't embarrassed at all. Same thing happens the next time, she is. She gets pettily jealous when someone showcases affection for the King, but is a complete, brainless moron when it's the other way around. The fact that this show even mustered courage to say that she had charmed the Kingdom into her liking is just impossible. To begin with, I have no idea how she even charmed the King. Speaking of the King, his name is Livius, or Livi for short. He's introduced as heartless and lacking in compassion - by that introduction, he should have had Nike beheaded in the very first episode. But that's just a nitpick. His character takes turns in every episode, round and round, like an never-ending roller-coaster. He first lacks love, then he doesn't, then he suddenly does again, and so on and so forth. Honestly, with the way he is, the idea of him "conquering the world" is not just unfathomable - it's impossible. I'd rather live alone in the desert than have him act as my king. You can attribute that to the age, sure, but how was he able to conquer the world then? No, he wasn't. He acts more like a spoiled prince rather than the King, even before Nike "changed him". I won't dwell into much detail (for fear of spoiling, again, I guess ...), but rest assured that neither the characters nor the story can salvage somewhat above average production. The only other character that's worth a damn in this show is the butler, but he's mostly just a comedic relief. Other characters are there when it's convenient or when the "conflict" is required. The only and only way this "story" progresses is when a random character, unheard of before, is introduced and our heroes must find a way to overcome the obstacle. The. Only. Way. Think about it for a moment. Did I enjoy SSwU? Nope. Aside from a few funny moments, this one's nothing but the soup whose main ingredient, the characters, are terrible, coupled with even worse story, and a decent production to cheat you off the foul taste. The "resolutions" of "conflicts" aren't satisfactory, the "conflicts" themselves are just nonsensical and boring, the writing is often so over-the-top it crosses the "cringe-worthy" barricade, and a few laughs that you can get from it won't satisfy you in the tiniest bit. Do I recommend it? If you can stuff through 12 episodes of terrible writing, just to get the predictable ending you saw coming first episode in, sure. IF you can stuff through 12 episodes of nothing but random conflicts (and I mean, NOTHING else), that somehow "develop" our characters, be my guest. If you can do all those things and more, and after finishing it can still say "Yeah, I enjoyed that", I commend you. You are bigger man than I am.

Does rock-paper-scissors determine the fate of everything? Not really but for Nike Lemercier, the fourth and youngest princess of Rain Dukedom, she’s about to find out just how much her life will change with just a game. Despite her reluctance, she is to marry the Sun King Livius, not for an everlasting relationship but for her country’s sake. Facing the problem of annexation, she travels to the Sun Kingdom for a marriage, one she thought was never meant to be. And boy, was she wrong. First thought regarding the series primarily deals with its adaptation. The anime covers roughly 18 chapters of the fantasy shoujo manga,written by Dai Shiina. The author’s expertise in the field of shoujo has earned her the 34th Hakusensha Athena grand prize in 2009. Now her current work Soredemo Sekai Wa Utsukushii (This World is Still Beautiful) is a centerpiece to her ideas. Crafted by classic shoujo themes in a fantasy setting, the series tells about a very oddball duo – a young princess and a king of a kingdom. Despite the show displaying some crass and generic concepts, it is surprisingly light on its feet. The show takes the direction of a fantasy shoujo and transcends it into an elevated atmosphere of energy with its characters. As the king of Sun Kingdom, Livius Orvinus Ifrikia (better known as Livius) is one such character with a huge prowess despite his age and appearance. From what we know, he was able to conquer the world, rid of government corruption, and seize power through conquest in a short span of just three years. But for someone his size and age, it’s hardly believable at first. That is, until we find out more about his inner character. That’s where Nike comes in who brings the best out of him. For starters though, Nike herself is shown to be a curious girl. Her journey to the Sun Kingdom ends up her losing her luggage, getting almost mugged, and treated with dismay by some of the commoners there. Rather than going vengeful at her condition however, Nike displays a more responsible personality when she is helps out some folks out of her kind heart. And from there on, it’s easy to realize that Nike is a selfless girl, one with philanthropic traits and puts others above herself. It’s from these traits that we see a different side between her and Livius as a couple. Much to Nike’s shock and perhaps some of the audience as well, Livius’ appearance is not much different than those of a child. Standing perhaps at only 5 feet, he is a character who has accomplished unbelievable tasks. We also learn that Livius, as a person, wasn’t always born like this. Through the resourceful flashbacks inserted into the series, it’s shown that Livius’ life wasn’t always as glamourous as his current self. While his father is a king, Livius’ mother is no more than a commoner. And after her death, it seems to awoken something inside of the child. As for that moment, his desire to set about a new world order comes to fruition. Throughout the series, Livius displays leadership traits and rules his kingdom with an iron fist. Although not necessarily violent or power hungry, he has a commanding presence with an ability to lead. Perhaps this could also be a façade though. One could interpret that his ambition to conquer the world is for her mother’s sake or rather for forget about his past and painful memories. Because whenever he thinks of his mother, she really would be dead in his thoughts. Thankfully, we have Nike who plays a princess, savior, and wife all the same time for this young boy. Taken for granted, there’s much capability between Nike and Livius. They came from different backgrounds, vastly contrasting personalities, and appearance wise makes the duo look like they came from different planets. Although this isn’t initially a good set up for partners, the two progresses throughout the series. They risk lives for each other and develops an attachment that goes from marriage to lovers. In essence, Nike is the light that shines upon Livius’ darkened heart. It’s shown in the series that Livius’ personality can contrast vastly depend on various circumstances. In one instance, he becomes so jealous and angry that an order to send his own uncle to prison simply for a misunderstanding was issued. His actions could be interpreted as those of a child in this way; almost like a metaphor like a toy being taken away from him. But that’s not entirely true at all, because Livius doesn’t treat Nike like a toy. As the series progresses, he shows different sides of him as a person rather than a king and even develops feelings for the princess. In respect, Nike also seemingly holds similar feelings that connects the duo through their very unusual bonding. It’s a fantasy story of two people coming together in all the unbelievable ways. Nike’s ability to summon rain is just one such astonishing way, a technique that even make Livius in awe. As their relationship progresses, there are also obstacles whether it’s characters such as Livius’ fiancé Luna and Uncle, Nike’s side of her family, or just being with someone with the status of a king itself. The way the show takes direction shows how strong their connection becomes on various circumstances. And responding to these circumstances become pivotal to create a dynamic atmosphere for their relationship. In retrospect, the show crafts this concept with clever development. Although it has cliché ideas, the show portrays it as honest and charming. It’s also delightful to see how the King progresses not as a ruler, but as a person doing normal things thanks to Nike. In fact, Nike display the anti-thesis of a spoiled princess. She is able selfless and kind at heart. Their constant bickering can be interpreted as amusing as they learn what it really means to be ‘engaged’. Such a simple term mean a lot in this this show for it brings out the best out of both of these characters in the end. Don’t believe me? Try laying even a finger on Nike and you’ll feel the wrath of a very pissed off king. The show has its side of humor that is displayed with tricky bits of execution. For one, the relationship between Nike and Livius can seem a bit substantial given their contrasting appearances. It can give the audience a wrong impression with their appearances as husband and wife in a bedroom. But rather than seeing them from an inappropriate angle, it’s more thoughtful to view the duo as a pair with much more to learn. What we also get from the show is also the amount of energy both appealing and emotional. For the appealing side, there’s the delightful moments between Nike and Livius. The emotional aspects flirts with human nature and instinct such as insecurity, jealousy, and pride. These aren’t just bestowed upon our lovable duo but to other characters such as Livius’ personal butler Neil. His overprotectiveness can be borderline out of control. For Nike’s side, the higher ups in her family has plans of their own to keep Nike as “theirs”. Onto a more childish angle, we also get the oldest trick in the book – childhood crushes. Do understand that the show does also appeal to its more dramatic side. Like mentioned before, the show’s flashbacks aren’t just for show-and-tell but rather as a way to dissect piece by piece of the characters’ image. We learn a lot from childhood pasts especially for Livius that we can also feel pity for. Artwork is bright and colorful with Studio Pierrot in charge. Known for their habits for adding anime original content (as seen from the first half of the pilot episode), there’s an incentive to make this show’s visuals look credible. And thankfully, I’d say they pulled it out beautifully. As the title “This World is Still Beautiful”, the show’s animation quality is exactly that. The Sun Kingdom has lavish landscapes, natural features, and the castle that Livius resides shows his testimony in power. Character designs are also creative with decorative clothing that characters wear on traditions. Other characters also display credible appearances whether they are soldiers, maids, or even a prime minister. Perhaps the one character that contradict such credibility would be the king himself with his appearance. While soundtrack doesn’t score the home run for the series, its message does. While the main OP song has a smooth pacing and coordination, it’s the theme song in the show that truly counts. Nike’s singing is an embodiment for symbolizing hope and rebirth. The song “Tender Rain” is a prominent feature throughout the series that is much more than just simple water pouring down on earth. It acts as a symbolic way for Livius’ progress as a character with him undergoing changes. The song itself is also sung with energy and empowerment as Nike’s voice really means it for every word. Otherwise, the OST of the show balances itself well along with characters’ voice mannerisms. Surprise is a word I would describe my feelings towards this show. What is seemingly a cliché shoujo here is presented with an attractive appeal for its setting, characters, and ideas. Its balance of the show’s story and comedy matches well. It’s insightful to see how much Livius change especially after getting acquainted with Nike. And while the story is predictable with cheesy lines and moments, it’s also honest and innocent. For a story to be bought out this way, it’s also definitely beautiful.

Romance is the oldest story in the world. The story of Romance that involving two kingdoms/empire is one of the most classic stories that ever made. Several authors write the story by giving the sweetest moment between the couple that exist in the story. And now, Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii continue the legacy of that classic era. Well, if you look deeply inside the plot, Soredemo Sekai Wa Utsukushi have the same typical romance comedy plot, but it's capable to represents the main feeling of the story itself. Soredemo succeed brings all the emotion on the screen, it has great plot although not the greatestplot that ever exist. The animation of Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii is clear and neat. It has well-produced backgrounds, and visual effects. The eye maybe a little bit different from the manga series, but it's fine though since the animation is neat. As for the sound, Soredemo have decent sound settings. The opening "Beautiful World" is matched with the entire series, while the ending "Promise" sung by Rena Maeda (The seiyuu of Nike) is more forgotten when compared with the opening song. The voice actors did decent jobs while bringing such character to the screen. The main character in Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii is not flat, they classified in a beautiful way. There are developments between the main characters, as the story running, they learn each other past, and with that past, they can create a beautiful relationship. The other characters besides the main character is a bit flat, there has to be an explanation for this. Sometimes exciting, sometimes not...., Soredemo has a see-saw enjoyment, I found my brain hard to deciding when I stop or when I continue to watch the series. The main enjoyment is at the edge of the story or should I say the climax. But in general, it entertains me... It is recommended for the fans of Shoujo genres. Since it's a shoujo, male viewers maybe not recommended to watch this anime, some of them may found this boring. My passion in this anime is an adaptation of a second season..., well just hope that happen

If the process of having an identity disorder could be physically condensed into an anime this would be that anime. Never have a seen a story that knows less what it wants to be. Characters veer wildly between being good guys and bad guys, not in a realistic grey area way, but in a "flipping between extremely cartoonish poles" way. Characters will be attempted rapists one episode then become a silly comic relief guy later. Characters will be painted as evil and trying to control Nike and then turn around and be extremely genuinely written like "we were just worried about her." The biggest flip isconstant; Livius will be a love interest hopeful that Nike is falling for but then will radically flip to being a little evil tyrant who is abusing her. All because it cannot decide if it wants to be a silly funny anime or a dark serious anime. It honestly should have just picked one and stuck with it so the tone wouldn't be wildly flipping around all the time. I think it does the dark and serious sections better, actually, and would have preferred if it struck to being a dark tale about an evil tyrant Livius and his unwilling betrothed bride Nike. None of the half baked and clumsy attempts to be a romcom. It is well animated and nice to look at. The production value for this is easily the best part of it but that means very little in the grand scheme of things. It's basically the thing saving it from being a 1 and netting it at least a 2.