ef - a tale of memories - more than the sum of our parts

Posted by J.Valdez on Sun, 18 Nov 2007. View the original post at Far Away No Where

Part A: Impression

There are aspects of us that make us human. For that there is no doubt. Upon closer examination we see that our actions are rife with instinctive behavior. How much of what we do is guided by those actions is debatable, and how much that driving force we can consciously willfully deter is also debatable. One can make no argument that human beings are driven by forces other than conscious controllable thought. We have a heart; it beats whether we want it to or not.

We are simply and completely at the will of our memories. They haunt us and teach us about ourselves and those around us. To some the haunting fog of our past is a shadow cast upon it all. All the images and sounds of our history become a hazy dull coating on those irrepressible moments in time. Those key events that shaped the beings that we are today. They are uniquely us. They define us. They literally are us in the sense that we are more than a body. We are more than a beating heart.

We understand others only when we come to understand ourselves. It starts with the child who has no sense of others. It ends with the adult who by virtue of simply being human understands the concept inherent in the word, “other.” We are painfully aware that others don’t understand us. We are comically unaware that they actually do. In a paradox the scope that encompasses the entirety of humanity we see that it is actually easier to understand others than it is to understand ourselves. After all, our eyes can only see outward.

One could make a very good case that our being is simply the total sum of our memories. The lives lived are a combination of thoughts, events, and times intermingled with those of others. We share our memories. I’ll tell you a story. Once upon a time, I lived.

Part B: Analysis

The show ef ~ a tale of memories is easily the most unique show that I’ve seen for a while. Of course, that comment is awarded on the visual style alone at the moment. I was immediately entranced by the angles, perspectives, and colors. There is a somber slow paced tone to the show that allows me to sit back and enjoy it.

It reminded me of the atmosphere and visuals in The SoulTaker. The art and story telling were similar. So similar, in fact, that I decided to do a five minute research project to see if they were produced by the same company. I didn’t find any other connections between the two shows except for the styling. SoulTaker was completely dark all the time, and the world was built upon morphing abstract blocks of color. In a way, the story almost mimicked the world it was drawn onto.

This show has those types of scenes for selected moments. One minute we are watching the characters interact and the next they are forms filled with an image we cannot quite make out. We see that the backgrounds change to suit the characters and their moods. When the screen is dark we know the they are in distress. Conversely, when the screen is bright we are treated with mostly happy school girls and the like. The instances of this type of action are fairly consistent. It’s not just the hue or color used throughout a scene that denote mood. To a greater extent than is seen in many other anime ef is using the world that encompasses the characters to help tell the story.

Obviously, there is much left to offer in the plot. Although, the basic elements are laid out, they have scarcely introduced all the individuals in the story at this point; yet, we are already about halfway through the series. This is nothing new, but it leaves the distinct impression that we will experience a rushed ending when the time comes.

At least they haven’t rushed the romance brewing between Renji and Chihiro. Their thing has already taken off, which was to be expected since it started with the first episode. Their part in the story is going to be nice for a bit. The inevitable climax for them is obviously going to be Chihiro forgetting Renji or some other variation on that theme. As I’ve mentioned before, we learn more about the character as they are pushed farther into despair. As they are forced to recognize their reality we begin to understand them better through accompanying them on that journey.

I’m very eager to see how events play out despite knowing (guessing) what will happen. I wouldn’t mind terribly if I were surprised in the end. Actually, I sincerely hope that I will be.