Convincing people to watch " A place further than the universe "

Imagine this: you're bored and looking for a new anime to watch. But when you ask for a recommendation, someone hits you with, "Yeah, Demon Slayer is a good anime."

It happens so often that you start disliking the fandom itself (or maybe not), who, for some reason, are everywhere. I see you, Jujutsu Kaisen fans.

Now imagine a hidden gem of a series—one that's been overlooked by the masses who only watch Demon Slayer (no hate).

Presenting to you: A Place Further Than the Universe—a masterpiece of an anime that changes your perspective on life, fills you with hope, and hits you hard with relatable emotions.

If someone had told me there was an anime about cute high school girls exploring Antarctica and expected me not to think it was just another moe anime, I would've laughed at them.

Let’s be honest—cute girls, high school, Antarctica? That just screams "cute girls playing with freaking penguins."

But here’s where I was wrong: the anime exceeded all my expectations.

Now, I’ve made it my life goal to spread the glory of this 12-episode anime that struck me like lightning and will always stay in my heart.

“I’ll go, then rub it in the faces of everyone who said I couldn’t.”

                                         — Shirase Kobuchizawa

The story starts with Mari, a high school girl who feels like she’s wasting her youth by staying comfortably inside her lane. Relatable yet?

Anyway—she wants adventure. She wants to try things she hasn’t before, but she can’t quite muster the courage to take that first step. Whether it’s traveling alone to another prefecture or just doing something new, she hesitates.

But things start to shift when she literally collides with another girl named Shirase. Shirase seems to be in a hurry and accidentally drops an envelope. Mari tries to call out to her, but she’s already gone.

And when Mari checks the envelope? Boom—a freaking million yen. Mari is shocked and mortified. A MILLION YEN?

She panics—What if I lose it? I need to return it!

Thankfully, they meet again. In the girls’ bathroom, of all places. Mari had seen Shirase go inside and quickly followed, awkwardly waiting outside the stall to return the envelope.

Inside, Shirase is literally slamming the walls of the toilet (girl’s clearly going through it), and when she finally walks out, Mari—terrified but determined—stands her ground and returns the money.

Almost immediately, Shirase hugs her.

"Thank you so much," she says.

Now, if you think I’m spoiling too much—don’t worry. This all happens in the first episode, and it’s already hinted at in the synopsis. I hate spoilers too, trust me.

Anyway, getting back on track—Mari and Shirase begin talking, and it’s then that Shirase looks her in the eye and says:

"I will go to Antarctica."

“Yeah… this is what it is. Like anything could happen. Like I can make anything happen.”

                                                  — Mari Tamaki

Obviously, Mari doesn’t take her seriously. A high school girl going to Antarctica? It sounds impossible.

But Shirase gets mad. She says everyone in her class calls her weird for talking about something so far-fetched—but she’s determined. She’ll show them. She’ll show everyone.

And honestly, even if you’ve never chased a goal with the same fire as Shirase, you can still feel the anger in her words. We’ve all had moments where our dreams—big or small—were brushed off or laughed at. That frustration? It’s real.

I respect Shirase. She’s the kind of character who makes you feel something genuine. She embodies that raw, aching desire to prove yourself. To do something meaningful. To accomplish something on your own—especially when no one believes you can.

And of course, her ion is what finally pushes Mari to take that first step.

A step that will change her life forever, filling it with memories she’ll never forget.

I never thought a mere 12-episode anime—with no sequel—would get me this emotionally invested.

The story revolves around four main characters, and what makes it even better is that none of them feel more or less important than the others. This isn’t just the story of one or two girls—it’s the story of four girls who pushed past their insecurities and found something real in the pursuit of a nearly impossible goal.

I love stories where every character matters. No one feels like a filler. Each of them has their own personality, their own life, and a past that clearly shapes how they act—and the show makes sure you see that.

I’m a sucker for good character writing. Honestly, even if an anime’s plot is practically non-existent, I’ll still enjoy it if the characters are well-written. (I highly recommend Pseudo Harem, by the way.)

“When you hit the point of no return, that’s the moment it truly becomes a journey. If you can still turn back, it’s not really a journey.”

                                                 — Hinata Miyake

Since we’re talking about good character writing, let’s talk about our third protagonist—Hinata.

I’m fighting the urge to reveal everything about her, but no. I want you to experience this anime firsthand. Trust me, it’s worth it.

At first glance, Hinata seems like the “go-with-the-flow” kind of girl—and to some extent, she is. But let me tell you, this anime reveals its characters layer by layer. They feel human—and humans are complex.

These girls aren’t just “a group trying to get to Antarctica.” They each carry untold stories. Their pasts influence their choices, and their personal conflicts push them to grow. It’s the same with our fourth protagonist, Yuzuki. I haven’t talked much about her, but believe me when I say—I love all four of them equally.

They make me feel alive.

They make me want to grab my things and finally chase the dreams I’ve buried for so long. To take that one step that could change everything.

To become the version of me I always

dreamed of becoming.

“Proper relationships and groups… you’re basically establishing who you are.”

                                             — Yuzuki Shiraishi

Another thing I deeply appreciate about this anime is how real the struggle to reach Antarctica feels. It’s not one of those “Hey, I’ve got a million yen—let’s book a ticket to the South Pole!” kind of stories. No. We know that’s not how it works, and thankfully, the anime respects that.

Shirase’s journey to Antarctica is hard. She fails. She’s rejected. People laugh at her. But still—her determination never wavers. That sheer willpower? It carries her forward.

Eventually, a real opportunity presents itself—through a civilian expedition. That’s when they finally get the chance to board the ship. But even then, it’s far from easy. Seasickness, nausea, the terrifying jerking of the ship—it’s brutal.

There’s the exhaustion of helping cook for the whole crew, being forced to run laps while fighting the urge to collapse, and dealing with the psychological weight of being in the middle of nowhere. All of it—every bit—feels genuine.

And that’s the beauty of it.

A journey isn’t just about the destination—it’s about the experiences along the way.

And this anime? It nails that message.

Seeing the once-struggling Shirase finally on her way to fulfilling her dream, ed by the girls who believed in her, was just… heartwarming. Every single moment was fleshed out with care—for us, the audience—to feel it too.

“When you go on a journey, there are things you learn for the first time. That this scenery is indispensable. That people change, the world changes, even when you’re not looking… If you want to learn those things, you’ve got to get moving.”

Many anime struggle with writing a good ending. And let’s be real—good ending is incredibly important. Without a solid conclusion, a story just feels... incomplete. Surprise, surprise. Now you know why open-ended stories exist.

But when I say this anime nailed the ending, I mean it.

The story started strong, took me on an emotional rollercoaster, and landed perfectly. The ending made me smile, made me emotional, and made me think about how much I’ll miss these girls. But at the same time, I felt grateful—grateful that I got to experience something so genuine.

Let me ask you something—how many anime have you watched that gave you this level of fulfillment? (Demon Slayer fans, shush. No hate, of course.)

Turns out, not many anime can hit that sweet spot. For me, what mattered most was how this story was beautifully crafted—emotionally powerful and genuinely entertaining. It left an impact on my life.

Kind of like that one guy who stopped a knife attack and said,

“Himmel would’ve done the same.”

Yeah. That’s the kind of impact I’m talking about.

If you think this blog is biased—yes. Yes, it is.

And if you think this anime was bad—sorry, not sorry. You just have L taste.

If I still haven’t convinced you, then go watch Gigguk on YouTube.

We all know who he is, and even he itted how inspiring and touching this anime is.

Press here for the link

As I end this blog, I just want to clarify—Demon Slayer fans, I really don’t hate you, so please don’t come at me.

I genuinely hope I managed to convince you to give A Place Further Than the Universe a try. Even if you usually prefer action-packed anime, I suggest taking a break—grab a cozy blanket, settle in, and give this one a shot. Maybe even shed a few tears like I did (no shame).

With that, farewell my friends.

I hope this anime fills your heart the same way it filled mine.