Original Run: April 12, 2021 - August 30, 2021 Number of Episodes: 20 Genre: Adventure, Drama, Supernatural Based on the Series Created By: Yoshitoki Ooima
***Warning, the following may contain spoilers for To Your Eternity. Reader discretion is advised.***
Series Synopsis
Our story starts with an immortal Orb. Cast out into the world, the Orb sat in silence and was unknowing. The Orb then became a rock; then the Orb turned to moss.
One day, a wounded wolf crossed the Orb’s path and died. The Orb took the wolf’s form and, for the first time, moved, continuing the wolf’s journey. The Orb eventually came to a hut, where a young boy (voiced by Reiji Kawashima) lived.
The boy was all alone, and the wolf was his only friend. Eventually, the boy decided to leave his home and follow his family into the wilderness. Sadly, the trek was too much, and the boy returned in a defeated and critical state. Weakened, the boy then died, and the wolf took his likeness.
Now, as the boy, the Orb wandered. After many years, the Orb learned much and took the name Fushi. But as Fushi could not die, everything around this being would perpetually change.
Series Positives
To Your Eternity was unlike any show I’ve seen from 2021 (as of this post going live).
Keep in mind; when I say such a thing about any show, that is not me considering said show to be good. Granted, in the case of this series, that is EXACTLY what I mean. But in general, uniqueness is not automatically the same as well-done.
Allow me to make one thing clear: To Your Eternity was fantastic. And I am making that point because I’m not sure how to tackle this review. A lot happened in this show; this is one of those stories that is easy to spoil if one is not careful.
Therefore, if nothing else, you best ready your emotions before beginning this series, for it will be gunning for them.
To Your Eternity built itself around two pillars: Its characters and its story. With those two aspects working in tandem, we got a show that, frankly, hits differently than most.
Looking at the characters, there was Fushi, and then there was everyone else. Reading the latter half of that comment, you might think Fushi was the only one who mattered, and the other cast members were nothing more than interactions for the protagonist. That could not be further from the truth. Nevertheless, I won’t be spending much time on them. Of course, it would be more accurate to say, “I won’t risk spending much time on them.” Let’s leave it as this:
What is the one thing you should never do when coming across a stray dog, cat, or any other animal? Don’t give it a name. Once you do that, you become attached, and it is then significantly more difficult if you need to give the creature up.
We can apply the same sentiment to the many side characters of To Your Eternity. They got a name; we grew attached, and, well, I suppose you’ll just have to watch the show to find out the rest.
Then there was Fushi, and if you didn’t instantly like them, please tell me why in the comments below. After all, this was a character who went through a lot, and that is an understatement.
To best understand Fushi, we have to consider two different states: Pre-time-jump Fushi and post-time-jump Fushi. There’s a point in this story where four relatively uneventful years pass between episodes – I won’t say when. And yet, in those four years, Fushi transformed from an entity with barebones awareness to a functioning being.
Pre-time-jump Fushi was in a state of nothingness. They had no sense of self or how anything worked. This version of Fushi couldn’t hunt, couldn’t gather, and couldn’t take care of even their most basic of basic needs. In a practical sense, Fushi’s immortality was necessary. In the beginning, particularly after taking a human form, Fushi would die of starvation because they didn’t understand the role of food.
Additionally, this Fushi had no inklings of morality because they had no concept of right or wrong. Everything started as pure survival. Still, this Fushi was naturally gentle, or to put it another way, naïve. It was thus fortunate that the first few humans they encountered were kind-hearted. It is not hard to imagine this show going another way had different actors come at different times.
Then there was post-time-jump Fushi, and here was where we got more than a simple protagonist. Now we had the makings of a hero.
Fushi could think for themselves; problem-solving was a possibility. There was still much Fushi didn’t know, but we can say the same thing about an average teenager. They also had a more robust understanding of their powers; there was less randomness.
Unsurprisingly, post-time-jump Fushi had to face far more cunning and dangerous opponents. Since Fushi had grown stronger, so too did the adversaries. Consequently, we can consider the latter half of To Your Eternity to be more tension-filled, given Fushi knew what tension was.
But determining which segment was more action-y than the others would mean missing the true power of this series. To Your Eternity’s story is what made it so phenomenal.
Are you ready to feel sad? Well, if you’re watching this show, you better be.
Despite how tearful To Your Eternity was, it’s difficult to call this series a tragedy. You see, for the life of an immortal, loss is inevitable. I struggle to think of something more terrifying than the idea of living forever. Sooner or later, the people an immortal cares for will die. And for someone like Fushi, who seemed to make friends wherever they went, is it no surprise how often they experienced grief.
And to take it up a notch, this series was quite skilled at crafting likable characters. Without giving away who, much of To Your Eternity’s cast did not last very long. So, yeah, be prepared for a few tears.
Regardless, this series, for how emotional it got, was impossible to put down.
Series Negatives
Speaking from experience, time-jumps in stories are dangerous tools. Even when well-used, they tend to come off as a lazy alternative to proper development. Rather than taking the time to show growth and maturity, have a couple of years go by. Suddenly, a character we once knew is an entirely different person.
Rather unfortunately, To Your Eternity is a perfect example of this. Post-time-jump Fushi became an active influencer in this story, which was quite the tonal shift from the first half of the series.
Don’t get me wrong; I understand why To Your Eternity was between a rock and a hard place. How do you tell the tale of an immortal being without skipping a few years? In terms of narrative progression, I’ll accept this show didn’t have much choice.
Nevertheless, the downsides of time-jumps were in full force. Also, the final episode revealed that there will be a tremendous leap forward when this series goes into its second season (scheduled for 2022). We’ll see how that plays out.
Additionally, Fushi’s transformations were quite convenient. Now, I’m not saying Fushi having the ability to transform into other creatures was the problem. Instead, it was WHO Fushi could become; our hero was quite the powerhouse, especially by the end of this show.
There is one way to see this aspect that works in To Your Eternity’s favor. The wide diversity of Fushi’s forms suggested that no matter what, everything has value.
For instance, Fushi could turn into a mole. At first glance, what good would this do? Moles aren’t known for their fighting prowess. However, with a little outside-the-box thinking, a mole can become quite helpful if you need to become small to fit through tight spaces. Plus, imagine there is this giant wall in front of you. Going over such an obstacle might prove impossible if said wall is heavily guarded. But as a mole, you can easily dig under the barrier, and no one would be the wiser.
So, yes, I do think this series was often clever with Fushi’s powers.
Be that as it may, a few of Fushi’s forms had particular usages that had nothing to do with cleverness.
Yeah, becoming an animal with keen senses is useful. But do you know what has a far more practical application for a being who often finds themselves in a fight? How about turning into something that can breathe freaking fire? Not many of those are walking around, and yet, Fushi met one.
While this aspect became troublesome if you were to linger on it for too long, To Your Eternity had plenty of other qualities to distract you from it. Ultimately, this was a show with action elements, but it was not an action series. This story was much more endearing, valuing emotions over spectacle.
As such, To Your Eternity stood tall.
Final Thoughts
There was a unique feel to this show, which allowed it to set itself apart in a spectacular way. This series did not waste that opportunity.
From the outset, this story appears to be an epic adventure waiting to happen. But though the fight scenes aren’t the flashiest and action wasn’t the primary focus, “epic” remains an apt word to describe this narrative. Its journey is an emotional one, and speaking for myself, it struck home more than once.
As hinted earlier in the review, a season two should be releasing some time in 2022. And I can’t wait.
To Your Eternity has earned a recommendation.
But these were just my thoughts. What are yours? Have you seen this series? How would you advise To Your Eternity? Leave a comment down below because I would love to hear what you have to say.
If you liked what you have read, be sure to follow Anime Hajime on our social media sites so that you never miss a post or update. Also, please share this review across the internet to help add to the discussion.
Plus, if you wish to add your voice to Anime Hajime, why not consider writing for us? If you would like to contribute, check out our Write For Anime Hajime page. We welcome your style.
For Anime Hajime, I’m Odyssey, and I’ll see you next time.
