"The World is Still Beautiful": A thorough analysis of a moving story that lies between beauty and reality

"The World is Still Beautiful" - A Destiny Romance of Light and Rain

■Overview of the work

"Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii" is a TV anime series based on the manga of the same name by Shiina To. Broadcast on Nippon TV and other networks from April 6 to June 29, 2014, the 12-episode series tells the story of Nike Lemercier, who has the power to call down rain, and Livius I, the Sun King who rules the world. The original work was serialized in Hana to Yume and attracted attention as a 40th anniversary work.

■ Story

Nike, the fourth princess of the "Principality of Rain," is to marry "Sun King Livius I." After a long journey, Nike arrives at the "Great Kingdom of Sunshine" where the king lives and is surprised by its wealth. She begins by looking around the country to get to know it better, but then a pair of men appear... How will their relationship develop as Nike's "Sea Snake" abilities and Livius' governing powers intersect?

■ Characters

The appeal of this work lies above all in its diverse characters. The main character, Nike Lemercier, is the "Princess of the Sea Hare" who has the power to summon rain. She is a reckless but pure-hearted princess. Her beautiful singing voice charms those around her. Meanwhile, Livius I (Livi) is a cold-hearted king who rules the world as the "Sun King", known for his ruthlessness but also for his ability. However, deep in his heart, he hides the pain of losing his beloved mother.

Many characters who support Nike appear around her. Nike's grandmother Tohara is an important person who raised Nike as a master of sea slugs. Also, Livius' chief secretary Neil is a hard worker who supports the relationship between Livi and Nike, even though he is often pushed around by them. Furthermore, Nike's sisters (Mira, Nia, Kara) and the elders of the Sunny Kingdom (Vodan, Catesby, Ratcliffe) also add depth to the story.

■Animation and direction

The animation for "Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii" was produced by Studio Pierrot. The beautiful visuals of character designer and chief animation director Uno Ichiro have the power to draw viewers in, along with Nike's singing voice. Director Kamegaki Hajime also skillfully incorporates original elements for the anime, while faithfully recreating the worldview of the original work. In particular, the scene showing Nike's "sea slug" powers is a scene that highlights the color design and cinematography skills.

■Music

The music was composed by Yamashita Kosuke, the opening theme "BEAUTIFUL WORLD" was sung by Koike Joanna, and the ending theme "PROMISE" was sung by Maeda Reina, who plays Nike. In particular, "The Sea Slug Song ~Beautiful Rain~", which symbolizes Nike's singing voice, is used as an important element of the story and resonates deeply with viewers. In addition, "The Rain Sending Song", which appears in the final episode, was sung by Yokoyama Chisa, who plays Tohara, and decorated the story's moving finale.

■ Evaluation and impressions

"The World is Still Beautiful" has been highly praised for its fusion of fantasy and romance. The relationship between Nike and Livius touched many viewers. The anime also brings out the best in the original work while adding original elements to the anime, giving the story more depth. In particular, Nike's growth and Livius' inner changes left a strong impression on viewers.

This work has captivated many fans with its beautiful visuals, music, and moving story. If you like fantasy and romance, this is a work I would highly recommend.

■ Recommendation points

• Beautiful visuals and music : Ichiro Ueno's character designs and Kosuke Yamashita's music further enrich the story.
• A moving story that depicts the relationship between Nike and Livius and their growth.
• Characters with a wide range of personalities : Unique characters including Nike and Livius add depth to the story.
• A fusion of fantasy and romance : This work is an exquisite blend of fantasy and romance, and has captivated many fans.

■Broadcast information

"Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii" was broadcast on Nippon Television and other stations from April 6 to June 29, 2014. The subtitles and broadcast dates for each episode are as follows:

• Episode 1: The Land of Sunshine (2014/04/05)
• Episode 2: Princess of the Rain (2014/04/12)
• Episode 3: Kanpaku Declaration (2014/04/19)
• Episode 4/Ring of Tales(1) (2014/04/26)
• Episode 5/Ring of Tales(2) (2014/05/03)
• Episode 6/Call my name (2014/05/10)
• Episode 7: Wild Waltz (2014/05/24)
• Episode 8: Sheltering from the Rain (2014/05/31)
• Episode 9: The Principality of Rain (2014/06/07)
• Episode 10: The Righteous Country (2014/06/14)
• Episode 11: Passing Wind (2014/06/21)
• Episode 12: Return (2014/06/28)

■Cast

The voice actors for the main characters are as follows:

• Nike Lemercier/Reina Maeda
• Livius I / Shimazaki Nobunaga
• Neil/Tomokazu Sugita
• Milla/Mari Ise
• Nia/Ai Kayano
• Color/Yuka Terasaki
• Sheila / Keiko Han
• Baldwin Sisir Ifrikya/Takahiro Sakurai
• Court Lady Ranra / Ruriko Aoki
• Court Lady Sunya / Mizue Otsuka
• Lady-in-waiting Mikia/Uki Satake
• Elder Vodan / Shuichi Ikeda
• Elder Catesby / Futamata Kazunari
• Elder Ratcliffe / Kosei Tomita
• Lani Aristes/Daisuke Namikawa
• Narration by Chisa Yokoyama

■ Staff

The main staff are as follows:

• Original story by Shiina Tou (serialized in Hakusensha's "Hana to Yume")
• Director: Hajime Kamegaki
• Series Composition: Shinzo Fujita
• Character design, chief animation director: Ichiro Ueno
• Screen design: Hiroto Tanaka
• Prop design: Kazuko Hayakawa
• Art Director: Tomoyuki Shimizu
• Color design: Kimiko Kitazawa
• Director of photography: Matsumoto Atsuho
• Edited by Masaki Sakamoto
• Music by Kosuke Yamashita
• Sound Director: Yasuyuki Urakami, Keiko Urakami
• Animation production: studio Pierrot
• Produced by Nippon Television Network, VAP, Hakusensha

■ Related Products

Many related products have been released for "Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii," including DVDs, Blu-rays, and the original manga. The DVDs and Blu-rays in particular include bonus footage and cast interviews, making them must-sees for fans. The original manga was also serialized in "Hana to Yume" and released in book form, so be sure to check it out.

■ Summary

"Soredemo Sekai wa Utsukushii" is a work that features beautiful visuals and music, a moving story, and unique characters. If you like fantasy and romance, this is an anime that I would highly recommend. Be sure to check out Nike and Livius' destiny romance.