Impressions and reviews of episode 1 of "Time Agent-LINK CLICK"

The appeal and reviews of "Time Agent -LINK CLICK-": A fusion of timeless adventure and human drama

"Time Agent -LINK CLICK-" is an original animation that began streaming on bilibili in April 2021, and then a Japanese dubbed version was broadcast on TOKYO MX and BS11 in January 2022. This work skillfully combines elements of suspense and science fiction to depict a tear-jerking human drama. It has attracted worldwide attention as a Chinese animation work, and in particular, it recorded the highest ranking among Chinese animations on "MyAnimeList" and received an overwhelmingly high rating of 9.8 points on bilibili, and its popularity is spreading around the world, with the total number of views exceeding 160 million just four months after its release.

Story and setting

The story is set in the "Time Photo Studio" located in a corner of a busy downtown area. The studio is run by two men, Toki (Cheng Xiao Shih) and Hikaru (Lu Guang). They receive requests from customers through Toki's childhood friend Lin (Qiao Ling), and use their special abilities to solve past events. Toki has the ability to "link to the photographer's consciousness and enter the world of the photograph," while Hikaru has the ability to "understand the events that occurred 12 hours after the photograph was taken," and the combination of these two is at the heart of the story.

The requests they receive come from clients who are still hung up on the past, and they are carried out under the rule that the past must never be altered. However, Toki, who has a strong sense of justice, ends up interfering with the past, and his actions gradually change the future, making for a fascinating story. This setting asks the viewer the question, "What if you could change the past?", encouraging deep contemplation.

Characters and cast

The main character, Toki (Cheng Xiao Shi), is voiced by Toyonaga Toshiyuki, and is characterized by his strong sense of justice and impulsive personality, despite his listless demeanor. His ability is to "dive" into the world of photography and possess the mind of the photographer. Meanwhile, Hikaru (Riku Mitsu), voiced by Sakurai Takahiro, is a calm, collected, and mature young man who is determined to complete his mission without being swayed by emotions. His ability is to grasp the events that have occurred in the world of photography within the last 12 hours and communicate with Toki while "diving". Lin (Qiao Ling), voiced by Koga Aoi, is portrayed as a cheerful, lively, and responsible woman. She helps the two with their business as a liaison for clients and collects rent.

Other than that, there is a gorgeous cast including Hitomi Nabatame as Natsu, Megumi Toyoguchi as Lin Zhen, and Junta Terashima as Chen Xiao. The human drama woven by these characters deeply moves the viewers.

Production staff and visuals

The director and scriptwriter of "Time Agent -LINK CLICK-" is Li Haoling, who has attracted worldwide attention. He is also known for his works such as "Poetry Season" and "The Heavenly Man", and his talent is fully displayed in this work. The original character design was done by popular Korean illustrator INPLICK, and the character designs were done by LAN, Huang Sumeng, and Xiong Dan. LAN is also in charge of general direction and general animation direction, and the art director is Takumi Tanji, known for "5 Centimeters per Second" and "Your Name". In addition, the music is by Tenmon, who worked on "The Place Promised in Our Early Days" and "5 Centimeters per Second", and Yuma Yamaguchi and av4ln are also participating. The gathering of these talented staff members has opened up new frontiers in animation.

In terms of visuals, the scenes where the characters "dive" into the world of the photographs and the scenes where the past and present intersect are beautifully depicted, making the film very visually appealing. In particular, the visual expression when entering the world of the photographs is an important element that adds depth to the story as well as creating a visual impact.

Episodes and themes

The series is made up of 12 episodes, each with a different request, and various themes emerge as Toki and Hikaru solve the requests. For example, episode 1, "Ema," depicts the importance of facing the past through a request from a girl who is haunted by past trauma. Episode 3, "Always Lose, Never Win," explores the theme of effort and failure as it tells the story of failure and recovery in the world of sports. Episode 7, "The Disappearing Son," also touches viewers' hearts with its depiction of family ties and the pain of loss.

Through these episodes, the series explores universal themes such as "facing the past," "what is justice," and "human bonds." In particular, the contrast between Toki's sense of justice and Hikaru's calmness gives viewers an opportunity to reexamine their own values.

Music and theme song

The music for this series was produced by a team of talented staff including Tenmon, and plays an important role in enhancing the atmosphere of the story. The opening theme "Dive Back In Time" is by bicaso feat. Gen Kakon, and its powerful melody and lyrics symbolize the theme of the story. The ending theme "Over Think" is by bicaso feat. EAERAN, and its lyrics and melody encourage deep contemplation. These theme songs help viewers to become deeply immersed in the world of the story.

Ratings and Recommendations

"Time Agent -LINK CLICK-" has been highly praised as a work that shows new possibilities for Chinese animation. In particular, the story development that skillfully combines elements of suspense and science fiction, the deep human drama, and the beautiful visual expression have been highly praised by viewers. Another major attraction is the production by a luxurious cast and talented staff.

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

• Deep human drama : Through the cases depicted in each episode, viewers can touch upon various issues in life. In particular, themes such as facing the past, a sense of justice, and family ties will deeply move viewers.
• Beautiful visuals : Beautiful visual expressions in scenes where the viewer "dives" into the world of photography and where the past and present intersect are important elements that add depth to the story as well as being visually appealing.
• A stellar cast and staff : The quality of the film is enhanced by the inclusion of a stellar cast including Toyonaga Toshiyuki and Sakurai Takahiro, as well as talented staff including Li Haoling and Tianmen.
• Universal themes : The film's themes of "facing the past," "what is justice," and "human bonds" encourage deep reflection and provide viewers with an opportunity to reexamine their own values.

"Time Agent -LINK CLICK-" is a work that has succeeded in its new attempt to combine a timeless adventure with a deep human drama, and is a work that shows new possibilities for Chinese animation, so I would like to recommend it to many viewers. In particular, I would recommend it to those who like suspense and science fiction, and those who want to enjoy deep human drama.