Atri: My Dear Moments

In the near future, a sudden and unexplained sea rise has left much of human civilization underwater. Ikaruga Natsuki, a boy who lost his mother and his leg in an accident some years earlier, returns disillusioned from a harsh life in the big city to find his old countryside home half-swallowed by the sea. Left without a family, all he has to his name is the ship and submarine left to him by his oceanologist grandmother, and her debts.

His only hope to restore the dreams for the future that he has lost is to take up an opportunity presented to him by the suspicious debt collector Catherine. They set sail to search the sunken ruins of his grandmother's laboratory in order to find a treasure rumor says she left there. But what they find is not riches or jewels; it is a strange girl lying asleep in a coffin at the bottom of the sea. Atri.

Atri is a robot, but her appearance and her wealth of emotions would fool anyone into thinking she's a living, breathing human being. In gratitude for being salvaged, she makes a declaration to Natsuki: "I want to fulfill my master's final order. Until I do, I'll be your leg!"

In a little town slowly being enveloped by the ocean, an unforgettable summer is about to begin for this boy and this mysterious robot girl...

(Source: Aniplex.EXE, edited)

Atri Main

Akao, Hikaru Japanese

Ikaruga, Natsuki Main

Ono, Kensho Japanese

Kamishiro, Minamo Supporting

Takahashi, Minami Japanese

Nanami, Ririka Supporting

Haruno, Anzu Japanese

Catherine Supporting

Hikasa, Youko Japanese

Nojima, Ryuuji Supporting

Hosoya, Yoshimasa Japanese

Junk Shop Owner Supporting

Tsuruoka, Satoshi Japanese

Miyo Supporting

Yuikawa, Asaki Japanese

Ikaruga, Shina Supporting

Yorita, Natsu Japanese

Yachigusa, Nonko Supporting

Katsuki, Masako Japanese

Katou, Makoto Director

Aketagawa, Jin Sound Director

Miyagi, Daishou Episode Director

Hanada, Jukki Script, Series Composition

Reviews

Jul 27, 2024

Apple_Pie_627

Recommended

Preliminary (3/13 eps)

Ah tragic romance, how I've missed you.

Atri is probably my favourite show this summer. The show is an adaption of a visual novel, which follows the story of a robot, Atri and Ikaruga Natsuki in their lives on the island swallowed by the sea. (Plastic Memories cough cough)

The colour palette has a very evident summer feeling to it, and it's gorgeous. Vibrant colours are common, and it goes extremely well along with the oceanic theme of the story. The animation itself is well done. Characters are fairly expressive, there's movement and there aren't any obvious issues to point out. My only gripe is that ... there is a some cgi used for zoomed out shots of characters walking/standing, but it doesn't bother me that much.

I can't say much for the story for now as it's only episode 3, but so far it's been fine. The premise is fairly unique, civilization after the sea level rises. Not something you'd expect to find in anime. The pacing has been great so far. It may move a bit slowly for some people's taste, but I enjoy it. The visual novel itself is fairly short so I don't think there will be any major issues with rushing content. There's obvious, clear progression and it isn't confusing or convoluted. Episode 1 introduces the background, the characters and the main premise. Episode 2 expands on that and establishes clearer relationships, while episode 3 introduces one of the main subplots in the story. The story is fairly slice of life and serves to build relationships between the characters. Comedy is well done and not overbearing, although it might get a bit repetitive for some people. From what I know there are some changes from the VN, but I haven't played myself so I can't comment on them and if they're for better or for worse.

Now for the most important part, the characters themselves. There's the "high performance" toaster robot Atri, the classic childhood friend Minamo, and our main character, the money obsessed debt collector and the failed, one legged academic Natsuki. In addition, we have a few more supporting characters but I won't talk about them.

The main issue some people may have: Atri herself is designed to look on the younger side (like Isla). Personally I couldn't care less, but if you find that uncomfortable it may be a turn off for the series.

Now getting that out of the way, the character designs are fairly good. I wouldn't call them especially unique, but they're not just generic cookie cutter tropes either. Honestly you'd just have to know if you like them or not by watching the show. I can't really comment on it right now, because all of these characters have important backstories that influence them which I expect the show to cover later down the line. So far character development has been realistic and well paced, and none of them make stupid, illogical decisions or break character. Natsuki changes his mind fairly quickly and reverses his decisions often, but it's not unrealistic and is in line with his character. He makes smart decisions and isn't stupid, but also has a realistic, emotional human side to him. His development is a bit quick, but it's to be expected since well it's a 12 episode show and you can't really fit Middlemarch level progression in there so I'm fine with it. And as stated before, it's also inline with his character. For Atri she hasn't really changed much as we're still in the early stages of the story, but she's also well written and her actions follow her pre-established tendencies. One issue I can see is that you could find her annoying because of the role she plays in comedic bits.

Music is fairly subjective but I like it. The OP and the ED fit the show and the summer vibe very well, and well it's good music. (also lures you into thinking the show is a happy slice of life...) The background OST is well done, but it's fairly minimalist and well "background". It's usage compliments the moods of the scenes, but played a more supporting role to the sound design of the island itself (also uhh I'm very bad at remembering OSTs). The main standout of the sound design is the background sounds of the island surroundings. It's very well done, and it's impressive how realistic it is. Birds and insects, the sound of the waves etc. There's a distinctive lack of human related sounds, but when there is any (a motorcycle for example) they stand out and the show understands it. Unfortunately I'm not very good at writing about this, but I can say that as someone who has been to many coastal places/islands it's amazing how accurate the show got it to be.

Overall the show is still a tragic romance at it's core, and if you like those types of shows Atri is a very well done one. However the most important part is always the ending, and since this a preliminary review we'll have to see if the studio manages to pull it off. I have high hopes for it though.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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Aug 5, 2024

Neo_Randomz

Recommended

Preliminary (4/13 eps)

"Captivating"

This is just one of many things I can say about this anime. Right from the very first episode, this anime pulls your full attention with its visuals and fresh story.

It tells the story of a boy named Natsuki Ikaruga in a world where the sea has claimed the land. Having lost one of his legs and his parents, he is determined to bring fortune for himself. He goes down to the sea, hoping to find a "treasure," only to find a real treasure—a loving companion, Atri.

Atri is an android, seemingly mysterious at first. Her presence feels like that of a goddess sent to ... this world to save humanity. However, we later find out that she’s just a clumsy android who can barely do anything correctly. She can’t cook, she can’t fight, she’s not superhumanly strong—she can barely do menial tasks. Despite this, her presence and existence are important to those around her, especially for Natsuki. She provides emotional support for Natsuki, being caring, comforting, and attentive during his darkest times. She strives to be his supporting "leg." Atri shows that even though she’s not human, she can be the most human. She talks like a human, she acts like a human, and she flirts like a human.

The story focuses on the daily life of a group of youngsters happily enjoying life and creating good memories despite living in a broken world.

The visual depiction of the world is what I like to describe as "hauntingly beautiful." You can see that the world they live in is a post-apocalyptic world, but you can’t help but admire the beauty of nature taking back its territory. The beautiful sea mirrors the bright blue sky, the greens crawl their way to the human-made concrete, and the abandoned buildings with thousands of stories tell more. You can’t help but appreciate the beauty of it.

Speaking of the post-apocalyptic world, this anime also portrays the struggles of people living in it. They will make you feel bad and pity them, even when it’s not portrayed as something sad. You see a kid reading a book in the black of night, holding onto a glimpse of light from a poorly made lamp; a school that doesn’t have anyone to teach; a man desperately trying to change mother nature with nothing but his will. You can’t help but feel pity.

It is also important to note that despite the happy and cheerful tone, we know very well how this anime will go. We know that anytime there’s a robot girl involved in an emotional romance like this, it won’t end in the most pleasing way. You might laugh and giggle for now, but who knows when you’ll get slapped by a painful reality. So, prepare that box of tissues because your heart and feelings might be subjected to the most horrific kind of thriller.

The animation is stunning—not movie-quality stunning, but stunning nonetheless. It gives you a sense of nostalgia while at the same time feeling fresh and new.

The music is amazing. Bringing two famous idol groups for the OP and ED just shows how much care they put into the music. The ED is cheerful and uplifting, and the OP song is beautiful. Nogizaka46 is a powerhouse in Japanese entertainment, and this song proves just how talented they are. The song feels cheerful and catchy while also heartfelt and touching. It’s as if they make sure you can enjoy and vibe to it, but at the same time, they ensure that it can spawn a sea in your eyes in the near future.

Overall, if you are into a visually pleasing slow-burn romance filled with "comedy," or if you feel awfully happy and want some tears in your eyes, give this one a try. It won’t disappoint.

Reviewer’s Rating: 10

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Aug 4, 2024

SadlyImRyan

Mixed Feelings

Preliminary (4/13 eps)

"ATRI: My Dearest Moments" is, at first sight, a standout choice in the 2024 anime lineup, thanks to its captivating art style. However, this slowly changes once you start getting into the show. The story, revolving around a young man and a humanoid robot named ATRI, explores themes of humanity, romance, and memory. The concept of water exploration and natural disaster is something I find personally intriguing and was drawn to.

Visually, the anime is stunning. The color palette, with its vibrant blues, greens, and pastel pinks, beautifully captures the essence of spring and summer, evoking warmth and relaxation. However, the character design is somewhat lacklustre, ... disappointing even. The characters feel generic and lack distinctiveness, which makes it hard to form any attachment to them. Audibly, the sound design is a huge compliment to the settings, despite it being so subtle at times. The natural sounds of the islands, varying from the sounds of nature to wildlife are impressively implemented.

One major distraction is the dynamic between ATRI and Natsuki. While their bond development is evident as they explore their human and humanoid sides, the growing crush-like dynamic is unsettling. ATRI's ageless, child-like appearance contrasts with Natsuki's high school age, creating an awkward age issue. Additionally, by episode 4, the plot has progressed extremely slowly, making it unmotivating and even boring at times, which may lead viewers, like myself, to start losing interest.

Overall, "ATRI: My Dearest Moments" is visually striking, audibly pleasing, and conceptually interesting, but its uncomfortable relationships and lack of interesting character development create a less engaging experience.

TLDR; beautiful art style and impressive sound design, along with the interesting concept - lack of interesting character development and attachment to character ruins the magic behind the show.

^.^

Reviewer’s Rating: 5

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	Poll: Atri: My Dear Moments Episode 5 Discussion IzanaSolos - Aug 10	32 replies	by Kai200X »» 4 hours ago
	Poll: Atri: My Dear Moments Episode 3 Discussion IzanaSolos - Jul 27	39 replies	by KitsuFrost »» 11 hours ago
	Poll: Atri: My Dear Moments Episode 4 Discussion KANLen09 - Aug 3	43 replies	by MegamiRem »» Yesterday, 3:07 AM
	Poll: Atri: My Dear Moments Episode 2 Discussion ( 1 2 ) eplipswich - Jul 20	66 replies	by KitsuFrost »» Aug 12, 12:42 PM
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