Girls on Fire - A Place Further than the Universe 

One of the most influential and one of my all time fav anime... This made me cry, made me go outside and spend some quality time all just because of this one anime.

"A little too green to be jaded." Your writing is always so wonderful, as is your editing and insight. Thanks for shedding light on this unseen gem.

Thank you. I think of my daughter, no longer with us, who took her autistic brother to the one place in the world he wanted to see, Akihabara, and then brought me something from 12,388 feet. She is my inspiration in just this way.

This is such a comforting video. A hug for the soul, and a tribute to life worth living.

I watched this way back in 2018 and loved it back then . You managed to articulate every single motif i could catch and every single emotion i felt watching it better than i could ever envisage. Entrenched in the rut of corporate monotony , I had turned more cynical than a human ought to be. Thank you Joe , for this amazing video-essay, for bringing back a smidgen of naivete to me, for rekindling the desire for romantic expedition and for reminding me of someone inside me I had forgotten existed. Thank you for doing what you're doing , Joe.

Still one of the most impactful shows I have ever had the total honor of watching. The moment the video started playing the OP it was such a wave over me... I haven't listened to these songs in too long.

I was originally going to say that the real Antarctic experience isn’t this emotional, but when I thought about it, going there actually did have a huge impact on me. It really is unlike anywhere else on Earth. I met some of the most interesting people I’ve ever met there and made friends I hope I’ll never lose. And despite the endless BS I had to endure, I can’t help but think I’ll end up back there.

I've never seen this channel before and I didn't know what this video's take was, but seeing anything Yorimoi immediately gives me a little rush of complex feelings and I can't help but click. And I'm really glad I did. I actually only discovered this gem of an anime not even two months ago, during what has been a really difficult period of crippling burnout and existential crisis after I got laid off just before Christmas. At this point I'm closer to a midlife crisis than to fears of wasting my youth, but honestly those are just different sides of the same coin. After these hideously draining last few years leaving me exhausted on the outside and thrashingly restless on the inside it wasn't hard to identify with this show. It might be an exaggeration to say that Sora Yori mo Tooi Basho saved my life, but not by much. I think I've watched it through four times now. It's such a simple story, and while it's artistically very well executed, it's not anything revolutionary. But it manages to convey so much depth of feeling that it's like it bypasses my mind entirely and speaks directly to my soul. And I needed every single message it had to convey so, so badly. I needed to be reminded about wonder, and to really deeply engage with something that reminded me it was okay to just want to do things, and to want to have fun and be happy. I needed to be reminded that you have to *do* something if you want to get anywhere so I'd stop just mourning the state of the world. I know it's gonna sound corny because I'm sure a lot of people say the same thing after they watch Yorimoi, but I mean it with every fiber of my being: I'm going to Antarctica. I'm in the middle of a career change and within a couple of years I'll be in a great position to work a few seasons down there. I changed careers because I needed financial stability and I didn't know what else to do with myself, but now I have a reason. A goal. An honest to god goal that I set for myself, to do something I have always wanted to do since I was little, and talked myself out of trying over and over. And it was catalyzed, at long last, by this little show, brilliant in so many ways, that has now become one of my favorite things, full stop. You're right about it shaking something loose in you. And thank god for that. I know the message wasn't exactly supposed to be "go to Antarctica," specifically, of course. Except, for me, it... kinda was. I'm sorry, this is all still fresh and I'm a little overcome and kinda crying right now, and I know I'm rambling. my life story's not really relevant here. But I've been trying to explain this to friends and nobody's really hearing me, so finding a video like this that articulately lays out all the reasons I'm not just imagining how magical this show is, it's just... it's really touching and affirming. Thank you.

Yorimoi was the first anime that I just can't give a score lower than 10. It is literally perfect in my eyes. It might not have been my favourite ever, but it's flawless and still very dear to my heart.

This show touched me in a way few shows do, and left me asking what I was doing with my life. Thanks for touching on it even several seasons afterwards. It deserves to be remembered as more than the seasonal moe people think it is

I owe my life to this anime because without it, I would never imagine my life accomplishing such incredible things and this show really gave me the lessons that could push me despite my stagnant and wasted opportunity to experience something new. Thank you for making this video.

One of the most sincere, incredible anime I've had the pleasure of watching. The fact that this show hasn't had a localized home video release (for anywhere outside of Japan as far as i can tell) outside of streaming is criminal.

Normally I would gush over “Universe” at any given chance, but your content deserves the spotlight. Your deeply perceptive, poetic descriptions accompanied by your captivating, yet soothing voice resonated within me. Every scene magnificently complemented your narration. Truly working in tandem rather than a backdrop to your script. If the show itself were Antarctica, your commentary would certainly be the submerged ice. This quote, “Incredible women doing inspiring things.” Bravo. I truly look forward to your future works.

I loved this show. It is so underrated. It's also always so awesome to see friendships between girls portrayed in a way that doesn't cater to the "male-gaze" or stereotypes. I was around the age of the characters when I watched it, and as I young woman too it was so cool to see relationships presented like the ones I have with my friends. Great video!

You should read up on the Japanese explorer who was actually part of the explorer’s club who soloed the North Pole with a sled. He also helped in the Japanese expedition to the South Pole. He was trying to solo mountains across the globe last time . He literally disappeared while trying to solo Denali in Alaska. He still hasn’t been found though and while his original camp was found, his body still hasn’t been recovered. The best theory is he fell from an ice cravass where he never could be found or fell off the mountain into the forest below, neither way it’s bad. His photo and equipment used for the north pole trip is on display in the explorers club hall of achievements as a way to honor him despite the club’s reluctance to give awards to the dead as they do not give physical awards instead their members accomplishments are immortalized in that hall. There are strange artifacts in that hall like the four tusks off a strange elephant that terrorized Central African, Egyptian artifacts that don’t belong in a museum, sleds of strange designs, and strange African weapons that explorers found, even a raft used to sail from Hawaii to the pacific islands over several months made entirely of balsa.

There's a playlist I have that is cheesely called videos I care about. This video is 100% going in because sometimes it's impossible for me to put into words how much I love something and I was waiting literally when this anime came out when you'd make a video about it. And it definitely didn't disappoint. Thank you so much for this and please never stop.

This is my favourite anime after Wolf Children. Actually gave me the motivation to change my life.

One of my favorite anime of all time, pre commenting and liking but I’ve been hoping for this video to come out for a long time. Keep up the great work!

Man, clicking on your channel and seeing a new video about something I've seen and like gives me this giant rush of dopamine. I'm a month late but I'm settling in to watch this and I KNOW I'll like it!

What do you say to this? Universe is an absolute masterpiece. It literally set the bar for what I expected from anime (and any medium, really) & few have even come close to matching it. It is beautifully brilliant! To see Beyond Ghibli cover this amazing show in his equally incredible, heartbreaking way is nothing short of a religious experience! Great job, Joe! 😍

Fun fact this show made it into NY times top 10 The Best International Shows of 2018

4:09 This is one of my favourite scenes in any show I’ve ever seen. Any other show would keep it light hearted and fun and not go any further (even though it is still a very fun scene), but the way the different characters react differently to the situation, the music, the dialogue. All of it heightens the scene and pushes it one step higher, and the does that time and time again

Summed up everything PERFECTLY and I appreciate you bringing back those feelings I had when I FIRST seen Sora Yori!

I've followed this channel for quite some time-to the point that even my own critical "voice" when writing started to "pitch" toward Joe's leisurely loquaciousness. Part of me knew this video was coming after enveloping myself beneath the many slices of life-shaped blankets but much like Kimari herself... I fear I may need a push to press play and return to there. A place further than the universe... It's a place that strips everything bare. Time. Hearts. Life... It's a place with nothing to protect you and nowhere to hide. It's an environment that exposes everything we're embarrassed about and everything we want to hide and, so, naked and crying-we're forced to come face to face with who we really are.

The most soulful anime I’ve ever watched

As a seafarer the seafaring arc was fun to see also the OP and ED is Lit

I remember this coming out with Violet Evergarden, and I couldn't help but comparing the two at the time. I reckon had they not coincided I would have enjoyed VE, but instead finding it manipulative, a beautiful but hallow shell. This show on the other hand, made me let out emotions I wasn't even expecting of having. This show made me chase a passion driven journey I've long held back on and now come back from. I owe these girls so much.

I had recently started thinking about this series more seriously, contemplating watching it again since the first time I watched it when it came out. This video was timed just so perfectly to encourage me to do that. It was described so eloquently in this video, what a great show

What a beautiful video, Joe. Universe is one of the most important pieces of media in my life, being singularly responsible for me now living in Canada (moving from Germany), and holds an incredibly special place in my heart. And your video - as expected - captured that feeling, that importance so so beautifully. This is really one of my favorite channels on RU-vid, it's just such a comfortable, warm place.

Really love the serie and the video. And Non non Biyori, the girls doing literally nothing, hilarious.

do Ranking of Kings!!!

A Place Further Than the Universe is a masterpiece

Beyond Ghibli: Girls on Fire. Me: Beyond Ghibli on Fire. By the way, Happy Women's Day.

Inspirational. Absolutely beautiful representation of living to your fullest. Chasing your dreams, to live and love and keep pushing forward. This anime tought me all this, and all of us who watched it with open hearts. We felt it. And it's what changed me for the better, I will always have this piece of inspirational media in my heart, as it is what drove me to become who I am today, and who I will become in the future.

This was the first seasonal anime I watched when I first subscribed to Crunchyroll 4-5 years ago. SoraYori set the bar so high, I often find myself being too picky when choosing anime to watch since then.

I had completely forgotten how ridiculous good the soundtrack is

So glad you made a video on this series, it's without a doubt one of my all-time favorites! Also side note, I had captions on without realizing it and I have to say that Fevol has made the best use of the youtube caption system I've ever seen. I may even leave them on since they fit so nicely. The production quality of your content continues to amaze, keep up the great work.

An 18 year old me back in 2018 who was so much inspired by this anime that he made a promise to himself that one day he will go on an adventure like those girls but unfortunately 21 year old current me still waiting for that one spark to happen in my life.

Fantastic video. Just rewatched Sora yori late last year and it's still one of my favorites

I loved how you started off the video with a quote from Ernest Shackleton. Such a great way to frame the video

The show that changed my life.

one of the best stories I've watched

One of the best underrated anime imo, also one of my top favorites

Thanks for the video. One of the best anime series in recent years.

Beautiful essay, Joe, on one of the best anime to come out in the last decade! I hold "Universe" as very dear and it has inspired me as well...

This is one of my fave slice of life anime

Watched it some years ago, your description of it is very fitting. A beautiful anime!

One of the most beautiful anime ever made. I watched it in August 2020 when the pandemic was weighing over us at large, and I was starting my PhD. It gave me a sense of inner worth and a desire to make my journey through the final stretch of my education something to remember. I've got my first scientific conference coming up next month, and I'm excited.

Right as I was rewatching your video on slice of life, this video dropped. What timing!

Incredible women doing inspiring things is my new favorite genre, absolutely amazing way to put it.

Gotta say man. You were right. Watched this show after seeing your video. It was amazing.

This show is so underrated that when I found a clip of it I thought it was a new anime ( I only watched it in 2021). This show is like a breather from popular and repetitive anime genre. Makes you love anime and even life itself again

Just recently discovered this anime and I'm in love with it. A place further than the universe and Wonder Egg Priority, are both master pieces. It's unfortunate that it takes having no males in an anime just to get awesome and relatable female characters. I guess Jujutsu Kaizen is changing that up a bit.

Can I just say how amazing it is that you add proper subtitles to every video? Everything you produce is so high quality, keep up the good work!

Yorimoi will always be my favorite anime of all time!

It’s rare seeing people still talking about sorayori, thanks! This is my no.1 anime in my list, the osts are so memorable

I wish I could watch this again for the first time.

I love your channel so much. Every video a banger. Can't belive you don't have 10x the amount of subs. One of the extreamly few channels where i "hit the bell".

Such an enchanting video! Please do "Ranking of Kings" anime series, pretty please.

Well now I feel inspired to rewatch the series after it's been a few years. Definitely a favorite

I'm glad this show is getting the respect and praise it deserves

Beyond Ghibli out here again with pure fire, have a like

definitely gonna rewatch this show

Awesome subtitle choices! Love the extra details.

I would absolutely be thrilled to see you cover the new anime Akebi's Sailor Uniform. It is a slice of life about a poor young girl from the country attending a prestigious private junior high-school for the top ranking students in Japan. Komichi (the MC) is literally childhood come to life & the art style in both the anime & original manga are breathtaking. Please check it out. I'd love to hear your perspective on it.

I was actually just thinking about this show while bored at work. Excited to hear your thoughts on one of my favorite anime.

Thank you for covering my favorite anime!!

Pre liked and pre commenting ... Wow Joe, you always manage to find these works that are so soulful, so understated and yet screaming with substance and meaning. I watched this one a few years ago and it has stuck in my mind so strongly for its depictions of the power of hope and perseverance. I'm sure i'll love the video, thanks :)

This anime genuinely inspired me to be more ambitious in the adventures that I take on my own. A 10/10 for sure

Why do I feel goosebumps (in a happy way) everytime I watch your videos?

Best job advert ever

OH BOY I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YEARS!!!!

Great video on a great show.

What a nice essay...made me wanted to watch this.

Have you seen "song of the sea" that would be right up your alley.

Once again you are so incredibly eloquent and described everything I loved about this. Seeing all the scenes from the anime again makes me recall their journey and makes me tear up slightly. It certainly is a show that will tug at your heart and motivate you to go out there for yourself.

Great video!

Nice! I know what show I'm showing my friends next time!

Just commenting again because this video is awesome

Thank you for this wonderful video! Now I need to rewatch the series. And as luck would have it, the day after this video released it was announced that the wreck of Endurance, the ship from the expedition mentioned in the opening quote, was found! I really recommend reading up on it, it's an incredible story.

I always look forwards to watching these videos after finishing a series.

Such an overlooked show. It has stuck with me and even motivated me since it released. I'm stoked to see someone talking about it years later.

one of the greatest shows ive ever seen. beautifully done video

I watched this back in 2018 and it Hans been onze of my favorite anime of all time. It is a mind changer. I recommended this to so many people bout most people can’t get past the: I don’t like slice of life anime. But this anime is so much more.

One of my all time faves. It's unassuming but it hits hard.

I still wish they'd put this on physical.

You’re voice goes with the anime so well 🥰

This show inspired me to study abroad in highschool. I will always appreciate it

I'm going to "give it a go!" Thanks for the recommendation!!

One of the best anime ever made, the feels it gave you when you watch it, it's clearly one of my favourite anime of all time. I saw this show many times and cried everytime I see it. I can't wait the next work of Ishizuka Atsuko named "Goodbye Don Glees".

I finished this series just 2 days ago. Uncanny! You make the best anime content. Beautiful stuff.

I love this anime so much.

This is one of my favourite anime, It gave me the push to actually go and visit Japan somthing I had said I had wanted to do for yearsbut had never got around to planning. Watching Joe's video brings back those yearnings again after years of lockdown routine.

Gorgeously made video

everything here is Perfect 👍🏼

See, I love this type of anime. I found it after searching for other anime like Laid back Camp, that weird sub genre of “Hobby/adventure slice of life”, I see what your saying when you mention the “cute girl do stuff” anime, but I never saw it that way, I saw it more like girls (mostly) doing outdoorsy, active, hobby like activities and have fallen in love with those activities. I’ve hunted down a whole list of these anime. There aren’t a ton, but there’s def a good start to a new sub genre, if anyone besides me recognizes them. Let’s hope they do because there’s a feeling you get watching them, it’s like…..a calming, zen-like excitement that’s so enjoyable. I honestly don’t care if they’re girls or boys in the show, as long as it has that vibe these shows all seem to have that I just can’t pinpoint

Only 1 minute in and I have to turn off the video, because I want to watch this show so much now!!! I promise I'll come back when I finish the series though

Ok, you convinced me: I have to watch this series... for the 4th time now.

I have the same public relationship with this show as I do Angel Beats. Everyone loves AB's graduation and APFttU's laptop, but I prefer baseball and facetime. I do always feel a little disappointed that I wasn't inspired to go on an adventure or change my life like a lot of others seem to suggest. I really loved it, but I can't help but think I missed something.

Another great video! Thanks for making them. Now I want to see this show AND plan a trip somewhere. 😀