I wouldn’t call myself an anime aficionado, but I am a casual fan. Much of the anime I was into came out in the ’90s or early 2000s. One thing that always stuck was the label AnimEigo, and I was surprised to hear they were still around and releasing titles. I’m unsure if the label was resurrected or if they’d been releasing titles straight through, but I was excited to see they were here and releasing the title Time of Eve (2010). It wasn’t a title I was familiar with, but I figured I’d take a leap of faith to see what it was all about.
In the not-too-distant future, every household has an android servant. Some people don’t trust them, while others become obsessed. Two high school boys accidentally stumble into a café when his android’s travel log leads them there. It’s a place where androids and humans are to be treated equally. They can talk freely amongst each other, which never happens and is a shock to the boys at first. The shock then opens up to fascination, and they begin to learn more and more about their world and, in the process, learn about themselves.
Time of Eve was originally a web series, but the episodes have been compiled into a single film, and it’s pretty sweet. It’s not an action-packed science fiction piece but more of a character study. Androids must have their halos turned on, but when they’re in the café, it’s required that they’re turned off, and patrons aren’t allowed to discuss which race they’re a part of.
Time of Eve shows the importance of accepting, putting differences aside, and being who you are. The animation is pretty traditional, but scenes inside the café appear differently. Sometimes, it felt like the background was live-action with the animated characters in the foreground. I doubt that was the case, but it’s wonderful to look at.
RELATED: Mike Flanagan to Write ‘Clayface’ Movie for DC Studios
The film has an engrossing, thought-provoking story and a rich sense of humor. Time of Eve is the type of project that has sparked my interest in anime once again.
AnimEigo’s release includes many special features, such as the short films Pale Cocoon and Aquatic Language, the original trailer, interviews with the cast and director, Yasuhiro Yoshiura, a behind-the-scenes look, and footage from its opening day.
Time of Eve is beautifully animated and makes us ask questions that could be applied to our everyday lives and how we treat one another. It’s a welcome return for the quality of product AnimEigo was always known for.
We’re hardworking geeks who love to geek out, but we can’t do it without you! If you enjoyed this article and want to see more like it, please consider tipping our writers. Also, as an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.