A Psychological Coming of Age Story: From The New World - GameRant
From the New World is a strange yet compelling anime by A1 Pictures, Aniplex, and Sentai Filmworks. While somewhat obscure, it is a one-of-a-kind coming of age story. It also happens to be a psychological anime that may leave the viewer questioning the meaning of life. While those two things don't sound like they go together, there are other anime that could be put into those categories as well. One anime that easily comes to mind is a short series called Ghost Hound, which is another psychological anime about a group of kids finding themselves. Ghost Hound, however is more about ghosts and the supernatural rather than psychic kids and the supernatural. Another, more popular anime, in a similar genre is Madoka Magica, which is also a coming of age story that utilizes horror-esque techniques.
While From the New World is just as obscure, or perhaps more obscure than Ghost Hound, that doesn't make it bad. Many obscure anime are hidden gems. This anime might not be for viewers who want an anime with action all the time, but it is absolutely worth the watch. Viewers who are focused on the typical action coming of age story might prefer something like My Hero Academia instead. For viewers who are looking for more suspense and mystery in their coming of age stories, this might be for them.
What is a Coming-of-Age Story?
A coming of age story typically follows a younger character, usually in their teens, growing up and grappling with existential questions. Many viewers relate to coming of age stories as most people have a few commonalities about growing up. Everyone's lives are different and unique, but there comes a time in everyone's life where they question where they belong or the kind of life everyone is living. During these kinds of stories, characters usually "find themselves" or explore their identity.
This can include fostering relationships, traveling, and growing as a person. An important aspect of coming of age stories is the character growth and change. From the New World has many similarities to a coming of age story.
The Story
From the New World follows a group of kids growing up together in a psychic society with the focus on Saki, a 12-year-old girl. It takes place in the future after a devastating war between psychic and non-psychic humans. Only psychic people exist in the current time period due to non-psychic people being wiped out from the aforementioned war. Their village is a seemingly perfect utopia with strict rules. Despite the rules being strict, people follow them diligently.
Saki isn't a terribly good with her powers and ends up struggling in school where the psychic children are sent. Due to Saki's belated awakening with her psychic abilities, she joins her friends at school late. Once she's finally there, however, she starts to wonder what happens to kids whose psychic abilities don't awaken. Luckily, or perhaps unluckily, she's a bit of a rule breaker and curiosity tends to get the better of her. As Saki and her friends grow into their powers, they also find the time to uncover sinister secrets about their apparently peaceful village.
The Soundtrack
A soundtrack can really make or break any kind of media. From the New World wouldn't be the same suspenseful, vaguely horror-esque anime without its amazing soundtrack. It isn't the same kind of memorable soundtrack as Attack on Titan, but it definitely adds to the overall vibe of the story. From the New World's background music creates an eerie atmosphere that leaves the viewer on edge at every turn.
This soundtrack does what every soundtrack should be doing: guiding the viewer through both the story and the main character's emotions. This psychological anime tells a lot with just the music, creating the perfect eerie vibes throughout the whole series. It will leave the viewer wondering if things in the world are really that innocent.
Why This is a Coming-of-Age Story
A big part of From the New World is about Saki finding herself. The series follows her going through adolescence as well as becoming a young adult. As mentioned earlier, a coming of age story typically involves relationships, emotional hurdles, and finding one's self. Saki must navigate through life in a psychic utopia while fostering relationships with her fellow companions. Saki explores friendships as well as love interests with the anime even including casual LGBT+ relationships. A good chunk of the series is focused on Saki growing up with her friends rather than the supernatural aspects. While the supernatural and suspense side of the anime plays a big part, the focus on Saki navigating her formative years pinpoints the series as a coming of age story.
From the New World is currently available on Crunchyroll.
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