Atri – My Dear Moments (2024) - recenzja anime - rascal.pl
Atri – My Dear Moments (2024)

In the near future, rising sea levels have submerged most of the land and human habitats. Ikaruga Natsuki lost his family and his leg a few years ago. He decides to find his old home in a small seaside town, which is now mostly underwater. All he has left is a small ship and a submarine inherited from his grandmother, a renowned oceanologist.

His hope for a normal life is spurred by a somewhat suspicious debt collector, Catherine. Natsuki’s task is to repair the submarine and prepare it for a journey to the ocean floor to retrieve valuable items left behind by his recently deceased grandmother. The day comes when he decides to carry out the plan. However, at the bottom of the sea, he finds something completely unexpected—a humanoid advanced robot named Atri in the form of a young girl. She differs from all the robots Natsuki and his friends have seen so far because her brain operates very similarly to a human’s, and she is also equipped with other human traits.

Atri – My Dear Moments (2024) – Audiovisual Design

Video

I had some concerns about the visual presentation. Many series from studio TROYCA have featured an overuse of unattractive 3D graphics, which often spoiled the overall aesthetic. Thankfully, I was proven wrong in this case. Yes, some 3D-rendered objects were used, but they were limited to the submarine and a few minor background elements. Everything else looked simply stunning. The level of detail was a feast for the eyes. The character animation was highly expressive, and the backgrounds were incredibly rich in detail. While the character designs weren’t as intricate as in the original visual novel, I found no reason to criticize them; they still looked fantastic.

Visually, I got much more than I had expected. It’s worth mentioning that the creators maintained consistently high quality all the way to the final episode.

Audio

All the voice actors from the original material reprised their roles in this adaptation. While this is almost always the case, it’s still delightful every time. The titular character, Atri, was voiced by Akao Hikaru, while the male lead, Natsuki, was voiced by Ono Kensho. Supporting roles featured legends like Hikasa Youko, Takahashi Minami, and Katsuki Masako. Needless to say, everyone delivered stellar performances.

The soundtrack stands out among other anime series for a simple reason—it includes most of the music from the original visual novel, composed by Matsumoto Fuminori. While it’s not my favorite visual novel soundtrack (it doesn’t even come close), it still has enough charm to make it worth listening to outside the anime or the game.

Atri – My Dear Moments (2024) – Plot and Characters

Introduction

As soon as I saw that the summer 2024 lineup included a full adaptation of a visual novel, it went straight onto my watchlist. In these times, I really miss good and complete adaptations of visual novels. Many of my favorite anime are, in fact, adaptations of such games.

Atri – My Dear Moments isn’t an exceptionally long title. The average reading time is about 13 hours, so adapting it into a 13-episode series seemed feasible. Although I haven’t read the original, I had heard a lot of good things about it, which made me even more eager for the premiere.

A Brief Overview of the Atri – My Dear Moments’ Plot

In the near future, rising sea levels have submerged most of the land and human-inhabited areas underwater. Natsuki Ikaruga lost his family and his leg years ago. He sets out to find his old home in a small seaside town, only to discover that it is mostly underwater. All he has left is a small boat and a submarine inherited from his grandmother, a renowned oceanographer.

His hope for a normal life lies in an idea suggested by a rather dubious debt collector named Catherine. Natsuki’s task is to repair a submarine and prepare it for a deep-sea dive to recover valuable items left behind by his recently deceased grandmother. The day finally arrives when he decides to put the plan into action. However, on the ocean floor, he discovers something entirely unexpected—a highly advanced humanoid robot named Atri, designed in the form of a young girl.

Atri is unlike any robot Natsuki or his friends have ever seen. Not only does her brain operate in a way strikingly similar to that of a human, but she is also equipped with other distinctly human traits.

What is the series about

Atri – My Dear Moments tells the story of the titular Atri. At first glance, it doesn’t seem like the story revolves around her, as it’s told from the perspective of Natsuki, the main protagonist. However, it quickly becomes clear that Atri is the true focal point of the narrative. Several episodes feature flashbacks of her life, which she slowly remembers due to her memory loss.

The scriptwriter also delves into philosophical themes about existence and consciousness. This motif strongly reminds me of the early 2000s, especially the first half of that decade, when many series and visual novels exploring similar themes were created (and later adapted into anime). The story is interwoven with well-balanced humor. It appears fairly often but never dominates the narrative. The story follows a tried-and-true structure that I absolutely love. The first half of Atri – My Dear Moments feels idyllic. In a nearly post-apocalyptic world where civilization is a shadow of its former self, the main characters and their friends lead relatively peaceful lives. The seaside setting, sunny weather, and their efforts to reopen a local school for nearby children amplify the sense of tranquility.

The second half gradually shifts into drama. Comedy scenes become increasingly scarce, problems begin to pile up, and the protagonists face escalating challenges, racing against time and other obstacles. This kind of narrative structure has always stayed with me. It’s not just that it helps the viewer bond with the characters—it also enhances the emotional impact of the story. After all, if you care about the characters, their fate matters more to you.

Characters

Atri

Atri is discovered at the ocean’s depths by Natsuki. Although she is an android, her appearance and emotional expressions make her indistinguishable from a human. She can smile, frown, and even shed tears. It appears that she once served as an assistant to Natsuki’s grandmother. However, this part of her history remains shrouded in mystery. Her memories from before her slumber at the bottom of the ocean have been lost. The few fragments she gradually recalls are like puzzle pieces that don’t yet form a complete picture.

With hope, she turns to Natsuki for help in recovering her lost memories. For her, this isn’t just a matter of curiosity—it’s a profound, inexplicable drive to fulfill her late owner’s final command. Atri stands out for her boundless curiosity and eagerness to learn. Every new experience and piece of information fascinates her, and her enthusiasm for exploring the world is simply infectious. She takes pride in her efficiency whenever she succeeds at something.

Ikaruga Natsuki

Natsuki is a 17-year-old boy whose life has undergone a series of dramatic changes. Fate has not been kind to him, and each hardship has left a deep mark on his personality. Once a proud student of an elite school in a major city, which only accepted the most gifted pupils, he was forced to leave and return to a tiny seaside town. His childhood trauma has deeply scarred him. At a young age, he lost his beloved mother and one of his legs in a tragic accident, changing his life forever. These events left him not only physically impaired but also carrying profound fears.

Dreaming of regaining full mobility, Natsuki is fixated on acquiring an advanced cybernetic prosthesis. He becomes involved in a plan to salvage valuable items from his grandmother’s underwater storage. What initially seems like a straightforward task soon turns into the beginning of a much larger intrigue that once again alters his life.

Kamishiro Minamo

Minamo is Natsuki’s childhood friend, sharing a special bond of care and concern with him. She is a candid and cheerful girl. Despite being the same age, she often takes on the role of an older sister, worrying about his well-being and ensuring he doesn’t succumb to melancholy. Her care is evident in the simplest gestures—whether it’s bringing him home-cooked meals, reminding him of important matters, or simply being there when he needs companionship. Minamo harbors feelings for Natsuki, but she struggles to express them.

Atri – My Dear Moments (2024) – Evaluation and Summary

The ending was bold by today’s standards. The word bittersweet perfectly captures how I felt after finishing the series. It was a pleasant surprise, as I did not anticipate the turn of events. While I haven’t read the original visual novel, comments from friends familiar with the source material suggest that this was a very faithful adaptation. If visual novel fans are satisfied, it’s a testament to the remarkable work done by the studio and the team behind this title—a rarity these days.

The stunning visuals, excellent voice cast, touching story, and fairly good pacing (for a visual novel adaptation) ensured that Atri – My Dear Moments left a lasting impression on me. Although the final episodes felt somewhat rushed and an additional episode would have enhanced the dramatic arc, I can’t complain about the overall execution. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone longing for a story with such themes and atmosphere.

Finalny werdykt

Final evaluation

Which translation do I recommend to watch Atri – My Dear Moments (2024)?

  • Crunchyroll/Aniplex (official): this is the only available option. While it’s not the worst translation, there are several points I could critique. On the cosmetic side (though still impactful on the viewing experience), there was an inconsistent approach to honorifics. For example, one character used honorifics for some people in the translation but not for others. Other characters either didn’t use them at all or applied them selectively. Additionally, the order of names was unnecessarily swapped, which didn’t make much sense. From a translation standpoint, it wasn’t terrible. There were no cringeworthy memes, and excessive paraphrasing was avoided.

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