A Place Further Than the Universe

***A Place Further Than the Universe*** (宇宙よりも遠い場所, *Sora yori mo Tōi Basho*) is an anime television series directed by Atsuko Ischizuka and produced by Madhouse. It originally aired in Japan from January 2, 2018 to March 27, 2018 and distributed internationally by Crunchyroll. A manga version by Meme Yoimachi (宵町 めめ), was published in 2018.

A stage production of the story was presented in Tokyo in 2023, directed by Hideo Tsuchida and written by Hideo Tsuchida and Tomoharu Suzuki.

## Summary

The story centers around four high school girls, that all become friends due to their shared goal of taking their youth by the wheel and going on a journey to Antarctica together. Spearheaded by Shirase Kobuchizawa who desires to follow her mother's footsteps, they spend a large quantity of their time planning for the trip, and overcoming challenges that come in their way with stride. All the while getting to learn about each-other and strengthening their friendship, and experiencing the true value of their youth.

Upon reaching Antarctica they all work to adapt to the harsh climate and share new experiences and memories, along with meeting new people and learning of their reasons for going to Antarctica.

## Characters

Main article: List of Characters

Main characters
* Mari Tamaki (nickname 'Kimari') portrayed by Inori MinaseSeiyuu Wiki
* Shirase Kobuchizawa portrayed by Kana HanazawaSeiyuu Wiki
* Hinata Miyake portrayed by Yuka IguchiSeiyuu Wiki
* Yuzuki Shiraishi portrayed by Saori HayamiSeiyuu Wiki

Supporting characters
* Megumi Takahashi (Kimari's best friend and classmate) portrayed by Hisako KanemotoSeiyuu Wiki
* Mari's mother portrayed by Takako HondaSeiyuu Wiki
* Mari's father portrayed by  Shinobu Matsumoto
* Rin Tamaki (Kimari's younger middle school sister) portrayed by Kaede HondoSeiyuu Wiki
* Tamiko Shiraishi (Yuzuki's mother and manager) portrayed by Sayaka OharaSeiyuu Wiki
* Takako Kobuchizawa (Shirase's mother who disappeared on an expedition) portrayed by Ai KayanoSeiyuu Wiki
* Gin Tōdō (co-founder of the Antarctic Challenge Foundation and leader of current expedition) portrayed by Mamiko NotoSeiyuu Wiki
* Kanae Maekawa (co-founder of the Antarctic Challenge Foundation and vice-captain of current expedition) portrayed by Yōko HikasaSeiyuu Wiki
* Yumiko Samejima (caterer for the Antarctic expeditions) portrayed by LynnSeiyuu Wiki
* Chiaki Mukai (captain of the *Penguin Manju Go*) portrayed by Masaki TerasomaSeiyuu Wiki
* Toshio Zaizen (Communications Officer of the Antarctic Challenge Foundation's observation team) portrayed by Yoshitsugu MatsuokaSeiyuu Wiki
* Dai Himi (leader of the Antarctic Challenge Foundation's construction group) portrayed by Jun FukushimaSeiyuu Wiki
* Nobue Todoroki (Geologist of the Antarctic Challenge Foundation's observation team) portrayed by Kana AsumiSeiyuu Wiki
* Yume Sasaki (Astronomer of the Antarctic Challenge Foundation's observation team) portrayed by Aya EndōSeiyuu Wiki
* Honami Yasumoto (Microbiologist of the Antarctic Challenge Foundation's observation team) portrayed by Mikako KomatsuSeiyuu Wiki

## Episodes

Main article: List of Episodes

1. *One Million Yen For Youth*
2. *Kabukicho Fremantle*
3. *The Follow Backs Don't Stop!*
4. *Four Caterpillars*
5. *Dear My Friend*
6. *Welcome to the Durian Show*
7. *The Ship That Sees the Universe*
8. *Howling, Maddening, Screaming*
9. *Antarctic Love Story (Blizzard Arc)*
10. *Partial Friendship*
11. *Bash That Drum Can!*
12. *A Place Further Than the Universe*
13. *We'll Go On Another Journey Someday*

## Music

* **Opening theme**: *The Girls Are Alright!* written by mito (Clammbon) and sung by saya.
* **Closing theme**: *Koko kara, Koko kara* written by Hige Driver and sung by the main characters.
* **Original Soundtrack**: The Original Soundtrack was composed by  Yoshiaki Fujisawa.
* **Insert songs**: Fujisawa also wrote three insert songs for the series which are sung by saya.
	+ "Mata ne"
	+ "Sora wo Miagete"
	+ "Haru ka Tooku"An additional insert song was written by Yuyoyuppe and sung by the main characters.
	+ "One Step"Yuzuki's pop song was written by baker & emon, and sung by Yuziki's voice actor Saori Hayami.
	+ "The Follow Backs Don't Stop (song)"

## Production

The series was produced by many of the creators of *No Game No Life*. The show is peppered with references to that show through posters and similar images in the background.

Script and series composition are by Jukki Hanada whose previous series composition credits include such shows as *Sound! Euphonium*, *Nichijou*, *Love Chunibyo & Other Delusions*, *Bloom Into You*, *Love Live!*, and *Steins;Gate*.

In 2022 at Anime NYC, publisher Anime Limited announced that in 2023 they would release a Blu Ray edition of the show including an English dub by Studio Nano. No word has come yet on whether the dub will be offered for streaming. The dub cast features such notables as Amanda Lee (Marin in *My Dress-Up Darling*) doing the voice of Yuzuki, Erica Mendez (Akko in *Little Witch Academia*) as Shirase, and Xanthe Huyn (Takina in *Lycoris Recoil*) as Kimari.

## Related events

* Crossover event announced October 19, 2021 with anime movie *Goodbye, DonGlees!* (『グッバイ、ドン・グリーズ！』).
* Re-broadcast starting October 6, 2021 on Tokyo MX.
* Announced in July 2021, perfumes by Fairy Tale Co., Ltd. (Minato-ku, Tokyo) based on 4 main characters on sale on the company's Amazon online store.

## Videos

* YouTube *Xophilarus*: Youth in Motion **"Afterlife"** by Ingrid Michaelson

Other info
* *A Place Further Than the Universe*
* *A Place Further than the Universe*
* *宇宙よりも遠い場所*
* *A Place Further than the Universe (TV)*
* *Sora yori mo Tooi Basho*
* IMDB
* TV Tropes

## References

1. ↑ *Comic Natalie*: Stage Adaptation
2. ↑ All the Anime
3. ↑ *Anime Corner*: Anime Limited Reveals A Place Further Than the Universe Dub Cast
4. ↑ *Studio Nano*: Studio Nano
5. ↑ *KAI-YOU* - アニメ『グッバイ、ドン・グリーズ！』よりもいコラボ　キマリたち4人の特報公開 (in Japanese; in English: *Anime "Goodbye, Don Glees! 』A place further than the... collaboration and others special news release*) by 槇島芽生 2021.10.19 18:00
6. ↑ *DENGEKI ONLINE* - 青春しゃくまんえん！ 女子高生南極青春グラフィティ『宇宙よりも遠い場所（よりもい）』10/6深夜再放送 (in Japanese; in English: *"One Million Yen For Youth!" High school girl Antarctic youth show "A place further than the universe" 10/6 midnight rebroadcast*) by 公開日時 2021年10月05日(火) 09:30
7. ↑ *PR TIMES* - 女子高生、南極へ行く！　TVアニメ「宇宙よりも遠い場所」より、玉木マリ、小淵沢報瀬、三宅日向、白石結月をイメージした香水が発売です。 (in Japanese; in English: *High school girl goes to Antarctica! From the TV anime "A Place Further Than the Universe", perfumes based on the images of Mari Tamaki, Shirase Kobuchizawa, Hinata Miyake, and Yuzuki Shiraishi are on sale.*) 2021年7月15日 17時00分

## External Links

Official
* Official website
* Official Twitter: @yorimoi

News
* *Anime News Network* - A Place Further Than the Universe Anime Gets Stage Play in May by Rafael Antonio Pineda 2023-01-24 04:30 EST
* *Anime News Network* - Exclusive: A Place Further Than the Universe Anime Gets English Dub by Alex Mateo 2022-11-18 16:00 EST