DESCRIPTION

CAST

MANGA DramaChi. Chikyuu no Undou ni Tsuite

REVIEWS

• 

  vampirevore

  100/100
  who up pondering their orb?

  So possibly the best anime released in 2024 (honourable mentions to _Yatagarasu_ and _Girls Band Cry_) and one of the best anime you’ll see This Decade just got done airing after about five months of nothing but perfection, and you’re wondering whether you wanna give it a try, or maybe you’re only here to find an opinion that’ll put into words what you’ve already felt this entire time. Either way, this review is gonna involve a lot of me gushing about a story I personally never expected to get an awful lot out of when I randomly put its first episode on after idly opening up the Netflix app all the way back in October. The gushing in question will involve: minor spoilers (i.e. references without lots of specific detail), so consider this your first and only warning. You can skip the spoilers and/or just get a tl;dr on the whole review by skipping to the very end. ____

  _Orb: On the Movements of the Earth_ is an anime set in and around the Protestant reformation – which permanently altered how people would perceive and relate to Faith, as well as the Copernican revolution – which permanently altered how people would perceive and relate to the natural world. For a lot of its run I went back and forth on exactly which of those two areas formed the focal point of the story, or at least which of the two I personally felt I could extract the most meaning from. In the end, it turned out I was: an idiot, and the two were always in harmony with each other, coming together to tell the story of human progress and some of the different perspectives that would drive it forward. It was never aiming to present science as an obstacle to faith, or vice versa, but the two augmenting and amplifying one another as different ideas sharpened each other through conflict. But I’m getting ahead of myself,,,, so it’s probably best for me to try and give an actual brief plot summary before I go any further.

  The story, set in 15th century Poland, is essentially one without a fixed protagonist, as it follows on from one person to the next, each phase bringing forward a unique and interesting perspective on _Orb_’s subject matter, ranging from self-avowed heretics or atheists, to those seeking to affirm or otherwise renew their faith in the Christian God. For all the diversity in outlooks, each “main” character is united by a common goal: to prove and spread Heliocentrism – the understanding that the Earth revolves around the Sun, rather than the other way around as was the Church’s favoured doctrine at the time. I am not overly familiar with all of the figures involved in the Copernican revolution as it occurred in our own history, but I don’t have the impression most of them made any direct cameos in this anime. Instead, it delivers through the choice of having a “new” cast of faces for this period, which may well resemble reality to an extent, the idea that human progress is bigger than any one person, and that their ideas and contributions to knowledge will outlive the memory of their own lives as it inspires others to take up their journey. And that is exactly what happens over and over again in this anime’s 25 episode run, a series of seemingly unlikely connections and fleeting sources of inspiration that keep Heliocentrism – perhaps a proxy for human curiosity – alive, no matter how fervent the opposition from our favourite resident inquisitor, Nowak, and his lackeys and successors.

  The ironic thing, at least in terms of my own experience with the story, is that I am not even a Christian, of any category, and yet I feel it would be dishonest of me to latch onto the aforementioned: opposition to heliocentrism and use it as a cudgel to claim that Orb shows why religion is: bad actually. I would like to do that! I would, but this show paints a more complex, and I suppose more true to life picture of faith – one that doesn’t shy away from showing the fallibility of organised religion, the self-limiting and even corrosive effect of religious fear, but also showing the sense of both conviction and hope that faith can and does provide, to the extent that it also serves as the spark that drives at least a couple of our main characters forward.

  The message then, if anything, is that it’s not constructive to try and impose a particular set of beliefs on anyone, and that the world is enriched and brought forward by a plurality of ideas coexisting, even those that stand opposed to each other. And there are a lot of really engaging conversations between different members of the main cast whose conceptions or objects of faith differ, that demonstrate this. It works to elevate the story beyond the individual struggle that serves as its narrative focus, towards being a broader commentary on what faith actually means, and what progress actually looks like, applicable in every era, with all of the good and bad that those concepts entail. The pain of those left behind by a shifting era whose efforts are rendered meaningless (captured in one character in particular), and the evils justified in the name of faith. Again though, the positive aspects still shine through, it's just that the anime is never dishonest about what that complete picture looks like, and it paints that picture in wonderfully written bits of dialogue at various points. Points where a character put into words something I’d always felt, or that genuinely increased my appreciation for or drew my attention to something I’d never previously considered at any great length, speaking from a range of perspectives I wouldn’t have otherwise come across or considered. I mean, there’s a character here who says religion is inherently rational, and that is the basis of his rejection of it, which at first glance seems kinda ridiculous? But as he goes on his argument becomes equally more interesting and more convincing, even though I don’t wholly identify with it. I could go into descriptive detail in that regard, but I wholeheartedly believe this is the sort of show best experienced directly, on every front.

  It’s not just the engaging conversations, it’s not just the religious perspectives, it’s not just the message regarding the nature of human progress, this story is also just amazing from a narrative perspective. From pretty much the first couple of episodes that got released simultaneously, _Orb_ constantly kept me guessing. It’s the kind of show where you can’t take anything for granted, and can’t be entirely at ease when anyone you’ve invested yourself into tries to do practically anything, and I don’t know if that sounds like a bad thing for some people, but that is a godsend in a world where shows like Solo Leveling exist. It doesn’t have the most complex mystery plot in the world or anything, but small details often do matter, and the writers never dumb anyone down to make them easier for their counterparts to outsmart (or to make their world view seem less cohesive, for that matter). There are a lot of characters who are both highly motivated and: competent with respect to acting on their motivations, and we get maybe the best anime “villain” in a while out of it? Someone who, at least for me, stands on the same sort of tier as someone like Askeladd from _Vinland Saga_, just absolutely perfect for the role and probably the most hardworking villain in a while too.

  This is probably where I’d put down a couple of problems that I had with this anime, to break up the monotony of me continuously singing its praises, but uh,,,,, I have not one complaint. This thing is 25 episodes and it only had 1 episode out of that total that I didn’t think was literally flawless, and I’m not so desperate that I’m gonna go nitpicking off of one episode that ultimately Still wasn’t bad anyway. I guess if I had to say anything it’s that, from my own biased perspective, I would’ve liked to see a bit more of a robust atheist perspective presented than what we got, but promoting atheism (or any particular religious or irreligious perspective) obviously isn’t the show’s goal, nor should it be, and I don’t have the impression atheism was especially common in that area during the period being depicted either, so it is what it is. Separate from that, there were moments where the dialogue felt somewhat anachronistic, like someone was taking a twenty-first century perspective and putting it forward through what were supposed to be fifteenth century Europeans. Like, for one thing, the idea that human civilisation is constantly marching forwards through time, rather than regressing or stagnating, while maybe somewhat consistent with and justified by the experiences of the last century or so, was not the experience or perspective of humans in many parts of the world through much of our actual history. So purely in terms of accuracy, I wonder whether the moments where characters put forward that kind of perspective, appealing to the idea of society being brought forward, which the subtext of the show does support anyway, might be seen as somewhat obtrusive. But again, I didn’t mind it all that much, and I have been forced to resort to nitpicking here, right or wrong.

  I could go on to talk about the great voice acting, the beautiful visuals, the perfect soundtrack (the op, _Kaiju_ by Sakanaction, is one of my favourite songs right now,,,), but you get it at this point. Orb is incredible, and it’s the level of quality that’s hard to quantify, and that’s kinda rare to come across – at least in the world of Japanese children’s cartoons :’) so, if you’re looking for something to feel superior than everyone else for watching, or genuinely just looking for a story that’s worth putting your time into in a sea of mostly mediocre seasonals, then you absolutely need to give this anime a chance, because you’re probably not going to experience anything else quite like it. Minor disclaimer, to the extent you may care about this (I know I didn’t), but it does have basically no action. Lots and lots of this show consists of people talking, observing the stars, or talking about observing the stars, so if you do not have the attention span for that then uh,,,,,, rest in peace I guess. There are a handful of fights scattered here and there, and they are just as gripping as any other part of the anime by virtue of how high-stakes they tend to be, but they are definitely infrequent and far from being the centre of this anime’s attention. ____

  With all that said, _Orb: On the Movements of the Earth_ is a truly exceptional anime, that I would be dishonest to score at anything less than a perfect __100 out of 100__, just in terms of my personal experience with it, and it would barely go much lower even if I wanted to pretend to be “objective” with it. It does feature a moderate amount of blood and gore on the handful of occasions that things get violent, so be aware of that as a possible trigger warning I suppose, but that fact notwithstanding: it is a must-watch.

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• 

  befalt

  100/100
  Earth-shattering, sun-drenched, and out-of-this-world—and thus a star is born.

  This review is spoiler-free.

  **〈 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻... 〉**

  ---

  As silly and goofy as it may sound, I have never been able to get along with history, astronomy, and other so-called serious, deep subjects. Either my teeny-weeny brain does things differently, or I just have a natural gift for excelling at things nobody really gives a damn about—it is hard to say. Whatever the case, no matter how desperately I tried, I could never seem to memorise momentous historical events or make sense of the mind-boggling laws of the cosmos. That being said, in spite of these problems, the older I got, the more these topics started to pull me in like a black hole. There is something irresistibly wonderful about them—something that makes them worth studying. Sure, I still have trouble recalling even the most basic of facts, events, or natural phenomena, but I do my best to stay mindful of the incredible forces that have created, shaped, and governed our cheeky little planet for aeons.

  So, when *Orb: On the Movements of the Earth* began airing, I was hooked from the get-go. A historical fiction set in an alternate version of [my homeland](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland), tackling one of the most fascinating turning points in human understanding—the rise and development of [heliocentrism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliocentrism)? **Say no more and count me in.** Week after week, I found myself glued to the screen like a doe-eyed toddler, eager and hungry to see what the show had in store for me. While I had my reservations at first, the more I watched, the more I realised that this anime was not just extremely gripping, moving, and chock-full of delicious food for thought—**it was a passion project and a labour of love filled with intense passion, insane talent, an intimate appreciation for the world we live in.** It took me a while to admit it to myself, but *Orb* was everything I could have asked for in a historical drama... it was tailor-made for me. And once that clicked in my brain, I fell head over heels in love with it, utterly and absolutely.

  Before I attempt to break down what makes this series the astonishing masterpiece that it is (without spoilers, naturally), there is something that needs to be said out loud—something obvious, yet not immediately apparent to everyone: ***Orb* is by no means a historically accurate tale, and you do not have to be a history buff or a born-and-bred Pole to notice the multiple inaccuracies peppered throughout the story.** Things like characters wielding [weapons that did not exist in the 15th century](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapier), American date format appearing in a notebook, letters and book covers written in Polish that, more often than not, read like they were run through an awful translation tool, [the Church](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Church) being an unforgivable evil entity that loved indiscriminately burning people at the stake as if it were their hobby ([it did happen, but not to such an extent](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witch_trials_in_Poland)), inquisitors making use of [anachronistic torture devices](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pear_of_anguish), and scientific breakthroughs being either simplified or streamlined—**these things might raise an eyebrow or two, but they are not in any way, shape or form detrimental to the watching experience.** *Orb* was never meant to be a squeaky-clean history lesson or a perfect recreation of [the Copernican Revolution](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copernican_Revolution), which took place a century later.

  

  No... at the core, *Orb* is an anime about something far grander and more intangible, something you cannot exactly pin down with dates, facts, or timelines—**it is about life.** Throughout those twenty-five episodes, we witness both the beauty and the ugliness of humanity, the highs and the lows of a bygone era. Though dramatised and exaggerated for the sake of creating a compelling narrative full of thrill and excitement, the Kingdom of P, the events that transpire within its borders, and its people are a sobering reflection and a sad reminder of the struggles that have defined and moulded our species for centuries. And it is precisely because of its divine-like writing and devilish originality that *Orb* does not merely stand out from the crowd—**it lingers, burrows its robust, thick claws deep into your flesh, refuses to let go, and forces you to ponder and reflect on the world around you.**

  And make no mistake—this world is a brutal, unforgiving place. *Orb* is one of those exceedingly rare anime that take place outside of Japan, let alone in an epoch of knights, peasants, swords and arrows. But unlike the cold, harsh landscapes of the northern parts of Europe, we see in [Vinland Saga](https://anilist.co/anime/101348/Vinland-Saga/)—a comparison that gets thrown around a lot—this story takes place in a fictionalised version of Poland. The real place, after [its Baptism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christianization_of_Poland), gradually became a deeply religious yet unusually open-minded nation, where faith and science coexisted in harmony rather than constantly clashed. Plenty of scholars were connected to the Church—[Copernicus himself was a Catholic canon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolaus_Copernicus)—and intellectual pursuits were not automatically perceived as heretical acts of defiance. But in the Kingdom of P, everything is turned upside down. **Here, gossipy whispers travel farther than stern shouts, and the stars above are less terrifying than the men who claim the ground beneath their feet is the centre of the universe.** Science and faith are no longer two sides of the same coin—they are sworn, fierce enemies. Thus, when an idea begins to take shape—an idea that challenges the very fabric of religious dogma—the balance of society is thrown into question and seemingly at risk. And so begins a long, strenuous process of unmasking the truth, making the blind see, and turning the deaf into listeners—**it is time to inform the masses about the movements of the Earth.**

  As the story is broken up into three (four if you count the wholly distinctive epilogue) pieces, throughout the journey, we meet, befriend and follow multiple protagonists—[brilliant minds](https://anilist.co/character/279998/Jolenta), [idealists](https://anilist.co/character/280001/Rafa), [sceptics turned believers](https://anilist.co/character/280002/Oczy), [even men of the cloth](https://anilist.co/character/279999/Badeni)—each of whom has their life turned upside down beyond recognition by the falsely dreaded "heresy" of heliocentrism. Their personalities, ambitions, backgrounds, circumstances, and worldviews could not be more different, yet they, one by one, fall victim to the system that refuses to loosen its ironclad grip. **Their voices are silenced, their names erased from history, their lives forgotten to time, yet the one force that binds them all—the idea that, in a way, is the real protagonist of the story—cannot be executed, outlawed, or burned to ash.** With every thwarted breakthrough, each passing of the colloquial torch, heliocentrism's potency seems to flicker, fade and dim... only for another one of its champions to step forward and reignite the flame. **Truth is like fire—it spreads.** Just as a flame is sustained by fuel, heliocentrism is carried and maintained by those willing to suffer and sacrifice themselves in its name. But these folks are neither mere mouthpieces and vessels for this scientific insurrection nor straightforward cogs in the metaphorical machine of change and advancement. They are authentic, flawed, and relatable individuals you grow attached to, whose lives you cherish, whose outlooks you admire, whose victories you celebrate, and whose suffering you agonise over. **They have their own lives to live, dreams to chase, burdens to bear, battles to fight, tales to tell, and missions to carry.** And it is the process of watching them expand their wisdom, reach groundbreaking conclusions, perfect a theory that could change everything, and piece together the truth that I find to be nothing short of spellbinding.

  In the same vein, [the antagonists](https://anilist.co/character/279996/Nowak) are more than just harrowing boogeymen or faceless oppressors. To them, this is not enlightenment but destruction. **Heliocentrism is a direct attack on order, stability, and the power structures that have kept the world in check for centuries.** However, in spite of their apparent cruelty, they are not cartoonish, one-dimensional bad guys twirling their dapper moustaches from morning till dawn. Whether we like it or not, they are mere human beings, just like the heroes we root for and cheer on. The lower ranks of the Church and the inquisitors are driven by blind faith, by righteousness so intoxicating it leaves no room for doubt or negotiations—they truly believe that knowledge of this magnitude can do more harm than good. On the other hand, the shrewd figures at the top recognise that controlling knowledge is as crucial as controlling faith—it is about maintaining authority by any means necessary. These men carrying out God's supposed "will" simply embody the nastiest, most abhorrent side of humanity in a way that feels all too real and terrifying. **There are no caricatures or black-and-white morality here—only the beauty of knowledge and the brutality of oppression locked in a battle as old as time itself.**

  

  As you have probably gathered by now, the clash between scientific discoveries and religious doctrine is the most glaring and immediate conflict in the series, essentially fueling and serving as the foundation of every major and minor event and happening. **To acknowledge and recognise a heliocentric universe as the true and correct one is to undo centuries of belief, dismantle authority, and throw divine order into disarray.** In this world, the only truth allowed to exist and thrive is God's will, and those who claim to be His messengers and speak on His behalf have the final say in every matter and debate. And yet, for all the horrible and horrifying deeds committed in the Church's name by its avatars, faith itself is never presented as wicked, malicious or the natural enemy of free will. **Belief, for many, is a source of strength and meaning, the same way knowledge and research are a source of enlightenment and reason.** Nevertheless, the real tragedy comes from the moments when these two forces collide and clash since, within the Kingdom of P, they cannot peacefully coexist, no matter how much they could or should.

  **That is, unfortunately, how human nature is—limited, stubborn, and often resistant to change.** Revolutionary concepts or discoveries like the titular theory compel us to question, second-guess, and rethink everything we thought we knew about the universe, how it operates, and our place in it, and that kind of realisation can be exceptionally tough to swallow and process. In a way, knowledge in *Orb* is a liberating though disruptive force that reshapes, transmutes, and even, in a convoluted manner, destroys. If the Earth is not at the centre of the universe, if everything revolves around the Sun and not our funky space rock, what does that say about us? Does that mean we are not special, not chosen, not divinely placed by the Creator at the very heart of His creation? Are we, when all is said and done, nothing more than a tiny pebble on an enormous, boundless cosmic roadway? **Knowledge, in other words, is never neutral.** Yes, it is freeing, yet it can be just as crushing. In the right hands, it is a tool that uplifts, supports, and opens the door to a better, brighter future—in the wrong ones, it is a deadly weapon, a set of aching shackles, or a closely guarded secret only a select few can see. Although truth must always be pursued regardless of the price, is it entirely wrong to want to control how it is introduced and how it evolves, to safeguard society from chaos?

  But then again, **the truth is never set in stone.** What is considered heresy or factually incorrect in one era becomes common sense in the next. Theories and ideas that once shook the foundation of civilisation and posed an actual threat to the status quo eventually became its concrete cornerstone. The march of progress is like an ever-ongoing book—each advance is a new chapter, and our interpretation and utilisation of its content are always in a state of flux, never absolute. The past and the future are in constant dialogue, and the heart of the cycle of discovery and innovation never truly slows down or stops beating altogether. **Meanwhile, the universe continues to operate on its own terms, totally indifferent to human belief or opinion—yet we, time and time again, insist on shaping it to fit our worldview.** The main characters desire to align human knowledge and understanding of the world around them with reality, while their opponents seek to bend reality to their will so that it fits humanity's fragmentary logic. This constant strife between man and cosmos far exceeds the realms of religion or science, for it practically pervades every facet of life, which is why courage and sacrifice mean so, so very much. Every character—whether they be a scholar, a commoner or a mere child—must weigh their convictions against the very real and fatal consequences of standing by them and acting upon them. Is your cause worth dying for? Is it worth agonising for, even though you may never get to see the world you have envisioned and dreamt of? **Do your aspirations and ideals really merit the ultimate price?**

  And yet, despite these painful, ghastly questions and doubts hovering above their heads at all times, these remarkable figures press on. **They choose willingly to give up everything for what they believe in, only to be swept away by time, erased from collective memory and scrubbed out from the inexhaustible pages of history. **Such, however, is the uncompromising, ruthless temperament of our reality—scores of untold, unnamed visionaries and pioneers are persecuted, condemned, or even executed for their life's work, and their findings are either eternally entombed or attributed to someone else. **And still, they stubbornly and defiantly refuse to lose hope and spirit.** They push through the despair, confidently believing that something—anything at all—of what is being left behind will precipitate change, no matter how insignificant or trivial. But what is legacy really about? Is it about being vividly remembered, or is it more a matter of making a palpable impact? These individuals never get to experience and relish the fruit of their labour, yet they keep the torch lit, which time hardly acknowledges or takes any cognisance of. This is why, in the end, what I said at the start of this review holds true—**this tale is so much bigger than science, history, religion or even individualism.** It is about the tragic yet awe-inspiring human drive to understand, learn, advance, and move forward. It is about staring into the gaping, terrifying maw of the unknown and choosing to venture into the depths to chase after the answers to life's mysteries and reach the truth. **And within that valiant search, that heroic quest is both magnificence and ruin, revelation and repression, enlightenment and oppression, and humanity continues to keep its collective head high and march on as it always has done.**

  

  Alright, enough of that. It is time to stop stargazing and bring our feet back to solid ground—**we need to talk about the audiovisuals.** First things first: *Orb*'s soundtrack is a bloody phenomenal project. [Kensuke Ushio](https://anilist.co/staff/119254/Kensuke-Ushio) is my favourite anime composer, and every time his name pops up in the credits, I know—without a shadow of a doubt—**that, at the very least, the music will be top-tier, even if everything else shits the bed.** Naturally, the same applies here. The more subdued, sombre tracks work hand in hand with silence to produce a sense of serenity and respite. At the same time, the faster, more dynamic pieces that accompany skirmishes or tense confrontations send a shiver down your spine and fill you with excitement and awe. Finally, the compositions reserved for some of the most pivotal moments of the show not only feel out-of-this-world but also fully sell the importance and exquisiteness of the events transpiring on the screen. **In sum, every single track fits its assigned scene like a glove and infuses said moment with so much personality, verve, and grandeur that it is impossible not to get a horde of goosebumps crawling up your arms.**

  And then there are the openings and the endings, which I love even more. [Yorushika](https://anilist.co/staff/154702/Yorushika)'s "[Aporia](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhTFysCtF6g)" and "[Hebi](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sf0QFJTvOLM)" work wonders as the perfect farewell to each episode—they are delicate and gentle-sounding, and neatly symbolise both the eerie calm before the storm and the invigorating energy of every development. However, when it comes to the anime's music, nothing comes even remotely close to [Sakanaction](https://anilist.co/staff/343312/Sakanaction)'s "[Kaiju](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukYEgbe2QPw)" in terms of poignancy, replayability, and sheer magnificence. At this point, I have listened to it probably hundreds—if not thousands—of times, and it consistently makes my throat tighten and my eyes well up. **It knows exactly where to hit you to land that emotional sucker punch, and it hits you hard.** It fills you with this indescribable feeling of longing and sentimentality, while, at the same time, verbalising the heart and soul of *Orb* and its vivid reverence for the planet, the stars, and us. **Whenever I am feeling down or hopeful, I know this song will be there for me, ready to make me feel what I need to feel.**

  Unfortunately, when it comes to the visuals, I do have a tiny, little bone to pick. **There are many instances where the character models are wonky-looking**—their facial features are oddly distorted, their faces alter their shapes from shot to shot, and their eyes, noses, and mouths sometimes seem to melt or twist. Combine that with the highly detailed backgrounds and the frequent use of wide shots, and certain scenes start looking noticeably unpolished and rough. Now, do not get me wrong—when the occasion calls for it, the emotions of the characters can and are wonderfully conveyed, **but it cannot be denied that a lot of the less eventful scenes suffer from a disappointing lack of consistency.**

  Regardless, that is as far as genuine missteps go, as most of the other issues come down to personal preference rather than genuine flaws. For example, many may deem the lightning to be very hit-or-miss—the anime is not afraid to shroud its countless night scenes in near-total darkness before bombarding the screen with the intense sheen of the stars or celestial bodies—**but, in my eyes, this [Chiaroscuro-like](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro) approach adds a massive, thick coating of seriousness and realism that perfectly complements the story's weighty themes, and beautifully communicates the gravitas of every vital event or impactful line of dialogue.** The same applies to the backgrounds—they appear by the numbers at first glance, yet successfully encapsulate both the grit and grace of [the Middle Ages](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_Ages)/[the Renaissance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renaissance). Both the nature (the expansive meadows, dense forests, and green plains) and the architecture (the rustic, simplistic houses, churches, and whatnot) feel genuinely natural and lived-in. It is all thanks to the muted, desaturated, and atmospheric hues and tints that, in a sense, transport you straight into the setting—**you can practically feel the chill of the stone walls and the warmth of the Sun on your skin.** In short, despite the occasional inconsistencies, the art style is rock-solid, and when it wants to go all out, it more than delivers. As far as animation is concerned, it faces the same hurdles—**it can be terrifyingly stiff, almost lifeless at times, but it does its job well enough.** When it decides to pick up the pace—whether in a fierce clash between two fighters, a heated ideological argument, or a simple yet striking spiel—it does not just work... it shines like a star. These bursts of fluidity and dynamism may be brief and short-lived, but they are unforgettable. At its worst, it is passable—at its best, *Orb* is drop-dead gorgeous. No, it is nowhere near [Frieren](https://anilist.co/anime/154587/Frieren-Beyond-Journeys-End/)'s level, but it does not have to be. **It is fine the way it is.**

  

  Ultimately, a work's exceptional quality is only a part of the equation. What really matters is whether it clicks with you. After all, why ought we praise something if it fails to resonate with us in any capacity? Why should we be wowed by ingenuity when it fails to hold our attention and bores us to tears? Why must we admire something that never reaches us? Thankfully, in the case of this beauty, we are not forced to choose one or the other—**here, thought-provoking content and boundless fun go hand in hand, and deliver in spades.** Countless scenes are filled with philosophical debates and weighty conversations, yet they are nothing short of absorbing. The fight scenes and acts of violence may not be the talking point of the story, but when they do show up, you cannot help but be hypnotised by their intensity, abruptness, and the way they impact the characters' fates. The pacing, the time skips, and the unconventional structure of the narrative—sure, they might take a bit of getting used to—keep each twenty-something-minute episode infinitely fresh and pleasant. **No matter which one I put on, I had an absolute blast, savouring every single second of it.** This is entertainment in its purest, most electrifying form.

  All in all, for an anime that had spent months comfortably flying under everyone's radars, *Orb: On the Movements of the Earth* turned out to be nothing short of a masterpiece of colossal proportions. While it is not without its shortcomings (some of which are glaring and sometimes tough to swallow), **this diamond in the rough feels like it was tailor-made for me.** Free from the usual gimmicks, tired constraints, and cheap tropes that so often flood the medium, set in a one-of-a-kind setting that is strangely intimate, driven by themes and ideas that stimulate the mind and ignite the imagination, and packed with endless thrill, terror, and tension—though it certainly will not be to everyone's taste, in my eyes, the biggest underdog of 2024 is one of the most exhilarating and emotionally impactful experiences I have come across in quite some time, **and I will gladly sing its praises for as long as I can.**

  Thank you [Uoto](https://anilist.co/staff/128963/Uoto), [Kenichi Shimizu](https://anilist.co/staff/119190/Kenichi-Shimizu), Kensuke Ushio, Sakanaction, and [the rest of the amazingly talented, passionate staff](https://anilist.co/anime/151514/Orb-On-the-Movements-of-the-Earth/staff) for making those twenty-five episodes feel like something truly special—**something I will treasure for years to come.**

  *Thank you for moving my earth.*

  ---

  **〈 ...𝗶𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿. 〉**

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• 

  MusrycXD

  100/100
  One of the most underrated modern animes.

  Uno de los animes con mejor storytelling y de los más infravalorados que he visto

  (Reseña con spoilers y en español) _Key Visual Reveal del anuncio del anime_

  Al contrario que muchos animes, este anime es muy diferente y bastante que al resto debido a de lo que trata, cuya sinopsis es asi:

  A principios del siglo XV, en algún lugar del reino de P, Rafal está a punto de marchar a la universidad para dedicar su vida a la teología, si bien su verdadera pasión es la astronomía. Enamorado de las estrellas, el destino quiere que este muchacho inteligente y curioso conozca a Hubert, un hereje que ha abjurado de sus “estudios prohibidos”: la teoría heliocéntrica, según la cual la Tierra y el resto de los planetas giran alrededor del Sol, algo contrario a la fe imperante. ¿Podrá Rafal proseguir esos estudios sin que la Inquisición sospeche de él?

  Tal como se puede ver, es un anime que trata el heliocentrismo y la búsqueda de los herejes, un tema que, aunque no pueda interesarte mucho, la obra hace que el tema te enganche completamente a la pantalla y te maraville por su historia y sus personajes.

  Aunque, antes de hablar del anime en si y su historia, me gustaría hablar de su producción...

  ANIMACIÓN, DIRECCIÓN, BANDA SONORA Y OPENING

  Como podemos ver en el primer trailer, la animación se mostraba como un anime normal de MAPPA. Se motraba una animación normalucha, lo suficientemente decente como para poder digerir el anime. Lo más sorprendente es que proviene de uno de los mejores estudios de animación japonés: MADHOUSE.

  

  Madhouse es considerado uno de los mejores (o el mejor) estudios de animación, por sus sellos de calidad en sus respectivos animes, como Death Note, Monster, Sousou no Frieren, No Game No Life, Death Parade, Hunter X Hunter, Paprika, Hellsing Ultimate...

  Todos ellos no solo poseen una gran calidad tanto en animación como en dirección, sino que son unas obras que poseen una historia increíble, otros con peleas brutales, y otros con un desarrollo de personajes magistral.
  Al saber que Chi. iba a tener a MADHOUSE detrás, me sorprendió y se convirtió en un anime que DEBIA de ver, y el único problema que tengo con el anime está aquí: Su animación deja mucho que desear.

  La animación hay veces que decae muchísimo, pero tanto la dirección como su banda sonora lo compensa notablemente. Su dirección es muy bonita, teniendo fotografía muy bella, dándole importancia tanto a los personajes como al entorno que los rodea. Y su banda sonora es totalmente única, producida y creada por Kensuke Ushio (Chainsaw Man, Dandadan, Kimi no Iro, Boku no Kokoro), la banda sonora es en su gran mayoría relajante, mostrando esperanza, como si la música fuera de la mano con el camino de los protagonistas.

  Episode 6 - Oczy looks up at the sky/Oczy mira al cielo
  También, brevemente me gustaría hablar de su opening, el opening de base es completamente hermoso, las visuals son muy fluidas y totalmente increíbles, poseyendo con una gran dirección y que acompaña a la propia canción excelentemente, siendo uno de los mejores de 2024.

  Opening 1 v1 Chi. - sakanaction [Kaijuu]
  Lo que hace de este opening una completa obra maestra, es que, conforme avancemos en la trama y ocurran eventos importantes, el opening se irá "cambiando", ofreciéndonos escenas nuevas, pequeños cambios que harán que te rompan el corazón por completo, y dando otro significado al opening conforme pasa el tiempo. (Recomiendo NO ver las demás versiones del opening si no has visto la obra, tienen spoilers muy grandes)
  

  
  Y me gustaría hablar de la HERMOSA canción del grupo sakanaction, un grupo muy popular en Japón, siendo este el primer opening en el que han colaborado.
  Esta canción es muy curiosa, ha sido el primer single lanzado por el grupo desde 2022, ya que esta canción duró 2/3 años en crearse, debido a que el cantante, Ichiro Yamaguchi, fue el responsable de escribir y producir la propia canción, pero debido a que sufrió grandes problemas de salud, y además depresión, tardó mucho en realizarse la canción, siendo escrita en el momento más oscuro del propio cantante...

  Una vez salió la canción completa, fue un completo éxito, se está convirtiendo en las canciones más escuchadas del propio grupo, mostrando en la letra frases que nos reflejan los sentimientos de Yamaguchi en ese momento: "Gritaré una, y otra, y otra vez" "Incluso si me convierto en un monstruo en esta oscura noche" "Deseo salir de aquí ahora...". Con una letra así, la canción podría parecer ser deprimente o melancólica, pero al contrario, transmite esperanza, cambiando el significado de la canción, siendo que persigamos nuestros sueños con total esperanza. Os recomiendo encarecidamente que escuchéis la canción completa, es sencillamente hermosa.

  _sakanaction - kaijuu_ __HISTORIA__ Primeramente, para no spoilear toda la obra, solo hablaré de los 3 primeros capítulos. Nos ponemos en la piel de Rafal, un niño que ha vivido desde muy pequeño siendo huérfano en los suburbios de las ciudades, viviendo a base de la basura en la Tierra de P. en el siglo XV. Siendo adoptado por Potocki, un hombre muy amable pero que aparenta ser teólogo... La vida de Rafal cambia repentinamente cuando su padre le pide que vaya a recoger a un hereje que abjuró, revelándole ese hereje llamado Hubert, con un rostro completamente desfigurado debido a las torturas de la Inquisición, que el estudió el heliocentrismo, un pensamiento completamente "diabólico". Rafal al escucharlo por primera vez, siente que es imposible que sea verdad, mostrándole argumentos completamente válidos y correctos para la época...hasta que poco después, descubre que las estrellas no se mueven, sino que nos movemos nosotros. Así fue como comenzaría a estudiar el heliocentrismo junto a Hubert. Pero desgraciadamente, Novak, un inquisidor que se centra precisamente en los herejes que estudian el heliocentrismo, descubriría unos documentos que pertenecían a Rafal, pero en un acto heroico se sacrificó por Rafal mintiendo que los documentos eran suyos, haciendo que matasen a Hubert con la finalidad de para pasarle la "Antorcha del Heliocentrismo" a Rafal para que siga con su investigación. Rafal, a pesar de tener solo 12 años, continuaría el legado de Hubert, acabando siendo descubierto y delatado por su propio padre... Estaba en el calabozo encerrado, habiendo negado la abjuración y aceptando la muerte a base de torturas... pero Rafal...se suicidaría, prefiriendo morir sin haber sido sus sueños rotos, que vivir en pleno aburrimiento y desesperación. Enseñándonos una escena con una dirección y ost magistral, mostrando los últimos momentos de Rafal.

  _Escena final de Rafal_ Acabando así, con el primer acto de Chi. Conforme avanza la obra, toca muchos temas de forma impresionante, como el desprecio a las diferentes razas y a las mujeres, el gran valor del conocimiento... Todos los temas que trata lo hacen sorprendentemente bien. __Estos son los primeros 3 capítulos, por lo que no considero que sean spoilers. Pero ahora a partir de aquí, considero a la gente que no haya visto la obra, que la vea. Ya que voy a hablar de personajes MUY importantes y de como se desenvuelve el resto de la historia. __ __ACTO 2__ En este segundo acto, no hablaré muy exhaustivamente de la historia, pero si comentaré los mejores momentos y hablaré sobre sus personajes. Este acto dura aproximadamente 12 capítulos, desde el cap 4 hasta el 16. A su vez, la antorcha del heliocentrismo se traslada a 3 adultos, que serán los protagonistas: Badeni, Oczy y Yolenta. _Link: https://www.zerochan.net/4333614_ Al primero que conocemos es a Oczy, un hombre que, debido a traumas de su pasado, tiene miedo de mirar al vasto e infinito cielo... Conforme avancemos con él, nos daremos cuenta de lo amoroso y dulce que es. No hay nadie que odie a Oczy, el aspira a buscar conocimiento para sentirse útil en este mundo y poder ir al cielo sin tener que asesinar a más gente. Después tenemos a Badeni, un ex-monje de actitud fría y muy calculadora, él, al igual que Hubert, estudia el heliocentrismo para poder descubrir la verdad de este mundo y darle una mayor belleza a este universo. Cuantos más capítulos pasan, Badeni se vuelve el mejor personaje de la obra, descubrimos su trágico pasado, y vemos como deja de ser cada vez más frío y comienza a ser más amigable con la gente que lo rodea, en especial con Oczy. _Link: https://es.pinterest.com/pin/793266921898692645/_ Y por último tenemos a Yolenta, una niña, de una edad muy parecida a Rafal, y que es hija de Novak, el inquisidor que vió morir a Rafal en sus propios ojos, sigue yendo por detrás de los herejes que estudian el heliocentrismo... Ellos 3 forman una sinergia muy buena, siendo unos protagonistas carismáticos y buenos. Conforme avanza la historia, viviremos momentos con ellos, como por ejemplo al propio Oczy avistando Marte en el cielo... Badeni perdonando de todos los pecados a Oczy... Todos son momentos completamente memorables y de los mejores de la obra. _ _Episode 12 - Badeni forgives Oczy/Badeni perdona a Oczy_ Aunque desgraciadamente, Novak descubriría a los 3, pero, al contrario que con Rafal, Oczy y Badeni han puesto en peligro a su propia hija, por lo que Novak va a torturarlos sin ninguna compasión...Pero cuando los ve, le viene a la mente a Rafal, que poseía la misma determinación de saber la verdad que ellos dos. Aunque Yolenta sea una de las protas, Badeni y Oczy son los protagonistas aqui, ya que ella será mas revelante, pero para mi, estos son los mejores protas de la obra y mis favoritos. Acabando siendo ejecutados...al igual que a Yolenta, a ella también la "ejecutaron", o más bien falsificaron su muerte para deprimir a Novak y echarlo de la Inquisición... Pero la escena final entre Badeni y Oczy es una maravilla: Los dialogos, la dirección, la animación, la banda sonora, como tanto Badeni como Oczy, teniendo este último un miedo increíble al cielo...lo mira con un amor increíble, sin miedo alguno, acepta la muerte a cambio de ese cielo tan bello ...Todo en esta escena es PERFECTO.

  Episode 15 - Badeni and Oczy died Y, aunque finaliza el arco, antes nos ponen en la piel de Novak, y vemos como cae en una gran depresión debido a como, por culpa del heliocentrismo, muchas personas inocentes han muerto en sus propias manos, en especial su hija... Novak es de los mejores personajes de la obra ya que conecta con el público: Vemos como muchos personajes mueren enfrente nuestra por culpa del heliocentrismo... Nos muestra como ahora mismo, por culpa del heliocentrismo, está solo en el mundo, sin nadie en quien apoyarse, rindiéndose en la vida. __ACTO 3__ Habiendo terminado el Acto 2, no comentaré mucho sobre la historia de este. Comentaré brevemente que me gusta bastante la nueva protagonista, Draka, me encanta el desarrollo que se le da a ella y a la polémica del odio hacia la comunidad gitana conforme ha avanzado el tiempo, a ella le da igual el propio heliocentrismo, pero se aprovechará de este para conseguir dinero por una promesa que hizo en el pasado. Tambien me gusta mucho el personaje de Schmitd, posee el conocimiento de Badeni, y el gran corazón y amor que tiene al mundo de Oczy. Y por ultimo, antes de comentar los 2 episodios finales, mencionaré 2 personajes que mejoraron muchísimo aquí. Para empezar, Jolenta mejora muchisimo, amo como quiere seguir con sus sueños no solo por ella, sino por sus amigos. Ella quiso que el libro de Oczy saliera por todo el mundo, y todo el mundo supiera de la verdad, al fin y al cabo, era una revolución científica. Y ME ENCANTA la escena de como ella explota delante de los ojos de su propio padre, Novak, viendo sus ultimos momentos durante toda su vida... Sus niñez con su padre, sus recuerdos de Badeni y Oczy... me sorprendió muchísimo como no nos dio un segundo para respirar.

  Y ME ENCANTÓ EL FINAL DE NOVAK. como en sus últimos momentos, muriéndose en el fuego debido a la locura, al igual que Rafal, Badeni, Oczy y Jolenta, por la locura habla con el espectro de Rafal, explicándole que él estuvo solo todo este tiempo en la lucha del heliocentrismo... Como él ha hecho que todo el heliocentrismo se impidiese... Recordando a todos los herejes que mató...tiene una dirección y unos diálogos increíbles...

  Habiendo fracasado Draka y su equipo en su sueño de seguir los sueños de Jolenta...¿que debería ocurrir ahora? ¿Debería acabarse el anime? Bueno...en verdad...hay dos capítulos más en los que nos mostrará quien sería el profesor de Nicolas Copérnico, el impulsor del Heliocentrismo, mostrándonos que el que enseñó al que sería el profesor de Nicolás....¿ERA RAFAL? Cuando vi esto por primera vez, pensé que iba a ser un final horrible, que lo explicarían mal, y no tendría argumentos... Y al contrario, no nos explicaron NADA. ¿Era el Rafal que conocimos uno falso? ¿Fue todo una ilusión? Incluso aunque no fuese el verdadero, estuvo dispuesto a matar al padre de su alumno con el fin de defender el heliocentrismo y sus ideales... Revelando asi...que el niño Albert, sería el profesor de Copérnico. Amo este final tan "plot twist" ya que no te explican nada, solo te muestran lo que es...LA VERDAD. Y así, terminó esta grandiosa obra. Una obra con uno de los mejores storytelling que he visto jamás, asimilándose a obras con gran storytelling como Odd Taxi, Death Note... Unos personajes totalmente memorables, siempre recordando a todos: Rafal, Potocki, Badeni, Novak, Oczy, Yolenta, Draka... Todos ellos son personajes 10/10. Un anime que no necesita una gran animación, para ser una __obra maestra.__
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