DESCRIPTION

CAST

NOVEL Sci-FiVivy prototype
MANGA DramaVivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song
SPECIAL ActionVivy: Fluorite Eye’s Song - PILOT MOVIE

REVIEWS

• 

  Magenta

  69/100
  A truly challenging and emotional work about artificial intelligence and the questions that they may bring.

  The age of artificial intelligence is soon going to be upon us. While it has been a common science fiction trope for many years, with the progression of technology, questions about AIs will soon prop up. While we don’t have to worry about it now, we still can keep it at the back of our minds for the near future. In fiction, artificial intelligence as a concept has been done to death. There are many movies, television shows, and books documenting what might happen during the rise of the machines. Tappei Nagatsuki’s anime original series, Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song, initially seems like it isn’t so different when following the tropes of the ones who had previously tackled artificial intelligence. Vivy’s approach to depicting artificial intelligence ends up being far more emotional than most stories covering the same subject matter would dare to attempt. Through its emotionally-driven story, it manages to carve out its own identity.

  

  It doesn’t exactly feel like it is brought up that often, but when artificial intelligence actually does get invented, questions about what the actual nature of AI are are going to prop up. These questions about emotion and humanity involving AI are extremely daunting to actually answer, and most would probably shy away from even providing anything that is close to an answer. What sets Vivy apart from most, is that it not only integrates them into the core theming of its story, it tackles them completely head on. In nearly every single arc, new morally gray questions about artificial intelligence are brought up and given a spotlight. Along with the hard questions asked, there are also hard decisions made along with it. The morally grey ambiguous zone of the questions asked makes the series far more interesting to watch, since it lacks predictability due to how generally vague the morality of everything is. It is, in a sense, ahead of its time in how it manages to cover issues about emotion, purpose, and meaning in AIs, that we won’t have to discuss, probably until the time period where the fictional events of the series actually starts. No one better represents the weight of the questions brought up than the series’ very titular character. Even throughout the various arcs, the one constant of Vivy’s struggle to find purpose stands to be an extremely engaging character arc that perfectly exemplifies all of the best qualities that this series has to offer. Nearly every arc ends with a powerful emotional send off that is a culmination of that arc’s themes and messages, making for some extremely resonant moments. For me specifically however, I didn’t exactly feel that moved by these scenes that really should have sent home a lot of what that arc was going for. For the reasons as to why that is, it is important to look at some of the deeper issues with the individual arcs.

  

  The actual stories that comprise Vivy's segmented arcs usually hit some very high highs. Despite this, there are some low lows thrown in there too. There are some arc-specific reasons as to why that is, but the more general problem at hand here stems from the series’ need to continually one up itself. At the halfway point of nearly every arc in this show, there is a plot twist that makes the viewer view the whole conflict at hand in a different light. While plot twists are a great narrative technique when used properly, Vivy feels like it needs to use it in order to shock the viewer. What usually happens in these arcs is that the series presents an extremely interesting question that it is going to tackle, but then immediately replaces that very interesting question with something that is far less interesting. The unhealthy need to insert plot twists in places where it doesn’t need to be hurt is far more than it deserves to. It is the reason that I always preferred the first halves of the arcs compared to the second half of them, because those were the halves that were entertaining the far more interesting question. However, what replaces the very interesting questions usually shown at the start after the plot twists are still engaging to follow. I wouldn't have praised it so much if that wasn't the case. It is just that I couldn’t shake my feeling of disappointment that I felt after the plot twist usually hit, and is precisely why I didn’t feel moved by the emotional climaxes of the story arcs.

  In terms of the presentation of the story, it is absolutely fantastic. Hailing from Attack on Titan and Vinland Saga fame, Studio WIT brings this story to life in the best way that I could imagine. While the actual animation is great, what makes the actual visuals stand out to me so much is the sense of atmosphere that they provide. I don’t know how to fully describe it, but they radiate a pristine energy that is a perfect fit for a story like this about AIs. Another aspect of the presentation that I give massive kudos to is the music. While the actual OST doesn’t stand out to me the most, what makes Vivy’s music truly special is in its insert songs and the opening. They are great songs by themselves, but due to this series also being a bit of an idol anime, they also serve a purpose in the actual story itself. How exactly they do would get into spoilers, but they are what contribute to how emotionally packed the emotional climaxes actually are, even if the overall scenes themselves didn’t really affect me in particular very much.

  

  Even with a lot of its more disappointing aspects, I still found there to be a lot of worth to be found in Vivy. It manages to tackle some pretty tough questions in a manner that shows a type of grace that is rare to find in anime, really ever. It is rare to see ambitious anime original projects like this, but when they start to air, you are usually in for an experience like no other. With what it does best, I am willing to forgive a lot of the flaws, because the full package manages to feel like a genuine eye’s song.

  

  Thank you for reading to the end of the review if you did. If you have any criticisms with how this review was made, you are free to message me to critique what I had to say.

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• 

  AnimeDweeb

  60/100
  Mission Accomplished, I Guess.

  This is a tale of things not going according to plan.

  `Artificial Intelligence, the crown jewel of human civilization. Should they be imparted a higher level of thinking than what is possible with the human mind, A.I. could result in either our evolution or our downfall. Uncertainty surrounding A.I. is what makes exploring the concept so fascinating within the realm of science fiction. One of countless possible futures, this journey introduces ideas that inspire hope and confidence. But one should not expect a happy ending, for even our best-laid plans can work against us. This is` "*Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song*." `This review will be spoiler-free, with a` **Tl;Dr** `included towards the end. With that out of the way, it's about time we begin.` *** # `April 11, 2161 - The end of the world. ` `Humankind fell victim to the hands of their own rogue creations, as an unexpected error led robots everywhere to revolt against their masters. With this tragedy unfolding, a scientist sends a S.O.S. 100 years into the past. The one to receive the call for help is Diva, an A.I. music performer. As the first autonomous humanoid A.I. ever created, Diva was contacted to avert the crisis to come. A.I. would be gradually integrated into society in the following century, and it was her job to correct the flow of time as major events occurred throughout the following 100 years. Only in doing so, would A.I. and humans peacefully coexist. Armed with the fast-talking teddy-bear robo-companion Matsumoto, Diva would take on a new mission, the Singularity Project, and a new name: Vivy. ` `Across this 100-year journey,` *Vivy * `teases several intriguing concepts; namely time travel, artificial intelligence, and music. This rather curious mix of elements gave ` *Vivy * ` much of its identity, and the detailed worldbuilding involved in establishing these ideas had me excitedly anticipating what the story would achieve. We'll be exploring each of these aspects, in order to pinpoint where ` *Vivy's * `strengths lie.` #`Fans of` [Re:Zero](https://anilist.co/anime/21355/ReZero-kara-Hajimeru-Isekai-Seikatsu/) `may find themselves coming down with a pleasant case of déjà vu.` `And no, I'm not referring to "Return by Death." Writer` [Tappei Nagatsuki](https://anilist.co/staff/118885/Tappei--Nagatsuki) `has his familiar DNA written all over ` *Vivy .* `He trades a fantasy setting inspired by a medieval past to one modelled after a plausible future. Time travel is the constant, alongside the writer's penchant for dark setpieces crammed with mayhem and chaos. While ` *Vivy's * `similarities to Nagatsuki's past works are hard to miss, it's worth keeping an eye out on how this new story sets itself apart. The first component of ` *Vivy's * `time travel is its restraint. Time travel isn't abused as a "Get Out of Jail Free" card or an OP mechanic. Rather, time travel in the sci-fi sense only appears as the inciting incident. Once Vivy kicks things off, she only has one shot to make her actions count. Coming along with code Vivy receives from the future, her sidekick Matsumoto relays to Vivy all the conditions that need to be fulfilled in order to alter the timeline. This includes not only achieving desired outcomes, but also allowing for other bad circumstances to take place. This cold, calculated utilitarianism forbids Vivy's intervention, for any action surplus to the Singularity Project could result in irreparable damage to the future. This looming danger provides a real sense of weight and consequence sometimes missing in other` "*Groundhog Day*" `premises. The Singularity Project turns into a real test of Vivy's resolve, as she withstands obstacle after obstacle in the name of an ever-changing mission. History is being tangibly rewritten by Vivy's actions, and Matsumoto's predictions become more uncertain with each new deviation from the timeline. There's no room for error, yet our duo continually toe that dangerous line. Not only do our characters' actions matter, but we also are given a grand scale of time to see their outcomes develop. This leads us to the second component of ` *Vivy's * `time travel, which is more orthodox than that of other sci-fi counterparts, but still fascinating all the same. There aren't a ton of stories out there that take place over such a long period of time with the same set of protagonists, and ` *Vivy's * `100-year journey certainly qualifies. In order for the series to effectively depict the steady march of time, markers are established, such as Vivy's daytime singing career or the overall look of her country. The Arayashiki Server is a tower which begins construction at the start of Vivy's journey, and grows in-line with the rate at which in-world technology develops. If the changing world represents how far Vivy has come, the Arayashiki Tower shows us how little time she has remaining. Entire years elapse in-between story arcs, and catching up with the way things have changed can feel like tuning in to a different show. Even secondary characters add plenty of intrigue as they develop alongside the main story, crossing paths with our idol A.I. at different points in their lives. New plotlines could be subtly teased long before they become properly introduced. All-in-all, the rising tension and thoughtful changes within ` *Vivy's * `world allowed the show to create an exciting prospect only possible through one of sci-fi's most entertaining tropes.` #`How does one envision a future with robots?` `According to the scientist that commissioned Vivy and Matsumoto, the goal is coexistence between Man and Machine. ` *Vivy * `makes this possible by designing robots around a central trait: single-minded subservience. Early-on, the script establishes an in-universe explanation for why A.I. are the way they are. Robots do not perform as intended when taking on multiple tasks at a time, so multi-purpose A.I. were swapped out for bots that served a singular function. Acting in accordance with the mission is of utmost importance to A.I., and the show continually reiterates this principle. Unlike most standard A.I. of her era, Vivy is given free reign to do as she likes, which is what allows Matsumoto to recruit her on the Singularity Project. Even so, the series pays close attention to Vivy's conflict of interest. She's still a hopeful idol celebrity at heart, and her arc is dedicated to coping with the duties of singing for crowds and saving the world. This internal struggle provides some much-needed characterization in a world where other A.I. figures are straightforward by design. ` *Vivy's * ` solution to the A.I. debate is not only simple, but sensible. It's a fictional idea that doesn't feel too far removed from reality, and that plausibility makes the series more engaging to explore. Even when the show's opening minutes depict the harsh destruction and bloodshed caused by rogue A.I., there's a strong sense that peace is possible. Of course, not everyone shares those beliefs; meet Toak, a terrorist organization founded on the preservation of human life via the eradication of A.I. Frequently clashing with Vivy and Matsumoto, Toak represents an antagonistic force looking to protect humans in their own way. They certainly enact evil deeds, without coming across as traditional villains. Vivy and Matsumoto aren't heroic saints either, with their cold decision-making causing us to ponder if our protagonists are making the right decisions. Vivy appears to recognize that there is more to service than simply following instructions - "service from the heart." Understanding what that ideal means could very well secure peace between A.I. and mankind, and it's a thought Vivy ponders on for much of her story. ` *Vivy's * `groundwork for its dystopian reality is really strong, making us question if our heroes' ends always justifies the means. With changing times and unclear choices on the table, the series set a great stage. The series was well-poised to leverage its unique use of time and challenge the inhuman foundations of its futuristic world. ` *Vivy's * `mission is simple.` `Ri`ǧ̸͇ḣ̸͉t̵̪̅ ? #`Music works best when it is unspoken.` `It's a powerful weapon in a writer's arsenal, connecting characters to conflict not expressed in words. Melody can project passion and themes in a raw manner that words fail to capture. Visual media can certainly incorporate music with great success, the key lies in giving music room to breathe as a mode of expression. ` *Vivy * `already runs into a major hurdle, because our singing main character barely has any passion of her own to express. Furthermore, her existing mission as a singer doesn't exactly align with her narrative function of kicking ass and changing the future, and this deviation from the directive seems puzzling. ` *Vivy * `addresses this conundrum by mythologizing music as this elusive, mysterious gift that the titular character struggles to attain. This pigeonholes the script into making an unnaturally big deal about "singing from the heart," through expository fluff that only detracts from the OSTs strengths. Plus, the manner in which Vivy is convinced to take up the Singularity Project reads like a dumb technicality. The loophole justification which convinces Vivy to enact Matsumoto's desires is that she could potentially "make the people she saves happy with her singing." ` *Vivy * `simultaneously puts music center-stage and in the periphery. The series has great song tracks and musical motifs, such as the Sisters' Song throughout the Sunrise Arc. The main OP of the series is a fitting track representing the A.I.s, as the lyrics communicate the pleasure experienced upon completing a mission. The love and enthusiasm for music shines in its very inclusion in this already-packed story, but that passion is greatly diminished in execution. An honest, unfiltered manner of expression was largely reduced to a vague, disingenuous message. It's in its unsatisfactory use of music that makes ` *Vivy's * `key weakness more apparent.` #`Going back to the quote that opened this review, ` *Vivy * `is a tale of things not going according to plan.` `Rather than use a plot to explore thematic concepts, ` *Vivy's * `mission was to use thematic concepts to decorate an action show where robots do kick-ass things. All these aforementioned concepts are there primarily as an excuse to tell self-contained sci-fi action arcs. But in having the concepts serve the story structure, ` *Vivy * `leaves aside conclusive exploration of these individual ideas. The passage of time in a narrative is mostly set dressing, or a means for characters to do unexpected things with minimal explanation. That's because the show has enough exposition as is, with having to introduce and conclude an operation every 2-3 episodes. The script resorts to contrivances where cause does not correspond with effect. Going by the show's internal logic someone could have sneezed, and that might have been enough to spark the apocalypse. Not all the show's decisions are like this, but these lame "butterfly effect" excuses can come completely out of left field in order to get the plot rolling, thereby taking me out of the story in the process. This weaker writing also affects sideplots, as recurring characters and mysteries set up earlier in the show yield mostly underwhelming answers^. Moving on to A.I., it's an element with its own share of problems. A.I.'s adherence to their respective mission aids in expediting the explanation for character motivations, but can be a double-edged sword. I get that robots being one-note and predictable is part of the appeal, but it gets frustrating whenever the show tries its hand at developing characters anyway. Vivy's interactions with those around her boils down to her asking the same damn question in every arc, and getting no relevant answers. That question is, of course, the Mission itself, and gets more vague as the series progresses. "How do I sing from the heart?" As mentioned earlier, this recurring million-dollar mystery is frustrating and diminishes the effectiveness of the songs themselves. But it's a question that ` *Vivy * `comes frustratingly close to addressing in a later arc, only for the plot to arbitrarily withhold the answer from its main character^^. This results in a massive character regression which forces Vivy to give up her mission due to a contrived case of robot anxiety. a crisis of tremendous scale during the final arc. By that point, ` *Vivy * `was struggling to make its strong execution effective^^^. The admittedly strong ending hardly feels like a deserved sendoff, given some of` *Vivy's * `more lackluster "memories in the leadup. Perhaps Vivy's journey was all about self-discovery, and depicts what it's like to chase something you don't fully understand. But I'm only left to speculate instead of answering with certainty, because I struggled to connect with Vivy as a character. Her quest to quantify humanity is at odds with the show's conceptual mandates. The mission is all there is, there is no room for error. And yet, the show attempts to generate that pathos by breaking its own rules, in a climatic moment more clumsy than triumphant. The unsatisfactory results of her quest seems to suggest that mindless commitment to your tasks will reap optimal results, and that humanity amounts to being anxious and less competent at achieving goals. It's not the true ending of this story, but a really strange conclusion to come up with in the first place. For a show about resolutely chasing singular objectives, Vivy's sense of direction only gets more clouded as the story progresses.` #`Ambition & inconsistency are in-tandem with the ` *Vivy * `experience, and the visuals are no different.` #####`Note that the background is one large still image, and the camera is jolting around to simulate movement and depth. The fight choreography is undoubtedly spectacular, but the overall visual direction can be tough to watch.` `Many are sure to gush over certain gorgeous shots, with the 4K UHD closeups being a highlight. However, I felt the visual feel of ` *Vivy * `rather disjointing, as the detailed keyframes of those scenes only made more apparent the flaws in others. It's like popping on "God of War" on PS2 and enjoying the fidelity of a pre-rendered cutscene, only to transition to a locked camera and low-res polygons. There's a loss of consistency and detail when it comes to the character models. Animation is spectacular, with hand-to-hand "sakuga" combat scenes standing toe-to-toe with MAPPA's` [Jujitsu Kaisen](https://anilist.co/anime/113415/Jujutsu-Kaisen/) and [THE GOD OF HIGH SCHOOL](https://anilist.co/review/7867). `However, the show's reliance on CGI is rather hard on the eyes.` *** #`Tl;Dr:` `Your enjoyment of the show is contingent on whether or not you can overlook the incompatibility of its themes. The individual concepts used in the show are sacrificed at the altar of disappointing writing in order to serve the mission of being an excuse for sci-fi action scenes. ` *Vivy * `is defined by those ambitions, as it integrates individual ideas that feel both interesting and incongruent. At times ` *Vivy * `traverses the tightrope, merging story and themes harmoniously to great effect. But the notes start to sound off whenever the plot takes precedence; subpar writing choices and unfulfilling answers leave behind only a cold chassis-covered Mission. This series' goal was certainly to create an entertaining, self-contained action romp, and it very much succeeded on that front. But ` *Vivy * `had me hooked on the promise that it could achieve so, so much more. Perhaps time travel, A.I. and music weren't ever meant to mix in a compelling capacity. Alas, the potential in store for these facets of ` *Vivy * `will be lost in time, like tears in rain.` **6/10**~ *** # `Stray Ramblings (SPOILERS:)` - `^Kakitani doesn't really matter. His only purpose was to inject Vivy with the reprogramming virus in order to progress the plot, while robbing the audience from answers to questions that have been brewing since the beginning of the show. His motivations for pursuing her was the kind of asspull that made the show's use of music feel hamfisted and disingenuous.` - `^^Vivy 2.0 flexed on the insecure OG in the most frustrating way possible. Her last performance serves to progress the plot while deliberately withholding concrete answers to questions that have been brewing since the beginning of the show... Are you starting to spot the trend yet?` - `^^^The first 16 minutes of Episode 12 were pure, bleak bliss. Seeing the entire operation go to shit hit hard, even if we barely knew the crew involved. The destruction on display marked another opportunity for Nagatsuki to revel in his mayhem. It was engaging to see just how far things would come apart, but I had hope that the writing wasn't part of the chaos too. That hope turned out to be misguided, as this inconsequential disaster of this episode only occurred for the dumbest of reasons. Vivy's failure that ended with countless loss of life was undone with a single button-press. Now all our idol singer needs to do is, you guessed it, sing. And she had this information the entire time, thanks to the conversation with the Archive. And she withheld said information from her teammates, which was valuable intel that could have kept casualties to a minimum. And she doesn't spill the tea to anyone, so Matsumoto is unable to give her the pep talk she needed to Mary Sue the whole thing. And despite the keys to fixing the entire situation being handed to her on a silver-fucking-CGI platter, she doesn't use them, thereby going against her primary function of keeping people alive with her singing. HOLY SHIT, how can you fuck up so bad. Given the option to save the entire world, Vivy... doesn't, not out of a personal choice, but out of sheer incompetence. Vivy 's final episode isn't a means to build on tension, it's an exit strategy. The show still has one more episode commissioned, and our cast need something to do. Staying true to her name, this "Diva" stirred up drama for no valid reason. Even if you call her inability to sing a part of her arc due to the Metal Float incident making her more "human," her "loophole" excuse of making sure her potential audience survives would still take ultimate prerogative - and it's an excuse that worked all the way up till this episode, mind you.` - `If Diva was the first autonomous humanoid A.I. from the Sisters Initiative, wouldn't she have been way more popular than she really was? Getting to Main Stage should have been a cakewalk, smh.` - `Hope I wasn't the only one wishing Matsumoto would talk slower. Funny enough, over a summer course I had a professor who talked just about as fast during lectures. Watching this show helped me keep up with studies, true story.` - `Really wish the show did more with the Kirishima bloodline. Momoka gave Vivy her name, after all.` - `BEST GIRL: Probably Grace. Good singer and loyal companion, who wouldn't want to protecc.` *** `Hope you caught that` *Blade Runner* `reference! Halfway through writing, I had the sudden urge to go check out the Director's Cut. Anyways, there's my mission done for now. If you happen to like my verbose rants, feel free to check out my other` [reviews](https://anilist.co/user/AnimeDweeb/reviews) `for seasons past and present. I also frequently post writeups under my list updates, so definitely take a peek if you'd like to see me mald over anime as they hit the airwaves. Peace~`
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• 

  nekoama

  90/100
  What does it mean to pour your heart into something?

  Hey nekoama here, and this is my second anime review, please feel free to browse through my other reviews and let me know what you think. Today I'll be covering Vivy: Fluorite Eye's Song.
  Warning: this review may contain spoilers.

  

  In the distant future, highly evolved AIs have set course to destroy all of mankind, proving to be the superior race. 100 years prior, AIs are already an essential part of human society, each appointed tasks they must carry out. Vivy, the first-ever autonomous AI, is stationed at NiaLand and her mission is to spread happiness with her singing. However, one day, an advanced AI from the future, Matsumoto, appears before her and explains to her the situation between humans and AIs in the future, hoping to receive her help. Will they be able to save the future?

  

  Initially, when I heard about this anime, I wasn't at all that interested in it. I have heard from others that they were very hyped for this series to air, however, nothing about it intrigued me. In my head, I'm thinking, okay a bear doll and a blue-haired AI is going to change the future. I picked it up, because well you know, people say it was good. :) And boy, did it deliver. You could call it love at first glance. This show is amazing in all aspects and I would definitely recommend it to others.

  

  But first, can we admire the artwork? The art and animations are amazing, as expected of Wit Studios, producers of Attack on Titan, and Vinland Saga to name a few. Sometimes the colors are vibrant and attractive and other times it can be the complete opposite. The art is very stunning and the animations are very fluid and smooth. I was actually surprised when I saw the fighting scenes, because it was unexpected from an anime such as this. The fighting sequences were very well done and entertaining to watch too.

  The songs in this anime are top-tier as well. The singing is very nice and it gives a sense of connection to the show because Vivy is the one who sings these songs herself. The songs are very catchy and easy to listen to. That being said, I've already slammed all these songs into my playlist.

  Since the beginning of the show, Vivy has always questioned what it means to pour your heart into something. She wondered what it meant and how she uses that to improve her singing. Ultimately, she begins to learn what it means. She learned that pouring her heart into something meant "singing along with her memories". As Vivy made new memories, her audience began to grow, and she started to be happier. Because to her, the heart for humans is what memories are for AIs, a road map of their journey to where they are now. Vivy's 100-year mission has shaped who she is now. All the people she met along the way have made a huge impact on her, and that is what allowed her to truly understand what it means to pour your heart into something and sing on the main stage once and for all.

  

  I'm probably biased towards this anime because I just really enjoy the idea of time travel with Steins;Gate being my favorite anime after all. But I genuinely enjoyed watching this anime. It was very entertaining and kept me hooked with each episode. It can be sad, it can be funny, it can be action-packed, it has it all. If you have nothing better to do, like me, you should give it a try. You never know, this could be your favorite anime.

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