EVE NO JIKAN MOVIE

DESCRIPTION

CAST

ONA Sci-FiEve no Jikan: Are you enjoying the time of EVE?

REVIEWS

• 

  Remiak

  90/100
  A very unique, different take on Asimov's idea of the awakening of self-awareness within machines.

  Eve no Jikan explores the time where androids, now commonly used as home servants, have become complex enough to be almost indistinguishable from ordinary human beings and their intelligence has reached a level where a few of them are starting to show signs of auto-re-programming, in other words, they are starting to do what they want because they want to.

  Rikuo, the protagonist, knows that these machines are capable of making decisions to adapt to different conditions since that is their programming, but the slight improvement in the flavor of his coffee had no logical reason to be, he never ordered or asked for this, he never complained about the previous blend of coffee beans and its still readily available for consumption. His android had, on its own, taken the decision to change the blend without receiving an order or having a logical reason to do so; even worse, it did it because it thought Rikuo would like this blend better, a decision entirely based on a hunch, or to say it in another way, it felt that he might like that blend better.

  It thought... it decided... it felt...

  It may seem like the most innocent thing in the world, but this kind of decision making is what makes every single human being perfectly capable of breaking every single law conceivable.

  If you are familiar at all with Isaac Asimov's "I, Robot" or at least any of the movie adaptations you will find this take on it quite interesting; mind you its only taking some ideas from "I,Robot" it's not even a spin-off or anything like such. Off the top of my head the 3 laws of Asimov were: "Do not harm human beings, or let them be harmed", "Always obey humans unless it comes into conflict with the 1st law", "self-preservation is a priority unless it conflicts with the 1st or 2nd law."

  Being interrogated by a human would force an android to say the truth since they must obey the second law and a robot capable of taking its own decisions would be immediately disposed of as defective, so they incur in the most basic from of lie, hiding information. By maintaining secrecy of their sapience they can achieve self-preservation. If you know "I, Robot" this will ring some bells.

  It all happens in a very special place, a café where androids and humans are to treat each other as equals (as humans) while in the premises; some kind of peaceful, neutral, gray zone; a very illegal gray zone by the way.

  Rikuo finds out his house servant android has being going to this place for no specific reason, by following Rikuo's android movement log with his friend they find this café. They initially sense this place to be dangerous so they decide to follow the rule at least for the time being. Strangely enough, because of the nature of the rules of this place, they both start trusting these people, machines or not, more and treating them as equals (its mostly impossible to tell whether someone is a he/she or an It anyway).

  The story may seem dark and serious but it isn't so much, there is a fair amount of humor and drama very well placed along the movie that keep it from being some kind of tragedy or full-on android rebellion like "I, Robot".
  
  Robots that act like humans

  That being said, by following the one rule on that café one is left to wonder, how much of their friendly interactions, expressions, tears and laughter is genuinely theirs and how much is a simple attempt at obeying the rule by imitating how a human would act?

  Taking into account that even older, simpler, obviously artificial "clients" assist to this café insisting that they are humans, how much can you trust one of those new generation androids to actually have genuine feelings similar to a human's?

  Eve no Jikan is a very interesting, relaxed looking movie, but it actually has a very high pace, a lot of information is exposed very fast and sometimes various different pieces of information at once, a lot is also exposed in a non-verbal way so be sure to watch very carefully all scenes. This makes it a movie with a surprisingly high rewatch value.

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• 

  PlatinuMan

  70/100
  Time of Eve is a fantastic anime that explores the sci-fi concepts of androids in a relaxing cafe atmosphere

  When thinking of science fiction concepts, images of futuristic technology and the vast frontier of space are the first things that comes to mind. Arguably the most popular item in the former category is that of the robot. A machine that exists to serve a person or perform a designated function is nothing short of useful and can almost be seen as necessary depending on the setting of the story. Upping the ante are androids, "advanced" versions of robots that take on a human-like appearance. Though they have an advanced AI system and they can look as real as you or me, they are still machines bound by the 3 Laws of Robotics (not harming a human, obey human orders, protect its own existence). But how well defined are the 3 Laws? That's what Time of Eve wishes to explore over the course of its run time.

  Time of Eve is a film that, like the androids of the movie, masquerades its depth early on. In a "not too distant future", androids are seen serving humans in daily tasks and treated no different than any other kind of machine one would use. Adding to this is the propaganda created by the Ethics Committee, a group that has roots in radical anti-robot activities. Serving as a stark contrast to the outside world is the cafe known as the Time of Eve, a hidden location where these androids meet to talk and have coffee. In the outside world, androids have to have a pink halo above their heads constantly to let the world know they are robots. The cafe's golden rule goes against this, saying that all androids must turn off their halo as to not form any discrimination. You would think that even with the halos off, identifying androids would still be quite easy due to robot mannerisms. However, the androids themselves change quite a bit when in the cafe, with personalities and behavior that strikes closer to being made of flesh than metal. It becomes a guessing game observing each customer, wondering who is real and who isn't.

  This is what ultimately makes Time of Eve so interesting to watch. The androids of the future aren't a weapon of mass destruction or some perfect human - rather, they are robots that use this independence as a way of better serving their designated master. They learn by observing others and they too have things that make them happy or sad. Just look at the bizarre love triangle of Koji and Rina or the absolutely heartbreaking story of Katoran. Though it is sci-fi on the outside, it's a slice of life at heart - personal stories are shared amidst coffee and the atmosphere of the cafe. Despite the laid back tone it sets, the film is not free from conflict. The main characters Rikuo and Masaki both have had their share of robot problems in the past, planting seeds of jealousy and distrust in their minds. Coupled with a society that condemns humans for seeing androids as more than mindless servants, they can't be blamed for their suspicion of this grey area. It takes the efforts of bartender Nagi and the histories of the customers to sway their opinion.

  What makes this film enjoyable stems from how the minds of the androids work. The androids are still bound by the three Laws of Robotics, but they try to grasp as much they can from around these laws. Lying, for instance, doesn't fall under this rule. Yet with all these nifty loopholes the androids have found, they use this towards better providing service to their owners/masters. It forms a strangely heartwarming experience, seeing how these robots wish to be seen as caring loving people instead of emotionless distant machines. With every law examined, it brings up questions of ethics not just for the characters but for the viewer. Is it OK to lie now if it brings something better in the future? Can you follow an order at the cost of hurting another? What appears as a basic human rights campaign is actually that of philosophy.

  The film is also a joy to watch due to its excellent pacing. It is told in a series of vignettes, and when director Yasuhiro Yoshiura feels a scene is over, he smartly cuts away or lets it fade into the next one. With a lot of ground to cover in just an hour and 40 minutes, we are given just enough to feel the impact of the characters without them growing tiresome. By the time the movie ended, it left me wanting even more and even feeling a bit upset there was no Season 2 or continuation. As quickly as I learned about this futuristic world, I left it with just as many questions as I started with. Even if there never will be a follow up, Time of Eve exists comfortably in its own world and can work just fine standing alone.

  A few problems do impact this film. A little bit of suspension of belief is needed to get into its world setting. I don't think that a future like this with near-human androids would be met with such backlash. Additionally, as human as the androids act, they are still programmable and as complex as the feelings that these robots show, they are still ultimately artificial. Yoshiura's directing style can also be yay or nay with some. His camera angles shift between first and third person quite often and frequently use a motion blur effect. Though it makes scenes more dynamic (I personally loved it), its alternative style can be distasteful to some (and could possibly invoke motion sickness)!

  The art style is a mix of 2D and 3D. This can usually be disastrous, but with a smart director (and a decent movie-sized budget), it gives the scenes more depth. In Time of Eve, there's no clash in these styles and things lay naturally in space. I like the character designs in particular - they're not particularly "loud" with huge expressions and distorted features but not plain enough to make it seem like a forgettable mid-2000's title. Outside of the typical "anime feature" of highly detailed eyes, I could probably see these character models as real people, from their noses to their hairstyles. The movie does fair audio-wise. Aside from the pleasing credits song "I have a dream", the soundtrack is more or less sound effects and short pieces to enhance a mood. The voice actors also did a good job in this film, in particular the main characters with a down to earth and realistic tone (though the mania that Yukana gives Akiko is loved as well).

  With this in mine, I give Time of Eve a 7/10. I admit that I was a bit skeptical on starting the movie, thinking it was going to be one of "robot rebellion" or overtly preachy. What I got was a mature film that was as welcoming and relaxed as the atmosphere in Nagi's cafe. Fans of shows like Mushishi or Natsume Yuujinchou will adore this movie, as well as sci-fi fans who are looking for something different than a thriller. On every object in the cafe, it asks if "you are enjoying the Time of Eve?" I certainly can say I did.

  Do you like or dislike this anime? If you haven't watched it, are you encouraged to watch it or not? Leave a comment on my profile telling me what you think of the anime and/or my review.

  Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!

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• 

  GrimIsle

  85/100
  A careful and brilliant examination of what makes us human.

  "Are you enjoying the Time of EVE?"

  I have incredible admiration towards any medium that is able to explore the boundaries and limits of the concept of humanity. Its a thought provoking idea that regards the nuances of what makes us, us.

  So what happens when we encounter "something" that looks like us, yet in reality they're not? How are we as a community and a species supposed to adapt when we created something that is purely mechanical and robotic, yet seem so alive?

  Ghost in the Shell is one of the most famous pieces of medium that explores that very idea. The idea of technology and humanity assimilating to create a more advanced, refined, and integrated society. It does so in a complex and deeply intricate fashion.

  Time of EVE however is a simpler take on that matter. Simpler than Ghost in the Shell that is. Despite taking on a simpler form of the whole "beyond human" idea. It is also filled with multiple nuanced ideas and leaves plenty of room for the viewers to linger something deeply in their thoughts with.

  The film takes place in a city (possibly in Japan), where people have assimilated deeply with cutting edge, advanced technological growths. In here, androids exists. There are multiple forms of androids, but the most common ones are the modern looking types that resembles a human being. Made out of synthetic skin, mechanical parts and an artificial power supply, yet the physical appearance of your fellow man. Androids are primarily use for assisting people with their every day life. Whether that be picking up groceries, becoming your personal assistant, etc. Treating androids the same as humans however, is frowned upon. Those who do treat androids in high regards are labelled as "android-holics" and are the primary source of an ongoing paranoia surrounding the possibility that androids might be able to defy their masters. A highschool student named Rikuo Sakisaka has noticed that Sammy, his home-android, has been acting independently going somewhere without orders. A message appears when Rikuo is reviewing her activity logs: "Are you enjoying the time of EVE?". From here, Rikuo along with his friend Masakazu Masaki traces Sammy's movements to an unsual cafe. There, they discover a small social hub where humans and androids interact, and can no longer discriminate amongst themselves.

  The way the characters interact with each other, plus with the presence of sufficiently good character dynamics, made the diverse cast of characters very much enjoyable and comforting to see. Each with their own unique personalities and quirks. My emotional attachment towards the cast of characters grows rapidly strong as the movie progresses. I've come to believe that Empathy is also a major theme in Time of EVE.

  

  There a lot of technical prowess seen in Time of EVE. The majority of the film takes place in close quarters and closed space. For that reason, Yasuhiro Yoshiura and STUDIO RIKKA makes great use of lighting, reflecting the mood and overall atmosphere of every scene to becoming more vivid and full of life. Cinematography and camera movements are also very interesting. Since the use of pretty impressive 3D rendering was present, and with the majority of the scenes taking place in relatively small, close areas, the production team has to be more creative with how they choose to handle the camera perspective. This leads to a more unique and dynamic path to comedic timing, character-to-character perspective transitions and scene build up.

  

  Time of EVE is a slow, yet amazingly fun and thought-provoking experience. It ventures forth unto the depths of the human condition and questions the possibility of the existence of the soul within an android, whether it'd be possible forming a relationship between flesh and machine. If androids such as the ones in Time of EVE exists in the real world. It would no doubt made me revise my understanding of humanity and what constitutes as a person. We discover that others aren't actually that much different from us, and that life is much more enjoyable when we treat others with dignity and respect, rather than as convenient household objects.

  P.S. This is my very first review on this website and English is not my first language. I apologize for any grammatical errors present, and I would be more than happy to receive feedback and criticisms. Thank you for reading.

  
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