Steins;Gate is lauded as one of the greatest anime of all time. It’s a sci-fi thriller exploring the idea of time travel and the very real consequences changing the past has on both the present and the future. And as celebration for the visual novel’s 16th anniversary, I’d like to review the anime adaptation and what makes it so acclaimed by both fans and critics alike.
Time Travel Consequences
Animation studio White Fox adapted the visual novel of the same name by 5bp and Nitroplus. The premise of Steins;Gate is that eccentric college student and scientist Rintarou Okabe, with the help of his friends Mayuri Shiina, Itaru Hashida, or Daru, and eventually Makise Kurisu, manages to create a time machine through a microwave that can send text messages back to the past.
Steins;Gate explores the consequences of changing the past, and how it results in a ripple effect that alters the present. Every time Okabe uses the microwave, the world changes in ways he never expected. The first half of the show is a slow burn that explores the world and scientific concepts that make up the show. This includes the possibility of multiple timelines, how time travel would work, and SERN’s background. Meanwhile, the second half is a heart pumping thriller that uses the foundation of the first half to explore the effects it has on the show’s cast of characters, especially Rintarou Okabe.
The Multi-Faceted Character of Rintarou Okabe
The cast of Steins;Gate is surprisingly small for this kind of story. There are around a dozen or so named characters. Only nine, maybe ten of them, have some kind of stake or contribution to the story. What that does is give more individual focus for each of the characters, including the main character. Okabe first comes across as eccentric. He has a very sophisticated and scientific style of speech, yet regularly says nonsense phrases like ‘El Psy Congroo’ and has a deep love for Dr. Pepper. Even with his genuine love for science, it’s hard to take him seriously in the first half of the show.
Okabe keeps using the microwave, creating a completely different present without fully understanding where it’ll lead him. And when the effects of his actions do hit, it shows another side of Okabe, one that’s much more human. He does have some particularly cringeworthy scenes in the anime that come out of nowhere, but they aren’t enough to hurt his character. .
The Production Pinning Everything Together
The story of Steins;Gate is set during the summer within the Tokyo neighborhood of Akihabara. Neutral colors like gray and white dominate the scenery. Even things like green grass and blue sky are washed out to have less color. Sounds like the buzzing of cicadas and the bustling of crowds replace music for a good amount of the show. These aspects combine to make an unsettling atmosphere that hammers in the suspense as Okabe and his friends fall deeper into experimenting with time travel.
The animation itself, as in the way characters and effects move, is standard for the most part. There are a couple of weird CGI models for cars, but besides that there’s nothing truly terrible. However, some great moments are scattered throughout the show. This includes one incredible example in the first half of the series by animator Enishi Oshima. And then there’s the voice acting. I watched the English dub, but the Japanese is also great. In both versions, we have some of the best, most experienced voice actors in the business. They each bring their own spin on the characters, including Okabe, making both languages worth watching.
While there could be some more robust animation at times, the adaptation is still an excellent experience that elevates the source material and contributes to the show’s atmosphere.
Conclusion
Despite some awkward moments and rudimentary visuals scattered throughout the show, Steins;Gate is an incredible series. It features a well-realized cast and engaging story with very important themes of dealing with consequences and realizing and taking responsibility for your flaws. Rintarou Okabe is one of the best characters in the medium, and when the show starts kicking into gear, it never lets go. Steins;Gate fully deserves its reputation as one of the best anime of all time, and is an easy recommendation for anybody wanting to get into anime
