There are few things that surprise adults as much as children. As for the number of fictional works that capture that essence, there are fewer still. Sometimes when one comes along, you can't help but be absorbed and consequently floored by it. Now and Then, Here and There is one such work. The film is simplistic in nature, focusing on both the darker and lighter sides of humanity. It creates a believably impossible situation, and you can't help but be inspired when the obstacle is overcome. To put it plainly, this is a series that should not be looked over.

Now and Then, Here and There centers around a young boy named Shuzo Matsutani (Shu). On his way home from school one day, Shu sees a girl sitting atop a smokestack, watching the sunset. He climbs a nearby smokestack to talk to her, and finds out (by reading lips) that her name is Lala Ru. Suddenly, some strange looking machines appear out of nowhere, and one moves toward Lala Ru. She turns toward Shu and mouths "Ta-su-ke-te" (help me), and so it begins. The two get sucked into a void (no, they're not secretly Crono and Marle), and end up in a different place, or a different time, or both. Shu finds himself in a world of military oppression, led by a maniacal dictator. The place is called Hellywood (hmmm), and the dictator is named Hamdo, and looks like Hitler. In fact, much of this story could be considered a close analog to WWII Germany, but the outcome of this story is very different.

Hamdo wants Lala Ru for some reason, and Shu is determined to help her, simply because she asked. His journey takes him through hell and back, but his determination is never snuffed. He's an incredibly inspiring character. He's not the only one though. The child-soldiers Nabuca and Boo, a young American girl named Sara, and old woman named Sis who takes care of orphaned kids, and a little girl named Soon are all absolutely unforgettable. It's a treat to watch them all grow and learn from each other (including Lala Ru).

There are few problems that can't be solved with a big stick.	Blue-haired chicks rock!

The darker side of this tale does not focus on just one character. Hamdo pulls the strings at Hellywood, and aspires to take over the world by force. His first officer, Abelia, is obediant to his demands, no matter how abusive or cruel he may be. Hellywood is run much like a prison, except much worse. All males, regardless of age, are forced into being soldiers. The women aren't so lucky, being forced to provide more males for the army. Hellywood 'recruits' new soldiers by invading villages and kidnapping their inhabitants. It's an insane situation, befitting of the man who commands it. Hamdo isn't the only evil in this story though. The other evils are fear, indifference, and revenge. You really have to see it to believe it.

The character designs for Now and Then, Here and There are not anything out of the ordinary, but they didn't have to be. The animation is typical AIC fare, which is nothing short of excellent. Their uses of wind to add life to a scene never gets old, nor does the fluidity of the action. Also worthy of mention is their use of color. Hellywood is dark and lifeless, but many of the characters inside are vividly colored. Also, characters' eyes often change color slightly, depending on their actions or thoughts.

The series' music is nothing short of beautiful. The opening theme is light-hearted and moving, mirroring Shu pretty well. A theme of hope plays everytime one of the characters gains a moment of freedom or peace. In fact, hope is the basic job of the music for this series. That is the overall theme that the creators try to get across. The closing theme even takes this further, not only suggesting that they'll get freed from their hell, but that things will be fine afterward. The music does its job very well.

A bit on the voice acting: This is one of the few series where the dubbed voice acting actually fits the parts fairly well and the script works. With the exception of Sara's voice acting, which was a bit over the top on important scenes, the dub was rather well done. The Japanese voice acting is also excellent, and I found no problems with the subtitles, except perhaps some discrepancies with names. The Japanese opening sequence shows the short form of Shuzo as Syu, not Shu. The Japanese opener also shows the name Sala instead of Sara. Though my preference remains with the Japanese track with subtitles option, the English dub is also worth a listen, and some may like it quite a bit.

The series is available in 3 DVD volumes, and there is a box set that also contains a bonus disc O' goodies. The packaging for the DVDs is rather nice-looking, featuring artwork that's slightly different from that in the show. The box art is exactly the same as that on the first DVD, so it doesn't add anything to the presentation. Extras on the 3 series DVDs (collectively) include the closing sequence without text, cast and production staff listings, sketches of characters, machines, and backgrounds, storyboards for the show, a promotional video for the Big Apple Anime Fest (BAAF), and a 'preview' for the box set (which also appears IN the box set, oddly enough). Additional materials included with the box set include the original Japanese opening sequence, more character, mechanical, and background sketches, trailers for the show, a storyboard presentation of the entire last episode, and a behind the scenes feature including interviews with cast members and an overview of the dubbing process. Each DVD also has a Windows program which seems to just be another way to view the media on the discs. Needless to say, there is plenty of material for the extras lovers.

There are plenty of good reasons not to miss out on Now and Then, Here and There. The series gives an excellent representation of human nature, and does it with style. Coupled with great characters and music, the overall package is a true work of art.

Distributor: Central Park Media
Creator: AIC/Pioneer LDC
Released: 2001

Plot: A+
Character Design: B+
Animation Quality: A
Music: A
Overall: A+