This review is spoilerfree. 120295120319120322120321120309 120310120320 120313120310120312120306 120321120309120306 120294120322120315... As silly and goofy as it may sound I have never been able to get along with history astronomy and other socalled serious deep subjects. Either my teenyweeny brain does things differently or I just have a natural gift for excelling at things nobody really gives a damn aboutit 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 mindboggling 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 themsomething 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 getgo. A historical fiction set in an alternate version of my homelandhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poland tackling one of the most fascinating turning points in human understandingthe rise and development of heliocentrismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliocentrism? Say no more and count me in. Week after week I found myself glued to the screen like a doeeyed 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 chockfull of delicious food for thoughtit 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 tailormade for me. And once that clicked in my brain I fell head over heels in love with itutterly 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 loudsomething 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 bornandbred Pole to notice the multiple inaccuracies peppered throughout the story. Things like characters wielding weapons that did not exist in the 15th centuryhttps://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 Churchhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChristianChurch 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 extenthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WitchtrialsinPoland inquisitors making use of anachronistic torture deviceshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearofanguish and scientific breakthroughs being either simplified or streamlinedthese 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 squeakyclean history lesson or a perfect recreation of the Copernican Revolutionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CopernicanRevolution which took place a century later. 700https://i.ur.com/mi0RqYw.png 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 timelinesit is about life. Throughout those twentyfive 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 divinelike writing and devilish originality that Orb does not merely stand out from the crowdit 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 mistakethis 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 Sagahttps://anilist.co/anime/101348/VinlandSaga/a comparison that gets thrown around a lotthis story takes place in a fictionalised version of Poland. The real place after its Baptismhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ChristianizationofPoland gradually became a deeply religious yet unusually openminded nation where faith and science coexisted in harmony rather than constantly clashed. Plenty of scholars were connected to the ChurchCopernicus himself was a Catholic canonhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NicolausCopernicusand 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 shapean idea that challenges the very fabric of religious dogmathe 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 protagonistsbrilliant mindshttps://anilist.co/character/279998/Jolenta idealistshttps://anilist.co/character/280001/Rafa sceptics turned believershttps://anilist.co/character/280002/Oczy even men of the clothhttps://anilist.co/character/279999/Badenieach 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 allthe idea that in a way is the real protagonist of the storycannot be executed outlawed or burned to ash. With every thwarted breakthrough each passing of the colloquial torch heliocentrisms potency seems to flicker fade and dim... only for another one of its champions to step forward and reignite the flame. Truth is like fireit 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 antagonistshttps://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 onedimensional 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 negotiationsthey 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 Gods 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 blackandwhite morality hereonly the beauty of knowledge and the brutality of oppression locked in a battle as old as time itself. 700https://i.ur.com/yOkCIZ5.png 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 Gods 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 Churchs 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 islimited stubborn and often resistant to change. Revolutionary concepts or discoveries like the titular theory compel us to question secondguess 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 futurein the wrong ones it is a deadly weapon a set of aching shackles or a closely guarded secret only a select few can see. And 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 a neverending book each discovery a new chapter and our interpretation and utilisation of its content always shifting 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 wholly indifferent to human belief or opinionyet 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 human beliefs. This constant strife between nature and humanity 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 characterwhether they be a scholar a commoner or a mere childmust weigh their convictions against the very real and fatal consequences of standing by them and their actions. Is your cause worth dying for? Is it worth suffering for even if you will never see the world you envision and dream of? Are your goals and ideals really worth the ultimate price? And yet despite these painful dreadful questions looming over their heads 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 time. But that is the uncompromising ruthless temperament of our realityinnumerable untold visionaries and pioneers are persecuted condemned or even executed for their lifes work and their findings are either eternally entombed or attributed to someone else. And still they stubbornly and proudly refuse to lose hope and spirit. They push through the despair confidently believing that somethinganything at allof what is being left behind will precipitate change no matter how small. 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 truethis tale is so much bigger than science history religion or even individualism. It is about the tragic yet aweinspiring 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 lifes 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. 700https://i.ur.com/sSX4ecn.png Alright enough of that. It is time to stop stargazing and bring our feet back to solid groundwe need to talk about the audiovisuals. First things first: Orbs soundtrack is a bloody phenomenal project. Kensuke Ushiohttps://anilist.co/staff/119254/KensukeUshio is my favourite anime composer and every time his name pops up in the credits I knowwithout a shadow of a doubtthat at the very least the music will be toptier 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 outofthisworld 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. Yorushikahttps://anilist.co/staff/154702/Yorushikas Aporiahttps://www..com/watch?v=fhTFysCtF6g and Hebihttps://www..com/watch?v=sf0QFJTvOLM work wonders as the perfect farewell to each episodethey are delicate and gentlesounding and neatly symbolise both the eerie calm before the storm and the invigorating energy of every development. However when it comes to the animes music nothing comes even remotely close to Sakanactionhttps://anilist.co/staff/343312/Sakanactions Kaijuhttps://www..com/watch?v=ukYEgbe2QPw in terms of poignancy replayability and sheer magnificence. At this point I have listened to it probably hundredsif not thousandsof 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 visuals I do have a tiny little bone to pick. There are many instances where the character models are wonkylookingtheir 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 wrongwhen 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 hitormissthe anime is not afraid to shroud its countless night scenes in neartotal darkness before bombarding the screen with the intense sheen of the stars or celestial bodiesbut in my eyes this Chiaroscurolikehttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiaroscuro approach adds a massive thick coating of seriousness and realism that perfectly complements the storys weighty themes and beautifully communicates the gravitas of every vital event or impactful line of dialogue. The same applies to the backgroundsthey appear by the numbers at first glance yet successfully encapsulate both the grit and grace of the Middle Ageshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiddleAges/the Renaissancehttps://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 livedin. It is all thanks to the muted desaturated and atmospheric hues and tints that in a sense transport you straight into the settingyou 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 rocksolid and when it wants to go all out it more than delivers. As far as animation is concerned it faces the same hurdlesit can be terrifyingly stiff almost lifeless at times but it does its job well enough. When it decides to pick up the pacewhether in a fierce clash between two fighters a heated ideological argument or a simple yet striking spielit does not just work it shines like a star. These bursts of fluidity and dynamism may be brief and shortlived but they are unforgettable. At its worst it is passable at its best Orb is dropdead gorgeous. No it is nowhere near Frierenhttps://anilist.co/anime/154587/FrierenBeyondJourneysEnd/s level but it does not have to be. It is fine the way it is. 700https://i.ur.com/ONdwkf3.png Ultimately a works 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 otherhere thoughtprovoking 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 narrativesure they might take a bit of getting used tokeep each twentysomethingminute 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 everyones 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 tailormade for me. Free from the usual gimmicks tired constraints and cheap tropes that so often flood the medium set in a oneofakind 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 tensionthough it certainly will not be to everyones 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 Uotohttps://anilist.co/staff/128963/Uoto Kenichi Shimizuhttps://anilist.co/staff/119190/KenichiShimizu Kensuke Ushio Sakanaction and the rest of the amazingly talented passionate staffhttps://anilist.co/anime/151514/OrbOntheMovementsoftheEarth/staff for making those twentyfive episodes feel like something truly specialsomething I will treasure for years to come. Thank you for moving my earth. ...120310120321 120304120302120315120315120316120321 120319120306120314120302120310120315 120309120310120305120305120306120315 120307120316120319120306120323120306120319.