me: mom can we have The Place Promised in Our Early Days? 220https://s4.anilist.co/file/anilistcdn/media/anime/cover/large/bx433bU0c8iHxoL2G.jpg mom: no we have The Place Promised in Our Early Days at home The Place Promised in Our Early Days at home: 220https://s4.anilist.co/file/anilistcdn/media/anime/cover/large/bx148567Pe2htRF5gv7c.jpg Watching World Before You Endhttps://anilist.co/anime/148567/WorldBeforeYouEnd/ feels like watching the movie what Shinkaihttps://anilist.co/staff/96117/MakotoShinkai haters described. It has an ambitious melodramatic plot that seems to be entangled in fantasy its characters are weak or bland and it is carried by its animation. This 30minute short anime is DEFINITELY inspired by Shinkais earlier unpolished works such as https://anilist.co/anime/433/ThePlacePromisedinOurEarlyDays/ and https://anilist.co/anime/256/VoicesofaDistantStar/ First I will get the very obvious criticisms out of the way first: Animation and art Its animation honestly on a technical level is pretty bad compared to contemporary standards. Still I definitely see the effort and I also think its a passion project made by either a single person or a tiny team. But It just screams deviant art beginner fan art energy. 520https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1075273329583337496/1109144254544089209/Screenshotfrom20230519233730.png 520https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1075273329583337496/1109144286890573884/Screenshotfrom20230519233702.png When it comes to the writing and plot I find it really forced. This makes it kind of predictable and contrived as I really know how the flow of the narrative is going down to the specifics. This wont be much of a big deal if the story builds up the word and characters enough for me to care which it did not. I was thoroughly bored watching from beginning to end as it fail to capture my attention and interest from its writing and music to its visuals. Despite what a lowquality production this short OVA turned out to be I still can help but empathize and recognize the moderate amount of effort and passion that is injected into it especially in its direction. Dont get me wrong its overall direction is still terrible with unnecessary long dialogues slow and meaningless draggedout scenes and over usage of lighting overlays for what I assume is for a fantasy and scifi feel. 520https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1075273329583337496/1109144191906361364/Screenshotfrom20230519233914.png 520https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1075273329583337496/1109144219316142161/Screenshotfrom20230519233905.png There definitely feels like an honest attempt at the direction to make it good at least thats how it feels to me If I have one positive praise for this OVA it is definitely the female leads voice actor. And honestly I really dont know if its because the other qualities of this OVA are so bad that it makes the female VOs performance shine like a diamond in a dark room or she was genuinely good. In conclusion and some parting thoughts Why did I watch this OVA? I have no idea honestly it just came to me at a whim when I saw it. Maybe I was taking a leap of faith I wanted to be pleasantly surprised but got what I expected unfortunately Overall that was not a good experience and I think I have more fun writing this review than the 30 minutes of watching it. Yea do not recommend it.