Maya Ellison
Plastic Memories is a Japanese anime television series that aired in 2015. It is set in a futuristic city, modelled after Singapore, where humans coexist with androids that resemble and behave like humans. The story revolves around the protagonist, Tsukasa Mizugaki, an 18-year-old who joins the Terminal Service department of SAI Corp, tasked with recovering androids, known as Giftias, that are nearing their expiration dates. Tsukasa is partnered with Isla, a female Giftia, and their relationship forms the emotional core of the series as they fall in love despite Isla's limited lifespan. The series explores themes of human-android relationships, the fleetingness of life, and the consequences of exceeding the androids' predetermined lifespans. The popularity of the anime led to the creation of a video game for the PlayStation Vita, which received mixed reviews for its narrative choices and endings.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of work | Anime series |
| Number of episodes | 13 |
| Airing dates | April 5, 2015–June 28, 2015 |
| Studio | Doga Kobo |
| Director | Yoshiyuki Fujiwara |
| Writer | Naotaka Hayashi |
| Character designer | Okiura |
| Music composer | Masaru Yokoyama |
| Spin-offs | Manga titled "Plastic Memories: Say To Goodbye" and a video game for the PlayStation Vita |
| Story | Humans live alongside androids with human emotions and memories. The story follows a team at SAI Corp's Terminal Service One office tasked with recovering Giftias, advanced androids with predetermined lifespans, before they reach their expiration date. |
| Main characters | Tsukasa Mizugaki, an 18-year-old male protagonist who works at Terminal Service One, and Isla, a female Giftia |
| Reception | Some viewers found the story awkward and lacking in organic romance, while others praised the ending. The video game received mixed reviews, with some players finding it enjoyable, while others criticized the short length of certain endings. |
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What You'll Learn
The anime's plot and setting
Plastic Memories is a Japanese anime television series that aired in 2015. It is set in a futuristic city modelled after Singapore, where humans coexist with androids that resemble and behave like humans. The leading android production company, SAI Corp, introduces the Giftia—an advanced android model with human-like qualities. However, each Giftia has a predetermined lifespan of 81,920 hours (approximately nine years and four months). If they surpass this lifespan, they suffer from personality disintegration, memory loss, and violent behaviour. These androids are then referred to as "wanderers", acting solely on instinct and unable to recognise their owners.
To address this issue, SAI Corp establishes the Terminal Services division, tasked with retrieving Giftias nearing the end of their lifespans from their owners and erasing their memories. Terminal Service employees work in pairs, consisting of a human "spotter" and a Giftia "marksman". The anime follows the story of one such team: 18-year-old Tsukasa Mizugaki, the human protagonist, and Isla, his Giftia partner. Despite initially being unaware of Isla's impending expiration, Tsukasa refuses to abandon her as their relationship develops and they fall in love.
Tsukasa joins Terminal Service One through his father's connections after failing his college entrance exams due to medical issues. He is partnered with Isla, a veteran in the department with a history of serving tea at SAI Corp. As the series progresses, Isla is reintroduced to the field and becomes Tsukasa's marksman. The pair's dynamic unfolds as they navigate their work and the challenges posed by Isla's limited lifespan.
The anime explores themes of human-android relationships, the fleeting nature of life, and the emotional complexities that arise from the unique circumstances of the Giftias' finite existence. The setting, characterised by advanced android technology and the exploration of human-like artificial intelligence, serves as a backdrop to the evolving relationship between Tsukasa and Isla, highlighting the emotional depth and complexities inherent in their situation.
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The video game's story and endings
The anime series Plastic Memories is set in a futuristic city modelled after Singapore, where humans coexist with androids that resemble and behave like humans. The leading android production company, SAI Corp, introduces the Giftia—an advanced android model with human-like qualities. However, each Giftia has a predetermined lifespan of about nine years and four months. If they surpass this expiration date, they suffer from personality disintegration, memory loss, and violent behaviour, becoming what is known as "wanderers".
The story follows Tsukasa Mizugaki, an 18-year-old who, after failing his college entrance exams, secures a job at SAI Corp's Terminal Service One through his father's connections. Terminal Service One is responsible for recovering Giftias nearing the end of their lifespans. Tsukasa is partnered with Isla, a female Giftia, and the two gradually develop feelings for each other. Unbeknownst to Tsukasa, Isla is close to her expiration date, and as they work together, he refuses to abandon her despite learning the truth.
The Plastic Memories video game, released for the PlayStation Vita, offers players the opportunity to experience different endings. There are three endings where the player can choose to pursue a relationship with Isla. The normal ending follows the events of the anime's final episodes, while the good and bad endings are notably shorter in length. The game also includes daily event choices that unlock other events, with a total of 65 events and four DLC events.
The Visual Novel (VN) adaptation of Plastic Memories for the PSVITA received mixed reviews. Some players found the adaptation underwhelming, criticising its length, emotional impact, and exclusion of certain scenes from the anime. However, others appreciated the different endings and the opportunity to explore the characters and story further.
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Character designs and development
The anime series Plastic Memories features original character designs by Okiura. The story follows the work and life of a team in SAI Corp's Terminal Service One office, consisting of the male (and human) protagonist, Tsukasa Mizugaki, and a Giftia named Isla.
Tsukasa is an 18-year-old male who gets a job at SAI Corp's Terminal Service One department through his father's connections after failing his college entrance exams due to medical problems. He is assigned to work with Isla, a female Giftia whose only responsibility has been serving tea to co-workers. Tsukasa slowly falls in love with Isla, unaware that she is nearing the end of her lifespan. He refuses to abandon her when he finds out and continues to be her partner.
Isla is a beautiful young girl with long silver hair tied into twin tails. She has a tendency to trip and fall, and her presence causes those around her to feel the fleetingness of life. She is a veteran at the department and was once partnered with Kazuki as her marksman. Before Tsukasa arrives, she only serves tea at SAI Corp, but she becomes his marksman and is put back into the field.
One of Tsukasa's colleagues at Terminal Service One is a 17-year-old employee who is his superior by one year. She was raised by a Giftia and empathizes with "android children." She had tried to protect her guardian from being retrieved, resulting in him becoming a "Wanderer," and subsequently developing a longstanding hatred for the private security firm R. Security. This experience led her to join Terminal Service One.
While the anime explores the relationship between Tsukasa and Isla, some viewers have criticized the development of their romance, suggesting that it feels forced and lacks the depth of a more organic love story.
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Production and direction
Plastic Memories is a Japanese anime television series conceived and written by Naotaka Hayashi and produced by Doga Kobo. The anime was directed by Yoshiyuki Fujiwara, who later went on to direct 'New Game!' and 'GJ Club'. The music for the series was composed by Masaru Yokoyama, with original character designs by Okiura. The 13-episode series aired in Japan from April to June 2015.
The anime is set in a futuristic city modelled after Singapore, where humans coexist with androids that possess human-like qualities. The leading android production company, SAI Corp, introduces the Giftia, an advanced android model with human-like qualities. However, each Giftia has a predetermined lifespan of 81,920 hours (roughly nine years and four months). If they surpass this lifespan, they suffer from personality disintegration, memory loss, and violent behaviour.
The story follows the Terminal Services division of SAI Corp, tasked with retrieving Giftias nearing their expiration dates to erase their memories. The protagonist, Tsukasa Mizugaki, joins the Terminal Services team and is partnered with Isla, a female Giftia. Unaware of her impending expiration, Tsukasa develops feelings for Isla, creating a compelling narrative arc.
The production and direction of Plastic Memories effectively capture the emotional and thought-provoking themes of the story. The direction successfully portrays the complex relationship between humans and androids, exploring the fleeting nature of life and the impact of memory and emotion on personal connections. The production quality, character designs, and music composition enhance the overall viewing experience, contributing to the popularity of the series among anime enthusiasts.
Following the success of the anime, a spin-off manga titled 'Plastic Memories: Say To Goodbye' was released in three volumes, further expanding the world and narrative of Plastic Memories.
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Critical reception and popularity
The Plastic Memories anime series, conceptualized and written by Naotaka Hayashi and produced by Doga Kobo, aired in Japan in 2015. The series takes place in a futuristic city modelled after Singapore, where humans coexist with androids that possess human-like qualities and emotions. The story revolves around the protagonist Tsukasa Mizugaki, who works for the Terminal Service department of SAI Corp, tasked with recovering androids called "Giftias" that are nearing their expiration date.
Plastic Memories has garnered a dedicated fan base and received generally positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. The series has been praised for its emotional narrative, captivating characters, and exploration of thought-provoking themes surrounding artificial intelligence and the fleeting nature of life. The relationship between the main characters, Tsukasa and Isla, a Giftia, has been a focal point of discussion, with some viewers critiquing the development of their romance as forced and awkward, while others find it touching and heartfelt.
The series has also spawned a spin-off manga, titled "Plastic Memories: Say To Goodbye," which was released in three volumes over two years. This demonstrates the popularity of the franchise and the demand for additional content beyond the anime series.
Additionally, a video game adaptation for the PlayStation Vita was released, catering to fans who wanted to delve deeper into the story and explore different endings. While some players appreciated the opportunity to make choices and influence the outcome, others found the visual novel adaptation underwhelming, particularly criticizing the short length of certain endings and the lack of impact in the story's conclusion.
Overall, Plastic Memories has achieved notable success and recognition within the anime community, with its thought-provoking narrative and character dynamics resonating with many viewers. The series has also inspired derivative works and adaptations, further expanding the franchise's reach and popularity.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic Memories is a Japanese anime television series that aired in 2015. It is an original work conceived and written by Naotaka Hayashi and produced by Doga Kobo. The story takes place in a city modelled after Singapore in the near future, where humans live alongside androids with human-like qualities.
The series centres around the protagonist, Tsukasa Mizugaki, an 18-year-old who gets a job at SAI Corp's Terminal Service One after failing his college entrance exams. His job is to recover Giftias, advanced androids with human-like qualities, that are nearing the end of their predetermined lifespans of about nine years and four months. Tsukasa is partnered with Isla, a female Giftia, and their relationship progresses as they fall in love, despite the fact that Isla is nearing the end of her lifespan.
Yes, there is a Plastic Memories video game for the PlayStation Vita. The game features multiple endings, including a normal ending, a good ending, and a bad ending, which are determined by the player's choices.
Reviews of the Plastic Memories game are mixed. Some players appreciate the different endings and the opportunity to learn more about the characters, while others find the game underwhelming. Criticisms include the short length of the endings, the lack of emotional impact, and the adaptation from the anime being disappointing.
