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New York Times Lists A Place Further Than the Universe in Top 10 International Shows of 2018

The New York Times posted an article titled "The Best TV Shows of 2018" on their online news website on Monday. Authors James Poniewozik, Mike Hale, and Margaret Lyons listed their top picks under three categories: Best Show, Best International, and Best New Show. The TV anime series A Place Further Than the Universe was listed eighth under the Best International category.

Television critic Mike Hale describes the series as follows: "A high-spirited, jokey anime series about four teenage girls who join a scientific expedition to Japan's Antarctic research station might sound like a show with a pretty specific audience. But “A Place,” written by Jukki Hanada and directed by Atsuko Ishizuka, is a funny and moving coming-of-age story that should translate across all boundaries of age or culture. Never mawkish or contrived, it's an absolutely authentic depiction of how friendship can overcome adolescent anxiety and grief. (Streaming on Crunchyroll.)"

The full list of shows in the category are below:

1. A Very English Scandal

2. The Bridge

3. The End of the F***ing World

4. Babylon Berlin

5. Detectorists

6. Money Heist

7. Unforgotten

8. A Place Further Than the Universe

9. Manon 5 Years On

10. Howards End

Hale later posted an amused tweet at Crunchyroll's elated reaction over A Place Further Than the Universe's inclusion in the list.

A Place Further Than the Universe premiered on Japanese TV on January 2, and was streamed weekly on Crunchyroll. The project reunited the staff from No Game, No Life: Atsuko Ishizukai directed the series, and Jukki Hanada was in charge of series composition and wrote the script.

The anime's story centers on high school girls going to the South Pole, "A Place Further Than the Universe." They struggle and grow together as they cope with extreme conditions.

Source: New York Times via Anime Herald (Samantha Ferreira)