“My talent is believing!”
Based on the Japanese light novel ’20 Seiki Denki Mokuroku’ (20th Century Electricity Catalog) by Hiro Yūki, ‘Sparks of Tomorrow‘ is an alternate-history anime that follows a boy determined to electrify Japan at a time when the nation still runs almost entirely on steam power. Ironically, the person who might help him realize his dream is a deeply devout girl, someone so quick to mistake people for deities that she’s practically his complete opposite.
Directed by Minoru Ôta, ‘Sparks of Tomorrow‘ opens with a flashback of protagonist Kihachi Sakamoto (voiced by Yuma Uchida) traveling with his elder brother, Seiroku, who promises that the two of them will usher in an age of electricity in Japan together. However, Seiroku disappears during the war, along with his manual, 20th Century Electrical Catalog. With neither his brother nor the book to guide him, Kihachi resigns himself to a quiet life repairing small machines at his uncle’s workshop. But a chance encounter with a young woman named Inako Momokawa at a shrine rekindles his dream.
Titled “The Electric Boy,” episode one does a solid job of world-building, introducing both the principal characters and what is likely story’s main antagonist. Yosuke Mizoe, a wealthy young heir, immediately sets his sights on the Momokawa family and is established as a manipulative, unsettling figure. Ironically, he also looks rather dashing, but has those crazy villain eyes. One of my favorite little details is that he’s constantly followed by an attendant carrying an incense burner, a clever visual cue that not only signals his status, but also suggests he considers the very air breathed by ordinary people beneath him.
As far as Kihachi Sakamoto is concerned, the young boy is instantly likable, forever tinkering with machines, and his personality hilariously clashes with that of Inako Momokawa. Kihachi believes in reason, science, and electricity, whereas Inako believes in heaven and hell, even mistaking music coming from a gramophone-like device for the gods trying to communicate with her. And while Kihachi is meticulous and constantly trying to innovate, Inako is a clumsy train wreck, forever breaking things around her. Yes, all of that is established in just the first episode of ‘Sparks of Tomorrow‘.
Animated by Kyoto Animation (Violet Evergarden, A Silent Voice), the artwork for ‘Sparks of Tomorrow’ in the first episode is a sight to behold. The visual style is a bright blend of glossy modern anime and more traditional brushstrokes, with many backgrounds giving the impression of being hand-painted. By combining digital animation (which of course is more dominant) with analog illustrations, the production team gives the series a vivid, dynamic atmosphere.
If you’re a fan of historic or steampunk animes like Leviathan or Arcane, maybe check this show out too.
Watch ‘Sparks of Tomorrow’ on Netflix.
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