Netflix’s Anime Corner

Good Night World (Gudd Naito Warudo) is the latest original net animation (O.A.N.) released by Netflix. Originally a manga by Uru Okabe, the story starts as an Alice in Wonderland tale of escapism. A tragedy has occurred in the Arima household. Taichiro, the series’ main protagonist, has withdrawn from the world and into the VRMO game known as Planet. We, the viewers, quickly realize that his family has done the same. Within the confines of Planet, the Arima family form a familiar group. No one in the family knows the actual person behind the screen, yet daily, they act in standard brother, mother, and father roles. This false world is thrown into chaos as a virus threatens the virtual world.

This initial setting of the series is excellent. Taichiro is a likable character, and rehabilitation is possible for him. None of the members of the family are true villains. This series could have quickly become a more drama-focused Welcome to the N.H.K.! Unfortunately, the story devolves into noddles thrown against the wall.

Good Night World presents multiple themes and storylines, sometimes very good and sometimes very bad. One of the better themes is the mystery of who is a natural person and who is an A.I. The show spends quite a bit of time on this mystery, as well as determining whether a character has returned to the natural or virtual world. The show abandons these themes for a race against time to save the real-world plot.

Perhaps the manga developed these themes over several months. Netflix may have chosen to adapt this series for only twelve episodes, thus causing some of the jarring changes in themes and action in the show. Despite the show’s flaws, it is engaging when many of the science fiction and psychological elements are displayed. The pacing of each episode encourages the viewer to return to complete the story. Netflix’s decision to drop all the episodes at once is a benefit. The show has twelve episodes, and it is worth a Sunday afternoon binge—a solid 3 out of 5.