Plastic Memories (Episode 1 Review)

After failing his college entrance exams, 18 year-old Tsukasa Mizugaki is offered a position at the renowned SAI Corporation due to his father’s connections. SAI Corporation is known for its production and management of androids that possessed human emotions called Giftia. Tsukasa’s position is in the terminal service department where the main job is to recover Giftias that are close to their expiration, a graveyard department in every sense. To make matters worse, Tsukasa is ordered to work with Isla, a female Giftia who is never given any responsibility other than serving tea to co-workers.

When I read the synopsis of the show I was expecting a comedy. However that is clearly not the case with Plastic Memories. I would categorize the show as a dramedy. Plastic Memories examines the relationship between humans and androids. The Giftias are the andriods who have a predetermined lifespan of nine years. In those nine years they usually live with a human caretaker or work. Once the nine years are up. The Gifitias personality and memories start to disintegrate.  This is where Tskuasa's and the SAI Corporation come to take away the Giftias. The first episode does great on establishing the characters. One of the characters audiences will feel for is Isla. Isla is a Giftias who has so much passion for her fellow Giftias. You can tell that she is hiding something. In this episode Isla seems distant, she's crying a lot and has a fear of losing her own memories. As you watch this episode you feel a connection to Gifitas. Yes these are machines with souls and emotions. However the series has written, these characters as human and when the time comes for them to get their memory erase it's a tearjerker.

The story is well written, the characters you will connect with them all, the animation is spot on and the music is a home run. Humor is sprinkle from time to time to lighten up the mood. The jokes are simple but effective and you will get a chuckle from them. Overall I will say the driving force of this anime will be the plot. The aspect of the relationship between humans and androids is the selling point. The series raises the questions of what would you do in this situation. Would you gladly giveaway something you have a connection with after nine years? Or would you fight to keep it with it? Is it wrong to delete a living entities memories? I loved asking myself these questions as I was watching it. If you're looking for anime that is heartwarming, thought provoking and a little tearjerker this one is for you.

Final Grade 9.0/A-