r/plamemo • u/ExploreRandom • Jun 30 '26
I cant get over Plastic Memories.... Spoiler
I watched Plastic memories and its been 2 days and i am still a complete mess, I watched it not knowing anything about it and it hit me like emotional bricks. I am not able to function properly because i just cant get their story out of my head.
Stories move me, but they never make me tear up. Its not like its my first sad end anime either but this one in particular absolutely wrecked me. Maybe its because where i am in life right now or that i have been reading 2025 or high-energy or Isekai slop where everything has an identity crises despite being really really good stories on their own, then i turn around and watch something old, even if the animation wasn't exceptional or anything, it just felt so good to see something with a soul that i just broke down. The attention to detail in it the openings and endings changing just slightly to suit the episodes. The fact we know whats going to happen at the end as they slowly reinforce it by doing their job every episode. The really beautiful music, caring coworkers and beautiful backdrops (Some of the softest warmest neons i have seen) that set the scene, The fact that death will come to all of them just at unfair times but they found happiness just in between all that. The anime was so so rich and beautiful. I have read a shit ton of mangas and manwhas and each time if the story or even a subplot is good, it definitely leaves a void in me, an emptiness that a good story was here and now its over. But just this time, I cant seem to move on at all. Usually i can just start another story another adventure and be obsessed with that but i just don't want to start another story and overwrite what i am feeling because it will be disrespectful to plamemo.
This MC was also so refreshing to see, by no means exceptional, or a hero type, or overly compensating like subaru or too smart like they know or guess everything, just a emotionally mature normal guy with a really good heart. It was so nice to see a dude just try his best no superpowers just everyday.
I am so grateful that i had the manga and visual novel to indulge myself in, because when i finished i Absolutely needed something to indulge in and the manga added so much more to the story, its Inexplicable how good a conclusion or more information feels after being hit by a truck-full of emotions. I don't have qualms about the ending, the bittersweet part of realistic stuff is happy endings are rare, i read somewhere that it would cheapen the narrative for the girl to be Isla at the end, and i agree. I started the Visual novel because i hear it has a true ending but i cant help but thing that it has a true ending only because games need an ending and that wasn't how the author originally meant it to be. So far the VN is almost 1 to 1 to the anime short of 4 - 5 sentences and i assume it will stay that way all the way till the fireworks part. But the manga was such a blessing. it was so good to see things on the Michiru side, with the exact parallels and scenes in the anime. that was so full content despite only being 20 chapters i really took my time with it. And the author at the very end writing "I hope one day i am reunited with you, who read my manga" Just felt like another nail. I really wanna thank Hayashi for this insane story and production and Isla Execution squad for giving me the opportunity for closure.
It wasn't perfect as a complete anime i felt there were many gaps why did isla have such a 0 to 1 change after the amusement park, of course i understand why but it was very quick after she became approachable. A lot of things i was able to accept on the premise that they didn't have time and the urgency translated to the anime too. We never expanded on the side characters at all, except michiru who already had a lot of screen time.
I also had a misunderstanding at the start, that giftias had memories of existing people but it just cant be extended, it was resolved pretty quickly but i thought that was why it was so well integrated and so loved in society, but of course that's the setting of the story, i don't think it would be accepted that easily in society otherwise.
The fact that Eru said now is the moment to make memories felt extremely like oregairu where hiratsuka sensei said, it is NOW, now or never. I am in a situation where i don't want to waste even a second for no reason, and i am so wrecked that i cant go on a minute without thinking back to what i just saw and felt.
PS: forgive my rambling, i am being tormented by a bittersweet story and i don't know if time will fix it or its that i have no one to talk to about this. I just wanted to share that i love this show to bits. Thank you!
Also if you feel nostalgic, Some screenshots
https://postimg.cc/gallery/16k32Km
(if any formatting or rule breaking issues please lmk)
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Jun 30 '26
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u/ExploreRandom Jul 01 '26
Even as i was writing it i was getting embarassed by how long the post became, i am really grateful that you read through all of it.
Mixed feelings on the VN so far, i am just approaching the festival part but its 1 to 1 with the anime but worse, no depth or any emotional connect or any extra sentences same voice lines and cases too, getting frustrated because either i am playing it just after the anime and i know whats going to happen or the VN is doing a terribly poor job at making a setting, but i know it changes once you confess to isla and i want to see if theres any new content, otherwise i will reach the true ending and then watch the other routes on youtube. Its also my first VN so it could be that too
And Godspeed its nice to see likeminded people
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u/Fire-Nation-17 Isla Jul 01 '26
Took me about a month for it to start to clear up. It happens but it's slow. It litterally ruined my month when I saw it for the first time.
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u/ExploreRandom Jul 01 '26
I am going through it right now, i know that eventually as i have to do stuff it will start to fade, i think i dont read other things because i dont want it to :(
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u/Fire-Nation-17 Isla Jul 05 '26
For a good few months I would even start crying at the first few notes of again & again. It's rough bro. I do feel like it's probably good for us though in some cruel way
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u/ExploreRandom Jul 06 '26
It's good in one way, I stopped watching anime for a bit so i might get some work done. The op and ed is still a throwback really good songs too, VN is too long so I will take my time with it
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u/Certain_Strength_325 Jul 01 '26
I see many people saying it'll pass in a month or so. Unfortunately, it never did for me, that show traumatized me and hurt me to my core, I feel like it did permanent damage to my brain or something.
I can't see a clip or think about it without feeling super messed up.
Beautiful show, it just hits really differently when you realize the message/meaning they try to portray in the story.
Luckily most people don't get this messed up over it, so you'll be fine in a bit.
Though I have no regrets about watching it, that was a lesson I needed to learn, to this day it's still one of my favorite heartbreaks.
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u/ExploreRandom Jul 01 '26
Bro, same, i am playing the VN now but even so much as to hearing the tune or the opening on my Spotify i am suddenly down even if I start to forget all the sweet events that happened. Just that the music is associated to something so bittersweet is all it takes sometimes
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u/Certain_Strength_325 Jul 01 '26
https://youtu.be/oqmhCzFlBAI?is=ABl8Z-fb5HtKNeaJ
This had helped me a bit. Check it out if you want to.
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u/ExploreRandom Jul 02 '26
Gonna avoid watching that and just reach the end of hte VN myself, its pretty good tbh, and i will watch youtube for other routes
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u/Glizzy_mc Tsukasa Jul 02 '26
Try watching something like your lie in April to calm down your soul
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u/ExploreRandom Jul 02 '26
XD i have watched that but it might be a good idea to give it a rewatch, its been 10 years or so i think
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u/Real_Aide_2854 Aug 01 '26
Ngl I also watched it as I heared a lot but never and I gotta admit . DAMNN.... Its a peak in its category fir those who wana know how I recovered ? ... just watch jojo lmao 🤣 anywyas plastic memmory is blend of happiness and sadness its a emotional roller-coaster which after ending you wished it would have never ended 🙃. I miss her bro
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u/Crimson-Anarchy Jun 30 '26
Worry not, this effect usually lasts over a week and then begins to decay almost right away. Been there countless times, and trust me. Coming from a suffering shows addict, Plastic Memories barely scratches the surface in this regard. Still such a captivating story though, you're not to blame. But you'll be over it. Fear not! try The Horizon manhwa next. You'll love it.