The Relative Worlds

The Relative Worlds, known in Japan as Ashita Sekai ga Owaru to Shitemo, was produced by Studio Craftar and released in 2019. It serves as a notable entry in the late 2010s wave of original science fiction anime films. The project was conceived as a multi-layered exploration of parallel realities, focusing on characters whose lives are intrinsically tied to the fate of their counterparts in alternate dimensions. The film was written and directed by Yuhei Sakuragi, a filmmaker who cut his teeth in the industry working on CGI animation projects, which heavily influenced the film's distinct visual aesthetic.

The visual language of the film is defined by its hybrid approach to animation, blending traditional 2D character designs with 3D CGI environments. This stylistic choice was intended to ground the high-concept, existential narrative in a world that felt both familiar and slightly uncanny. Upon its release, the film garnered attention for its ambitious world-building and its focus on the psychological impact of impending catastrophe on adolescent relationships, even as critics remained divided on the efficacy of its CG integration compared to traditional cel-shaded techniques.