Encouragement of Climb

Encouragement of Climb, also known as "Yama no Susume", is an appealing and heartwarming animated series that hones in on the enthralling world of mountaineering. The series streamed from 2013 to 2018 and was produced by Earth Star Entertainment. The series is a splendid channel through which the audience are lodged into the engaging, vast realm of outdoor explorations, and the spirit of adventure that lies within friendship.

The story orbits around Aoi Yukimura, a high school freshman who leads a quiet and sedentary life. She suffers from acrophobia, an intense fear of heights due to a traumatic incident in her childhood. This fear causes a chasm between her love for climbing and the paralyzing fear she feels when she attempts to climb. Through a chance encounter, she rekindles her friendship with Hinata Kuraue, her vivacious and adventurous childhood friend who shares a passion for mountaineering.

The series gracefully portrays Aoi's personal battles to overcome her phobia and regain her passion for climbing, which she held dearly during her early childhood. The narrative follows the girls as they undertake various climbing expeditions that, for Aoi, signifies her personal journey of self-improvement and the unravelling of her fears while for Hinata, exploring the joy of sharing her deep-seated passion for mountains and nature with her best friend.

Throughout the series, the viewer gets intimately acquainted with the vast world of mountaineering. The girls start from minor hills and build up their stamina and skills gradually, eventually taking on the colossal Mount Fuji. Between packed lunches, choosing the right gear, managing the physical strain to celebrating the thrill of reaching the peak, the show provides a vivid glimpse into the world of climbing, fostering an appreciation of nature's grandeur and variety.

One of the strengths of Encouragement of Climb lies in its rich and finely detailed characterization. Each member of the climbing crew - from Aoi and Hinata to their fellow climbing enthusiasts Kaede Saitou and Kokona Aoba - possess diverse and distinct personalities, each having her unique attitude towards mountain climbing. Between Aoi's quiet determination, Hinata's energetic enthusiasm, Kaede's experienced advice, and Kokona's innocent fascination, the anime stylishly incorporates the different motives, struggles, and joys of mountaineering with an unsolicited charm and lightness.

The show also excels at its visual representation. The scenic panoramas of the hills and the mountains, combined with the changing seasons and beautiful landscapes in the series are gorgeously depicted, replicating the stunning vision that one might behold standing atop a mountain. It is an exquisite feast for the eyes which envelops the viewer further into the narrative, making it more than a mere on-screen representation.

The friendship between Aoi and Hinata forms the backbone of the series. Amidst its adventure theme, Encouragement of Climb vividly explores the enhancement of friendship. The show celebrates their collective friendship and how the bonds between them strengthen with each successful climb, celebrating their achievements and comforting each other through each setback. It is the belief in each other and the shared experiences that allows them to grow as individuals, participating, and encouraging in each other’s journey.

Encouragement of Climb, despite its seemingly niche theme on mountaineering, efficiently encapsulates prevalent and universal themes such as camaraderie, personal growth, overcoming fears, and falling in love with the wonders of nature. What makes it stand out is its ability to combine these aspects in an astonishingly fun, cute, and visually delightful manner. The show effortlessly takes its viewers stride by stride on a journey that is charmingly intimate and individually grand at the same time, leaving them yearning for adventures and the marvels of outdoor exploration.