Immortality is a fascinating topic that is frequently explored in fiction. Anime history is full of immortals, from supernatural beings who have immortality by default to others who have achieved it via certain actions. The character’s handling of this immortality — and others’ attempts to remove it from them — are often core parts of the plot.
Despite the concept of immortality being used hundreds if not thousands of times, mediums are still finding new ways to approach and tell stories using this theme. One such anime is Mnemosyne, an often overlooked series that took a highly unique and complex look at immortality.
The Plot and Context of Mnemosyne
Mnemosyne, also known as RIN: Daughters of Mnemosyne, was a collaboration between Xebec and Genco; it was made to celebrate the anniversary of the Japanese television network AT-X, a network known for its edgier and more adult content. The anime ran for six episodes and was broadcast in 2008. There was also a companion light novel and manga released alongside the series.
Mnemosyne follows Rin Asougi, a private detective who operates from an office in Shinjuku, Tokyo. However, Rin isn’t a regular detective as she is immortal. In the world of Mnemosyne, a mysterious tree called Yggdrasil appears randomly; it emits a series of small orbs called TIme Fruits, some which can be absorbed into human bodies. However, these orbs affect each gender differently. If a man absorbs one, he becomes a monstrous being called an Angel. However, if a woman absorbs an orb, she becomes immortal. As a result, Rin can take a lot of physical punishment and seems to return to life whenever something destroys her body.
The story starts in the 1990s with Rin finding a strange man called Koki Maeno while out on a case. This discovery leads to Rin getting involved in an odd situation, one that involves someone who is seeking immortality. To make this worse, Rin is being hunted by an assassin who seems to be working for someone who knows about Rin’s unusual condition — and some other deeply-buried secrets about Yggdrasil and the Time Fruits.
Why Mnemosyne Is Such a Fascinating Anime About Immortality
Mnemosyne’s handling of immortality is fascinating and surprisingly original. The story goes out of its way to show how immortality puts a target on one’s head and how the mere idea of it can cause people to do horrible things. Plus, it uses the lead character’s immortality in every facet of the plot. Most notably, the storyline takes place over 65 years. This is surprisingly rare, even in immortality-focused media. Most of the time, an immortal character will merely reference past events rather than the audience getting to see them as they happen. This longer length allows Mnemosyne to explore how some actions have consequences that span several generations.
The anime’s Time Fruit concept adds a fun mystery to the immortality element, meaning viewers and the characters alike are never sure of the power’s exact limits. This allows the show to avoid a common issue that many immortality narratives have. An immortal lead character often leads to a story lacking stakes as the audience knows that character can not be harmed. However, by leaving the exact mechanics of Rin’s immortality up for debate, the writers can put her in peril while maintaining high tension.
Mnemosyne is unique even outside of its main theme, blending several genres together in surprising ways. By the end of the series, viewers will have been treated to elements inspired by detective fiction, supernatural action, romance and horror. The show is also very adult, not shying away from showing intense gore or sexual content. While this can feel a little too try-hard at points, it does fit the series’ themes and helps it stand out from the pack. Even today, there is nothing else quite like it.
Mnemosyne is a fascinating series that puts a unique twist on classic immortality themes and tropes. Its blending of multiple genres and one-of-a-kind world-building means it is still a fascinating watch, even in 2023.
Mnemosyne is now streaming on Crunchyroll.
