I’m used to not knowing how many episodes a series is going to be. These days, no info on that until well into its run is a common occurrence. But I’d particularly like to know with Kanata Kara, because that would go a long way towards deciding how vested I allow myself to get. There are some pretty clear issues here – this is cheap, to say the least. But if I knew it was going to at least get two cours, I’d be inclined to give it more time to win me over. Even that would be rough sledding for a 14-volume manga. But if this is one cour and done, I don’t see much point in its existence.

Not knowing, all I can do is comment on what’s put in front of me. And that’s pretty decent, a mixed bag with some endearing qualities. I liked some of the scenes with Noriko and Izark here, especially as she was trying to learn the language. And From Far Away has some interest as a sort of living museum diorama, a snapshot of what shoujo was like 35 years ago and isekai was like at the very dawn of its existence. But I don’t see much evidence so far of why the manga is considered one of the very best of both its demographic and genre. It’s only two episodes though, and if there are 20+ more to come that’s not necessarily an issue.

One must stop and remind themselves that Noriko is a teenager and one just snatched into a strange new world. I mean, objectively you shake your head at her shouting for Izark (and predictably drawing attention from a baddie) when she knows she has a price on her head. The ensuing fight between Izark and a mid-boss bandit leader shows off some magical ability, which given the premise one must assume is normal here. In the end Izark triumphs and offers aid to the wounded clothing seller the bandits had left for dead, and the three of them ride his carriage into town.

Izark is exceptionally kind, that much is clear. He has all sorts of tricks up his sleeve too, and is quite the gentleman. He even cracks a smile or two at Noriko’s attempts to learn his language (he expresses no interest in learning hers, but then this is his country). We also meet a soldier whose daughter is blind and a fortune-teller, and who has the look of a future ally of justice. Generally speaking the military come off as boorish and hardly a force for good, and our first encounter with a noble doesn’t paint them in a good light either.

Noriko deciding to keep a diary – her school notebook and a pen being all she salvaged from her discarded rucksack – has the vibe of an important plot point. Just who Izark is stands as the great unknown of the story at this stage. Is he a free agent, or working for one of the powers that be who all want “The Awakening”? How did he know where Noriko was? Whether his interest in her is altruistic or not, he’s her only lifeline. So she’d better hope whatever’s wrong with him isn’t serious, though I wouldn’t think we’d be losing him this early in the story (Noriko had better hope not).