I still constantly feel like the first time travel scene in the Steins;Gate anime is handled perfectly. The uneasiness in the unfocused yellow off-kilter camera, the zoning out feeling, and then the perceived mis-perception of time (events aren’t lining up correctly, general confusion over how events don’t follow through, etc) is all well and dandy, but then the world-line transfer happens 3/4 through the series and these mis-steps in continuity suddenly are accounted for and rewatching that first episode still stuns me with how well that A/B slice lines up.
But I think it’s just as impressive that the first episode is entirely memorable to me. From the NEET conversations in Akiba, to the frantic, manic reaction to seeing Kurisu still alive. The gesturing and poking and the shaky, uncertain grasping at her hair is so articulate of both the animation and also the feelings of the person. You can watch that scene muted and still hear the fear in Okabe’s voice, still feel the quivering in his very being as he’s faced with the duality of “you should be dead” v “I’m... So glad you aren’t dead”.
