Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Action Comedy Drama Horror Thriller Sci-Fi Romance Mystery Animation Crime
Patema Inverted (2014) movie poster

Timeline

Patema Inverted (2014) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2014 · 98 min · Japanese
JustWatch #28,879 1
Directed by
Yasuhiro Yoshiura

In a world where gravity functions differently for two distinct populations, Princess Patema lives in an underground society where down is up. When she accidentally crosses into a surface world where up is down, she encounters Age, a student questioning the established order. Together, they must understand the nature of their opposing gravitational forces, the history of their separation, and confront those who benefit from maintaining the divide between their worlds, all while navigating a landscape that defies conventional physics.

Adventure Sci-Fi Drama Fantasy Animation Cast, crew & box office
On this page (5)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (15)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Patema Inverted (2014)

Where can you watch Patema Inverted? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Kanopy and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

15 events in order · contains spoilers

Patema Inverted Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Patema Inverted (2014) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. The Experiment Gone Wrong

    In the year 2067, a scientific experiment intended to harness energy from Earth's gravity leads to disastrous consequences. This catastrophic event causes a reversal of gravity, resulting in most of humanity and objects drifting away from the planet.

    When
    2067

  2. Life in the Underground

    Patema, a brave young girl, lives in an underground community that enforces strict regulations to keep its people safe from the outside world. This hidden society protects its inhabitants from the surrounding 'danger zones,' as they are brainwashed to fear the skies above.

    Where
    Underground Community

  3. Patema's Brave Venture

    When Patema's friend, Lagos, mysteriously disappears, her curiosity compels her to explore the dark tunnels of her world. During her search, she unexpectedly encounters a strange figure walking on the ceiling, which sends her tumbling into the abyss below.

    Where
    Dark Tunnels

  4. Arrival in Aiga

    Patema lands in a unique region known as Aiga, where the laws of gravity work differently than in her underground home. Here, she meets Eiji, a teenager who introduces her to a world entirely unlike her own, where individuals defy conventional gravity.

    Where
    Aiga

  5. The Tale of Eiji's Father

    As Eiji and Patema grow closer, he shares the story of his father, who fell from a flying craft during a demonstration. Eiji explains how this incident has been distorted by the government, framing it as part of a phenomenon involving 'Inverts,' or those who live in a different gravity.

    Where
    Eiji's Home

  6. The Threat of Izamura

    Patema's presence in Aiga is quickly discovered by the tyrannical leader, Izamura, who sends his forces to capture her. Aware of the danger, Eiji realizes that by holding onto Patema, he can defy gravity and evade capture, showcasing their unique bond.

    Where
    Aiga

  7. Capture and Imprisonment

    Despite their attempts to escape, Eiji and Patema are eventually caught by Izamura's men. Once captured, Eiji faces punishment, while Patema is imprisoned at the Control Tower, where Izamura threatens to unleash her into the open sky, revealing that Lagos has also been captured.

    Where
    Control Tower

  8. A Daring Rescue Plan

    Determined to save Patema, Eiji meets Porta, one of Patema's friends, and together they devise a rescue plan. With assistance from the Elder of their community, they aim to infiltrate the Control Tower and free Patema from Izamura's clutches.

    Where
    Underground Community

  9. The Great Escape

    Eiji bravely ascends to the top floor of the Control Tower and manages to liberate Patema. Just as they taste freedom, Izamura and his men pursue them, leading to a thrilling chase on the rooftop where Patema makes a daring leap to rescue her friend.

    Where
    Control Tower Rooftop

  10. The Revelation of the Sky

    Floating away from Aiga, Eiji and Patema regain consciousness and discover that the sky above is a mere mechanical construct. They stumble upon Eiji's father's flying machine and his notes, unraveling the truth behind their world and its artificial limitations.

    Where
    Mechanical Ceiling

  11. The Confrontation with Izamura

    As Izamura realizes the truth behind the flying machine's return, he orders the capture of Eiji and Patema. Internal conflict arises as Izamura's right-hand man, Jaku, grows suspicious of Izamura's true motives regarding the death of Eiji's father and the captivity of Lagos.

    Where
    Aiga

  12. The Final Battle

    In a dramatic clash, Eiji and Patema leap from the flying machine, falling toward Patema's underground society. The joy of their return is quickly overshadowed by Izamura and Jaku's relentless pursuit, leading to a fierce confrontation for their survival.

    Where
    Underground Community

  13. The Collapse and the Truth

    In the heat of battle, the ground suddenly collapses, revealing the desolate surface of the Earth and the remnants of civilization. This stark revelation reveals that they are the last survivors of a failed experiment, destined to face the reality above.

    Where
    Surface of the Earth

  14. Izamura's Downfall

    Desperate to maintain control, Izamura attempts to cling to Patema but finds himself losing his grip as chaos erupts. In a heroic moment, Eiji saves Patema from falling and with the help of Jaku and the Elder, they secure their survival amidst the turmoil.

    Where
    Surface of the Earth

  15. A New Dawn

    Eiji and Patema embrace as they stand on the surface world, ready to face whatever awaits them. With Lagos's notes revealing their intertwined fates, the group vows to unite their worlds and embark on a new journey together, revitalizing hope for the future.

    Where
    Surface of the Earth

Last updated: November 09, 2024 at 11:24

Was this helpful?

Timeline questions answered

Patema Inverted Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Patema Inverted (2014): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Patema fall upward instead of down?

Patema comes from an underground society where gravity is inverted, down is actually up. When she enters Aiga, the surface world where gravity works normally, her inverted gravity causes her to fall upward relative to their orientation. This is a result of the 2067 experiment that split humanity into two groups with opposite gravitational orientations.

  • gravity inversion
  • patema
  • underground world
  • aiga
Q2

Why does Izamura want to capture Patema?

Izamura fears that Patema's presence exposes the truth about their world. Her inverted gravity contradicts the government's narrative that the sky is dangerous and that their society is the only remaining civilization. By capturing her, Izamura maintains control and prevents the revelation that both societies are remnants of the same failed experiment.

  • izamura
  • patema capture
  • control tower
  • government cover-up
Q3

What does "Inverts" mean in the movie?

"Inverts" is the term the Aiga government uses to describe people with inverted gravity, like Patema. The government portrays them as dangerous anomalies tied to the 2067 disaster, but in reality, Inverts are simply survivors from the underground community who adapted to opposite gravity after the experiment went wrong.

  • inverts
  • inverted gravity
  • government propaganda
  • 2067 experiment
Q4

How can Eiji and Patema control gravity when they hold each other?

When Eiji holds onto Patema, their contrasting weights combine in a way that allows him to slow his descent and float. This unique ability stems from their opposite gravitational orientations, one pulling up while the other pulls down, creating a balanced force that lets them navigate the inverted world together.

  • eiji
  • patema
  • gravity control
  • floating
  • weight combination
Q5

What is the sky above Aiga really?

The sky in Aiga is not real, it is a mechanical ceiling that manufactures their artificial atmosphere and projects fake stars. This elaborate construct was created to hide the truth that Aiga is actually an underground facility, not a surface city. The ceiling also prevented inhabitants from discovering the actual surface of the Earth above.

  • artificial sky
  • mechanical ceiling
  • aiga
  • control tower
  • illusion
Q6

What really happened to Eiji's father?

Eiji's father did not die in an accident, he was murdered by Izamura. After Eiji's father helped create the flying machine and discovered the truth about their world, Izamura killed him to keep the secret hidden. The government then staged his death as a fall from the craft to maintain the lie about the Inverts.

  • eiji father
  • izamura
  • murder
  • flying machine
  • cover-up
Q7

Why did Izamura capture Lagos?

Lagos was captured because he discovered the truth about their world and was working with Eiji's father on the flying machine. Izamura imprisoned him to prevent the revelation that would expose the artificial nature of Aiga and the existence of the underground society. Unfortunately, Lagos dies while imprisoned.

  • lagos
  • capture
  • imprisonment
  • flying machine notes
  • izamura
Q8

What causes the ground to collapse at the end of the movie?

During the final confrontation between Izamura's forces and the group, the battle damages the structural supports of the underground facility. This causes the ground to collapse, revealing the actual surface of the Earth outside, the desolate wasteland left behind after the 2067 gravity disaster. The collapse exposes the truth that both societies have been living underground all along.

  • ground collapse
  • surface world
  • earth
  • underground facility
  • revelation
Q9

What was the 2067 experiment that caused the gravity reversal?

In 2067, scientists attempted to harness energy from Earth's gravity, but the experiment went catastrophically wrong, reversing gravity for most of humanity. This caused people and objects to drift away from the planet. Survivors adapted by forming two isolated societies, one underground and one in an artificial surface facility, each with opposite gravitational orientations.

  • 2067 experiment
  • gravity reversal
  • disaster
  • energy experiment
  • apocalypse
Q10

Why do the underground and Aiga societies stay separated?

The separation was enforced by Izamura and the Aiga government to maintain control. By portraying the Inverts as dangerous and the sky as deadly, they prevented either society from discovering the truth, that they are all survivors of the same disaster living in interconnected underground facilities. This divide-and-control strategy kept the population obedient.

  • two societies
  • separation
  • izamura
  • government control
  • brainwashing
Q11

What do Eiji and Patema discover on the flying machine?

On the flying machine, they find Eiji's father's notes revealing that both he and Lagos created the craft together. The notes also confirm that the artificial sky was built to hide the truth about their world. This discovery proves that Izamura orchestrated the cover-up and that the two societies share a common origin.

  • flying machine
  • eiji father notes
  • lagos
  • truth revelation
  • artificial sky
Q12

Why does Jaku switch sides and help Eiji and Patema?

Jaku, Izamura's right-hand man, becomes suspicious of his leader's motives after seeing the flying machine return. When he uncovers evidence that Izamura murdered Eiji's father and imprisoned Lagos to hide the truth, Jaku realizes Izamura has been lying to everyone. This betrayal prompts him to help the protagonists survive and ultimately unite the two societies.

  • jaku
  • betrayal
  • izamura
  • switch sides
  • justice

Movie threads

More Movies Like Patema Inverted, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Patema Inverted tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about forbidden friendships like Patema Inverted

Teens from opposing societies unite to heal a broken world and challenge rigid authority. If you enjoyed the unifying friendship between Patema and Age, you'll like these movies. This thread collects sci-fi and adventure stories where star-crossed characters from different worlds bridge a deep divide, challenging authority to uncover a hopeful truth.

  • unifying
  • defiant
  • heartfelt
  • adventurous
  • suspenseful
  • thrilling
  • Tone: hopeful, defiant, heartfelt
  • Pacing: fast, adventurous
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically begins with isolation and ignorance, then pivots on a chance encounter that defies societal norms. The core journey involves the characters learning to trust each other, uncovering a shared history or common enemy, and ultimately working together to expose lies and forge a new, integrated future.

Why they belong together: Movies in this thread share a core emotional arc of connection triumphing over division. They blend the thrill of discovery with the heartfelt optimism of reconciliation, often set against a backdrop of high-stakes adventure and a fast-paced plot driven by escape and revelation.

Rim of the World movie poster

Rim of the World

2019
Strange World movie poster

Strange World

2022
Tomorrowland movie poster

Tomorrowland

2015
Treasure Planet movie poster

Treasure Planet

2002
Solarbabies movie poster

Solarbabies

1986
The Last Starfighter movie poster

The Last Starfighter

1984
Patema Inverted movie poster

Patema Inverted

2014
Superior Ultra 8 Brothers movie poster

Superior Ultra 8 Brothers

2008

Thrilling chases in sci-fi worlds like Patema Inverted

Breakneck escapes and suspenseful pursuits through uniquely alien or inverted landscapes. Fans of the disorienting gravity chases in Patema Inverted will enjoy these movies. This list features similar sci-fi and adventure films with fast-paced, suspenseful pursuits through uniquely designed worlds that defy conventional physics and create a thrilling, high-intensity experience.

  • thrilling
  • disorienting
  • suspenseful
  • adventurous
  • defiant
  • fast-paced
  • Tone: thrilling, suspenseful, hopeful
  • Pacing: fast, relentless
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is propelled by a series of escapes and pursuits, with little downtime. The unique rules of the world—like inverted gravity or other physical anomalies—are not just backdrop but are integral to the action sequences, forcing characters to think and move in unconventional ways to survive.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped by their shared emphasis on visceral, disorienting action and a high-intensity pace. The experience is defined by the thrill of the chase and the constant suspense of navigating a dangerous, rule-bending environment, balanced by an ultimately hopeful outcome.

Patema Inverted movie poster

Patema Inverted

2014
Rim of the World movie poster

Rim of the World

2019
Ready Player One movie poster

Ready Player One

2018
Titan A.E. movie poster

Titan A.E.

2000
At the Earth's Core movie poster

At the Earth's Core

1976
High Road to China movie poster

High Road to China

1983
Yamakasi movie poster

Yamakasi

2001
Solarbabies movie poster

Solarbabies

1986

Every angle

Patema Inverted (2014) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Patema Inverted in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app