The anime, “To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts,” written by Shigeru Murakoshi, produced by the studio MAPPA is an adaptation of the manga written by Maybe, who is fact two people: one writer and the other the artist.
Spoilers! I will try to keep them at a minimum.
Most commonly in a fantasy anime, it starts off with an explanation of the world it’s set in. A world in a chaotic civil war, a nice start to a dark anime. But in that chaos, hero’s appear to end that and bring about a better world. These hero’s are called “Incarnates,” people who can transform into powerful monsters.
The first episode definitely lives up it its genre of dark fantasy, but does liven up at parts to show that it can be something else besides dark and gloomy. Though the rest of the battles in the episode are in a montage, that may be for the best because the real emphasis is not on the battles but on the progression of the Incarnates markings that appear on their body possibly foreshadowing a permanent transformation into their monstrous personas. And the wait is not far off for that, for a choice must be made for what to do with that possibility. A short montage of more battles and more choices ensues as the episode goes on.
Coming to the end it focuses on three of the Incarnates group members highlighting their long and close friendship: the captain, vice captain, and the doctor. The three converse about what course of action and their involvement in the creation of the Incarnates. The remaining of the episode definitely sets up the following episodes with plots of betrayal and revenge.
Visually the anime follows a older animation style, like the manga follows an older art style, but that plays off the dark genre of the series. Its monotone style gives it a bleak almost depression setting that world is created in.
The Voice Over fits well with each character and how the character is supposed to be portrayed.
With any anime, its opening and closing themes are just as important as the anime itself. If its opening does not match the tone of the story then the audience may be confused or uninterested once the story starts. The opening, which in episode one is actually at the end and becomes the opening in episode two, is dramatic and heart-racing to get you ready for the beginning. The closing in episode two is a bit more melancholy and calmer.
Overall the first episode draws you in to deliver a impactful and exciting start to a revenge and redemption seeking series.
Opinion: Spoilers!
This was definitely one of my most anticipated anime of the year. I read the first volume of the manga, and will continue reading the manga for reference and comparison. I will say the manga and anime definitely start differently. Whereas the manga kinda jumps into introducing both of the main characters as soon as possible, the anime kinda introduces their backstories sooner rather than later.
The setting in the manga reminds me of a western-era setting whereas the anime reminds me of a civil war-era setting. The anime shows the other Incarnates as humans more than the manga did in the beginning, and emphasizes that Hank has to kill comrades that he were like brothers and sisters to him.
P.S. I will be a little behind on the episode review but will hopefully catch up with this show soon.
This is my first written review, so let me know in the comments what you thought of it. Thank you very much.
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