Made in Abyss

There are certain animes that trick you into thinking they are for kids with the animation style and plot, but then slam you with an adult storyline that is a complete classic. Madoka Magica, Now and Then Here and There, and now Made In Abyss. It's been a long time since I've seen a truly GREAT anime. I've seen a lot of good ones like Ajin, Hero Academia, One Punch Man, etc... But, very few GREAT ones, lately. This is the kind of anime that you suggest to people who don't really understand what anime is and how good and amazing it can really be. Great characters, solid storytelling, shocking moments, and a gut wrenching final episode. You really can't ask for more here. Except for a second season.

Recommending this anime is akin to playing a cruel joke. The entire introduction, cover art, and synopsis are a misleading trap into watching the author's disgusting torture fetish. The art and atmosphere are successful in capturing the wonder of any good fantastical coming of age story. Unfortunately for audiences it all leads to a subversive plot and frankly childishly shocking imagery. The protagonists have legitimate motivations and are easy to sympathize with. The characters they meet in the Abyss are less so however. Being either cartoonishly villainous or shallow characatures of victims, the plot and personalities of all of the characters in this anime take a back seat to the aforementioned imagery. Find something else to watch, and avoid the mental gymnastics it takes to justify the existence of this work.

I understand this is very long, but all of it is just my genuine thoughts. The entire anime was focused around the two main characters going through the abyss in search of an actual good plot, with tons of side characters who were bland, and added very little to the overall story. The main two characters them self were bland, and it seemed the writer just wanted lewd the 12 year old the entire time. The show was boring to watch up until episode 11 (out of 13), when they introduced two more side characters, which were actually rather fun to have in the show, and it was a nice change of pace. The final 3 episodes were not that bad. But having to struggle through the first 10 episodes of boring, uninteresting characters, and story really made me want to give up on it. Once the main characters come back into play, I instantly wanted to stop watching the show again. I found myself leaning back into my chair multiple times and almost falling asleep. When I first saw this show, the first thing I saw that it was ranked at position 19 overall. This of course is a fantastic score, so I was expecting a lot from the show, and wanted to come in and have a wonderful time with it, only to be very disappointing. Story- The beginning was slow to begin, and as you go through it, it just gets slower, and slower, with nothing that would make you think they had an original idea of their own. There were one or two moments that make you think, "hey this part might be kind of good." Only for it to last seven minutes, then go back into boring, non needed talking. They wanted to get story across at the beginning, but it took so long for them to even get them into any sort of action, or interesting plot points that I wanted to give up. We've seen the same dungeon crawling / moving up floors so many times it's nothing special, with almost nothing happening on some floors, and it still some how makes it feel like it took 3 episodes to get something done. Art- The visuals were alright in some parts, they had a couple wallpaper worthy scenes, but the majority of the animals, or monsters, seemed to looked pixel-ated, almost as if they did it in MS Paint, and then stuck it into 5 frames as it went across the screen. Overall the animation wasn't bad however. The art style is completely opinionated so I'll leave that out of the equation. Sound- The sound was overall good, and the effects of the animals, and wilderness really did make you feel immersed into the environment. The opening wasn't bad, and the music changes flowed really well with the overall theme well, and it altered when it needed to. If I had to pick what the most redeeming quality of this show was, it's the sound. Until you get into more of the voice acting which I'll leave to character specifics. Character- The characters were almost all very obnoxious to listen to when their constant whining, or non stop high pitched squeals for the first half of the anime. We've seen all these types of characters before, the rebellious, and obnoxious kids, with overseers who are a complete non factor. There's almost nothing to say about the characters in the beginning because they all had the same personality, nothing. They had different roles to fill and after the first couple episodes didn't exist. When it comes to some of the more important side characters that they run into after go into the abyss, the first is Ouzen. A typical harsh teacher, who shows up only to add some more cliche plot points, and has probably the most painful voice to listen to throughout the whole series, it genuinely made me upset to have to listen to her speak, and then have screen time. And the voice actor is someone who has done good things, so I can't imagine it was entirely their fault. The only other time I was more upset to have to hear a voice, was when you had to hear the main character talk after you see the only good characters of the show. The only good characters, who had any real personality was at the very end, the bunny. She was the most fun I had while watching the entire anime. Only to be ruined by the main character, and probably the only reason I'll be willing to give the second season a shot. Personal Enjoyment/Overall- I've never been more bored from watching such a highly rated anime. The entire time I was almost falling asleep. And it is no easy task to fall asleep in a dark room with a brightly lit monitor. I was begging for something interesting to happen the entire time and it never did. It had its moments of shine, where I could see potential in parts, only for it to be ruined by something you couldn't give less of a shit about. I was eager for each episode to finish so I could move closer to the end, and each one seemed to get longer and longer up until the very end, when it finally had some fun things introduced. But it is not worth watching, and enduring so much pain for a couple good scenes at the end. I could not consider this show good, or even close to a masterpiece. Thank you for spending the time to read this, hope I could save you.

Who lets these naive children go for what they think is a fun adventure in the most dangerous place possible? I just can't get past that part and it was too hard for me to suspend my disbelief constantly as required to go along with this plot. Multiple adults could and should have stopped them because, you know, they are 12 and still view the world through disney lenses. Riko is a moron. She makes dumb decision after dumb decision constantly putting her defenseless-self in danger. She'll smell something or see a pretty color and go charging off straight at it without a care in the world despite the numerous times she almost got herself killed doing just that. Meanwhile Reg seems fine letting her wander off on her whimsical flights of fancy while he stays motionless getting lost in his own thoughts. This formula manufactures all of the peril. While it does wind up going how you might think it would eventually, they get lucky far too many times. Nevermind that whole purpose for it is because stupid Riko has convinced herself she has to go save her badass mom ASAP immediately for some reason even though the note clearly says she can wait. Headaches and facepalms abound. It's too bad because I was fascinated by the world they built and I wanted to learn more about it but they just give you a general idea of how things work before getting to the task at hand. They also needed more Kiwi. He's chill af. Ignore the sheep giving it tens because they read the manga. Don't waste your time on this one.

Made in Abyss offers a unique adventure where there is, from a beautiful world, to the most vivacious expression of absolute terror. The Abyss is not only an unexplored world where inhuman monsters inhabit, but it is also a place where one can lose one's own humanity, becoming, as it were, part of the abyss or literally a monster. I believe [on my part] that there is nothing more to say other than that this show was literally a work of art. Despite what they talk about Masayuki Kojima, so far, I have not seen anything in his series direction that made me hate him, or say that he lost his talent. Quite the opposite: from Black Bullet to this series I fully believe he's only got it right. Although some play the blame for a certain work he has adapted under his series direction, I believe that in the directional part he is exemplary, even for works that people say [Black Bullet] are not good. Finally, they adapted to the chapter that I had hoped for, thus giving an excellent closure to the work.

*No spoilers* I've watched an unhealthy amount of anime through my life, and have seen many series just like this. There's always something to pick at when it comes to an anime like Made in Abyss. Whether it's inconsistent artwork, pacing issues, or even repetitive/questionable background music-- there's always a part of an adventure series that can leave a bad impression in comparison to the rest of its qualities. Made in Abyss has broken that commonality. There is no element of this anime that deserves anything less than a 10. It is the closest thing to a perfect series that we've gotten so far in this industry-- and I say closest only because there's another season on the way. The art direction is absolutely phenomenal. This studio took a detailed, immersive world, originally presented with bare minimum detail in manga form, and adapted it into something absolutely magical. The character design is extraordinary. The people our protagonists meet display characteristics that continue to surprise you as the story unfolds their past experiences, and their immediate limits through pure adventure. The music is breathtaking in every way. With the exception of some character themes, you will have a progressive, transformative listening experience with every step our protagonists take in their adventure. The Australian composer behind this incredible soundtrack, Kevin Penkin, has truly brought this world to life with this work. I won't spoil the story in any form. I will only say this: The first episode is an effective introduction to this world, and as a viewer, you will recognize the potential this story has to offer from this alone. There is great reward in watching this anime with as little information as possible, because every new moment you experience will feel as if you're right alongside the protagonists in their adventure. I can't say you'll get a feeling like that from many other series. Made in Abyss truly is one of a kind. It has set the bar high above all other series in a spectacular way. There is not a single part of this anime that I did not appreciate as a viewer, and that is extremely rare for me. What makes me most excited is-- this is only the beginning. A new season (or movie?) is on the way, and the manga is still ongoing (as of Feb 2018). I'm incredibly excited to see where this adventure will take us, and how much higher they could potentially set this bar.

This is a masterpiece! From the beginning till the end of the first season it has you captivated with all the detailed efforts it has been put unto. The harmonious sounds that carry you within the magical and very imaginative visuals and captivating story that puts your emotions on a run. At first glance, it may seem a childish anime but I don't recommend this for kids at all. Some scenes can be quite a lot to handle even for an adult (me, barely could look because of all the emotions). This is a very beautiful anime. It's a MUST WATCH!

I have to say that Made in Abyss is really something special to me. I really did not expect to love this show as much as I did before picking it up, and as with most people, simply disregarded it or underestimated it based on the art style of the character's on the cover. I see many people complain about the age of the characters, but this is definitely better than having older, more mature characters in place simply due to the nature of the entire show and the abyss itself. Having children who are innocent, naive and oftentimes clueless of their surroundings creates a much greater feeling of horror. It makes their advancements and accomplishments feel far greater, and their struggles and battles far more harrowing. One of the main things that I think instantly drew me into this anime was the world-building. Right from the beginning, MiA gives you these small snippets of information about the world in an indirect way, not just spoon-feeding it to the audience like SO many others do. It helps that this world is absolutely breathtaking and mysterious, instantly drawing you in to learn more. The soundtrack to this show is beyond words, I really cannot give it high enough praise. Kevin Penkin, who is behind some of the best songs in the OST, blows you away with the vocals that he produces. The OST is able to position you in the perfect atmosphere for the current scene, and amplifies moments of tension, sadness and panic. Even listening to the songs again puts me back into that moment of awe that I felt when watching the show for the first time, and very well nearly brings me to tears. Another thing that many people complain about with this show is the way that the children are sometimes portrayed, finding it to be oversexualised or 'gross'. Although controversial, these scenes are never depicted as sexual. They always feel to be normal childish manners, never is there a moment where these 'oversexualised' scenes feel forced or simply for the fan-service. What IS more concerning, though, is the fact that people believe these normal behaviors to be overly-sexual in nature. The more violent and gruesome struggles that our characters face also never feel forced or to satisfy and fulfill the gore-lovers. It always feels painfully real and relevant, and never overdone. This is very rare for me to see in a show. Overall, as you can probably already tell, this show holds an extremely important place in my heart. I think that Made in Abyss has single-handedly taken the spot for my favorite anime series ever made, and probably any piece of media I've ever seen. I really DO hope that I find something out there to overtake this spot, and make me feel such intense emotions like this show has done... but I highly doubt that. Watch Made in Abyss.

This show broke me. Let's gloss over all the amazing qualities about the world building, characters, story, or just how impossibly engrossing and endearing it is right from the first minute, because everyone and their mom has probably already raved about that. There's no doubt this show's got charm, and lots of it. Only those kinds of show can make me sit down and binge-watch them without wanting to do something else. Instead, I'll head right to the reason I feel compelled to not only rate this 10/10 (a rating I reserve for only the best), and not only add this to my favorites, and NOT ONLY to go as far as rank it above even Steins;Gate, but to even add this glowing review mentioning something that I should probably be super embarrassed about, since I'm a man and gender stereotypes, blah blah blah. I have never cried so much at a TV Show. Not even Bojack Horseman. Yeah, I can hear the weebs sneering at me mentioning an American show. But hear me out. Steins;Gate took a few viewings to really draw any tears out of me. Godfather Part III choked me up real bad. Bojack's season 4 is extremely depressing, and I couldn't help but tear up by the end of it. A game called Doki Doki Literature Club has a mod that made me tear up even harder than that. This show. THIS FUCKING SHOW. It made me bawl. I have literally never done that before at a piece of media. I saw it coming. Once it was revealed (light spoilers) this episode was going to be about Mitty and the experiment, I knew it was going to be hard to watch. And I tried so hard to brace myself. I really tried. But when the time came, it pierced so harshly and stung so bad that I just lost my mind and started crying. Lip quivering, tear-jerking, can't-breathe crying. In that one moment, I had lost all composure and broke down. I had to pause it mid-scene. It was almost like the curse in the show had manifested itself in real life, as cheesy as that sounds. I sounded like an idiot when I tried to speak, even if it was only an attempt to utter something simple like "you tear-jerking bastards" or "holy shit!". I still have yet to calm down. It still hurts. And not just emotionally, but physically, too. My face hurts! It's been probably almost a decade since I've broken down like that, so I also started to mildly freak out in the middle of it, trying desperately to calm down and such. I know that sounds weird, but it's a foreign experience to me. As much as I've talked about those forms of media getting to me, crying is something I just can't get used to. It messes up my sinus and kinda ruins my day. I don't know how to deal with it. I don't like crying T_T Oh, and my hands are also numb right now. I don't know why. So that's fun. Anyways, this show succeeded where the other tear jerkers failed. This show broke me. And for pulling that off, I have immense respect for this show.

* THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS * After reading the synopsis, I instantly knew that Made in Abyss was an anime created for me. I expected (and I believe most of us who didn't read the manga before expected as well) it to be a lightweight, easy to watch adventure anime, in which a couple of adventurous kids are roaming in caves and dungeons in search for treasure and danger. I didn't expect anything serious, anything deep or dramatic from this show. To tell you the truth, I couldn't be more wrong. It's not easy to create new in the fantasy/sci-fi genre, still, Tsukushi Akihito, the creator of the original manga, could achieve that. He created a world which is not just breathtakingly beautiful, but it truly feels fresh, new, and real, thanks to the complex and detailed elaboration of its culture, characters and wildlife. Orth and the Abyss are not just mere settings for the show, but parts of a well-crafted, believable world, such one might expect from a great fantasy. The story focuses around Riko's and Reg's journey in the Abyss, a mysterious chasm with unique creatures, special natural laws, relics of a bygone civilization, and unknown depth. This is a place of constant insecurity and suspense, where you can never know what's going to happen, or who or what might be waiting for you at your next turn. It never runs out of wonders, and it never stops to amaze and astound us. Discovering the Abyss is a thrilling adventure itself, and, since its just the first season, I'm pretty sure there are lots of secrets still waiting to be discovered. Even if the show wouldn't offer more than roaming in this enchanting world, it still would worth watching it. However, just like the Abyss has many different layers, the show has many ones as well. It starts as a careless adventure of two little kids, who want to discover the Abyss and find answers for questions regarding themselves. Despite the facts that Riko already knows much about the Abyss and that Reg seemingly originates from there, none of them are actually aware of the real nature of it. It gives an innocent, childish charm to the show in the beginning, and also highlights the difference between knowing something and experiencing it. Riko and Reg act like as it's expected from children: they are naive, curious, excited to learn, and not afraid of any of the lurking danger; at least not until they must face those themselves. As they're descending to the lower layers, the Abyss' more dreadful nature unfolds, and, as the once so beautiful forests fill with terror and monstrosities, the anime's darker, more dramatic aspects begin to bloom and flourish as well. Still, despite all the challenges the Abyss puts in their way and all the difficulties and suffering they must go through, Riko and Reg keep up their positive, childish attitude and steadfastly continue their journey. They never renounce their goal, which is nothing other than the very bottom of the Abyss itself. The visual style of the anime is a pleasure to the eye. The Abyss offers rich and diverse wildlife to those who are brave enough to explore it, since its flora and fauna differs from layer to layer. The forests of the Abyss are alive and breathing, and together with the sound effects and the outstanding soundtrack, it creates a unique atmosphere which grips you right away and won't release until the very end. Just like the world and the story (what is told in a perfect harmony, enough time given for the setup, confrontation and resolution as well), the characters of this show are also well-developed. The "rounded" design of the child characters make them look more childish, which helps to take a liking to them almost instantly. Their personalities are also well-written (as I wrote above, they truly act like children in every situation), and I'm not talking only about the main characters here. The supporting characters also have their own individual personalities. Maybe their art is rough and not so detailed, but it's still enough to reflect their persona. For example, Ozen gives the impression of a fearful, strong and respectable cave raider from the very first sight of her, while Bondrewd... Well, Bondrewd is like Darth Vader. His mere appearance is terrifying. You can feel the darkness and power which pervades his whole character in every single moment while he's on the screen, which is not much, but more than enough to make you feel unpleasantly. I don't know if I've ever seen such a strong and powerful villain before, who can make your blood freeze in your veins only with his voice and appearance. Masterful character designs. The soundtrack of this show is also something which worth mentioning at least. Kevin Penkin's wonderful scores exquisitely return the sensations of being lost and alone, the joy and excitement of adventure and discovery, and the anxiety and fear of the unknown. I can't remember when did I hear a soundtrack the last time (if ever) which fit so naturally to an anime. It's always there, but sometimes you don't even realize it. You just feel its beating deep in your bones and soul. Some of the scores are dramatic and depressing, others are joyful and uplifting. The composer is brave enough to mix acoustic elements with modern, electronic tones and sound effects to bring the eerie atmosphere of the Abyss to life. Even months after I finished watching the anime, I'm still listening to the soundtrack almost on a daily basis. Made in Abyss is like a pearl among the pebbles. An anime everyone should watch. It offers everything why we love watching anime. It's gripping and mysterious enough to make you curious until the end. It's equally funny and dramatic. It does an exceptional job in story-telling, world-building, and character design. Even though the series consist only 13 episodes, the creators still found time for a long and detailed exposition, which helps us place our heroes in their world, to get to know them better, and to start bonding with them even before their real adventure begins. The show doesn't flood us with informations and facts, but reveals everything slowly and patiently from one episode to another. It constantly leaves us in gloom, wanting to know more, even after the ending, but tust me! Made in Abyss worth watching every single moment of it! Besides all of the above, though, the deep and dramatic narrative change which the anime goes through is what truly makes it such an amazing, rich, and meaningful creation; at least for me. The intelligent, well-written, and perfectly directed way it slowly transforms from the loose adventure story everyone expects into something no one can even suspect is simply remarkable. Kinema Citrus did an extraordinary job, a job for which we all should say thanks! I don't know if Made in Abyss will become a classic in later time (it would surely deserve it), if anime can become classics these days, but in my opinion, it's one of the greatest ones of all time. Far the best of 2017.

I RECOMMEND WATCHING THIS SHOW BEFORE READING PAST THE FIRST PARAGRAPH. THIS SHOW IS BEST EXPERIENCED BLIND. If you're continuing after the first paragraph, then hopefully you find my review competent enough. Thank you for your time. This show has really gotten me back into the anime scene, almost singlehandedly. Ya see, I had been watching shows for the past year that are like Isekai wa Smartphone to Tomo ni and Boku no Hero Academia, the former being morbidly awful and the latter being a show of a genre that's been beaten to oblivion by how much its been done. Don't get me wrong, either. Boku no Hero is a perfectly splendid show, and is definitely one of the best I've seen this year. However, in Made in Abyss I saw something truly special. Something I had never seen done before, or at least done in such a proficient, effective, and graceful manner. The last time I felt this way about a show was Koe no Katachi, which isn't even a show, as it is a film. Made in Abyss made me feel emotions in ways I never thought an anime could pull off. I felt as if I was in this adventure Riko and Reg were in as well, and I felt like I could feel what they were feeling firsthand... redundant I know, but hear me out. Truly the best thing this anime has is its overwhelming atmosphere, which is masterfully created. This atmosphere is the key to success on every front. The progression of events(story), the character development and emotions, the art, animation, ost, everything in this show that is good has a symbiotic relationship with this atmosphere. And I'll explain why I think this way. The progression of events of this show follows the two main characters; Riko and Reg. You follow them and hear their story as they climb down this huge chasm, called the Abyss, in the middle of the city of Orth, their starting place. You see these two characters grow and mature from the plenitude of obstacles they come across during the duration of this show. The obstacles themselves are organically woven into the story, and none of them felt superficial at all, at any point. The reason I think this is, is because of the fact that none of the obstacles in this show exemplify one thing. They all represent multiple benefits and tools this show uses quite effectively to progress the plot forward, and build up the show's atmosphere. At first glance the Abyss seems desolate and dark, especially after the characters reach a certain threshold. However, the obstacles Riko and Reg face all make the Abyss a fascinating and lively place, brimming with wonders, dangers, and mysteries. This is part of what I mean when all aspects of this show work in tandem with the atmosphere to be elevated to the next level, above great. The progression of events in this show is smooth, organic, and realistic(at least how realistic a fantasy show can be). But when coupled with the atmosphere, we get tense and thrilling scenes, moments of cathartic joy, and pure horror as we look at our screens, unable to help when one of these precious characters fall ill or get injured. One final thing to note; this anime also uses it's false sense of security, in the form of it's artstyle, to catch viewers off guard and surprise them with surprisingly grim sequences that make your spine tingle with fear or anxiety. This, along with the atmosphere, creates this moment of shock as we viewers see this show for what it actually is; a truly perilous trek down a dangerous hole with no sense of closure in sight anywhere to be found. And I absolutely loved it. The main characters of this show are Riko and Reg. Seeing these characters grow and mature in the duration of this show was a splendid experience. The way the show handled character development was great. These characters are really well written in general as well. They seemed like they could be real people in this world, at least in my opinion. They both have their character quirks, but they also have this childlike innocence and naivete that makes them seem like real children in this horrifying story of exploration. The feel real, tangible. The side characters are also very complex in a way, and the encounters with allies or obstacles feels organic and smooth. Most of them didn't feel lifeless and uninteresting. Most of them had neat and engaging backstories and motives. I think a big reason for that is the amount of creative room the mangaka and studio has to make these characters seem as interesting as possible. I really liked the variety of motivations seen in this snippet of this world exposed by this show. The atmosphere of this show also helps with character development and making interesting quirks for each of these characters. The oppressing nature of the Abyss has formed some of these character personalities. And the way these characters function in this Abyssal world creates a sort of tension within the show as well, which further adds to the atmosphere. As I have stated before, the main characters feel near and dear to me, and I felt for them whenever they fell under some kind of hardship. I think this cannot be overlooked, at least in my review, as this is a very commendable feat in my eyes. I loved these characters so damn much. This show has great art. Correction; this show has absolutely amazing, stunning art that left me speechless on every turn as I watched this show. It's absolutely breathtaking setpieces made me want to come back to this anime most of all. They elevated the atmosphere even more, as these stunning locales also marked all the places the main characters can visit, really improving the expansiveness of this Abyss they're in. The character designs as well look really unique and one of a kind, not afraid to ditch a previous artstyle to make a new, entirely different looking character design. This also makes the uniqueness of this world more apparent as well. The animation really isn't something to truly write home about however. It's above average, and is very smooth in many places. The animation also has very cool and dynamic movement from time to time. But even if the animation had personality and a few moments of proficiency, it still didn't manage to pull off this dynamic animation all too well in many cases, and the general animation also had many missteps and choppy moments all throughout. I still found the animation as good however, and It's not a fault of the show, only a minor misstep in this show that had many other great aspects. The sound design was also a factor that made this show one I always wanted to come back to. Specifically the ost. This ost is one of the best I have ever heard, and when one of these ost songs ever came up, I always felt something, whether that be joy, tension, or horror as I saw the events unfold with the music over the scene, like a soft blanket that made the scene much more effective at what it was trying to achieve. The OP was decent, but nothing spectacular, and the ED sounded pretty nice. The animation and visual for the OP was stunning, and encapsulated how an OP should operate as- a one off short giving a visual intro to the characters this show will focus on. The ED is a cute little animatic of Riko and Reg, and soon after a furry creature, on a cute, simplified version of their dangerous trek down. The voice acting in this anime is spectacular from what I felt. Riko especially, her voice actor was great at conveying Riko's emotions at the current moment. Reg's voice actor was also proficient at making the robot seem truly alive. The other side characters also had good, cool voices that fit them well in my opinion. Both of these factors fit in with making the atmosphere more rich, as the ost makes the world around Riko and Reg seem wondrous and dangerous, and the voice acting makes the viewer feel unsettled and anxious, or filled to the brim with a feeling of joy. Those are the bulk of my thoughts for this masterpiece. I do have some nitpicks, like how this anime has several minor timeskips t…

Due to hearing literally nothing about this anime, it almost completely slipped past me, and would have, if not for the handful of people that highly recommended that I watch it. I originally thought that this series would be yet another generic fantasy anime about adventurers exploring a dungeon or something of the sort (you know the ones I mean). While that premise may be similar, with this one, there’s much more to it than meets the eye. The abyss goes by a few different names: The great pit, the netherworld, etc. What it is, is a great chasm that burrows deep beneath the earth. It’s a source of mystery and wonder. Filled with dangerous beasts, deadly curses, and relics of eras long gone. In this world, there are groups of people known as “cave raiders”, who make it their life’s duty to reach the bottom of the abyss in pursuit of adventure and riches, all the while braving the abyss’ debilitating curses and fending off the denizens that dwell below the earth’s surface. Summary: The story takes place in Orth, a town that was built around the great chasm. In the town, cave raiders are revered as heroes, who bring back relics for the government to benefit the town. There’s also an orphanage, where young children whose parents were lost to the abyss study and train to become cave raiders, themselves. It’s in this orphanage that we first meet Riko, a young girl with a passion for exploration who aspires to be the grandest of cave raiders: A white whistle, just like her mother. One day, while Riko is exploring one of the Abyss’ shallower depths with a classmate, she stumbles upon an extremely rare relic known as an aubade (who she later names Reg), who will become her partner and greatest ally in what is soon to be the greatest adventure of her life. Story: As I said before, fantasy/adventure anime are a dime a dozen. What truly sets this anime apart from the rest is the mature way in which it handles it’s themes of adventure, exploration, and overcoming seemingly impossible odds. It clearly depicts that the life of cave raiders is anything but glamorous, and that many pay the ultimate price in their quest to explore the unknown. This anime makes it brutally clear that the abyss is a harsh and unforgiving place, where a single mistake can cost someone their life. Due to this, there’s a constant sense of tension as we watch our two main characters traverse the depths of the abyss. Also, neither Reg nor Riko are particularly overpowered. While Reg has powers of his own, he also has weaknesses that come with those powers. When faced with an obstacle, Riko and Reg must use their heads and work as a team to cover for each others’ weaknesses to overcome said obstacle. The worldbuilding in this anime is also phenomenal. From the first episode, it introduces us to the world in which the story takes place, and with each subsequent episode, we learn more and more about the inner-workings of the world. From finer details such as funeral rites, religion, and even the concept of death, they all play a part in setting up the world that the story takes place in. If you’ve noticed, I haven’t actually mentioned anything about the story’s conclusion, and that’s because, there isn’t one (yet). The story is still unfinished, so the anime ends partway through the story. I can only hope that there will be a second season, since the story thus far has been a joy to watch. It’s complex, dark, mysterious, emotional, and suspenseful. For me, at least, it has everything that makes for a compelling and thought-provoking story. Characters: There really isn’t much character development present in this anime. But, in this case, that’s not really a con. The main cast of characters are all unique, and complement each other quite well to begin with. Riko’s character is pretty much static, while Reg sees the main development in terms of character. He starts off as a blank slate, but comes into his own as a person (er, robot) close to the end of the series. Sound and Art: The music in this anime was pretty good. It never struck me as being amazing, but it complemented the mood during certain scenes exceptionally well. The character designs look a bit childish, which, while not a bad thing by itself, is kind of misleading, since this anime is certainly not aimed at children. With that being said, I don’t mind the character designs. For me, the background art is the most impressive. It’s detailed and has a style that seems almost nostalgic. Scenery and landscapes are detailed and colorful, while not being too vibrant or bright in their intensity. It’s just very pleasing to to the eye, and it doesn’t distract from events that are occurring on screen with the characters. Final Thoughts: I really didn’t have any expectations going into this anime, but was blown away by the detail and creativity that went into crafting the story and the world that it takes place in. It was definitely an experience that I won’t soon forget, and I look forward to seeing a continuation of the story. With that being said, I give Made In Abyss a 10/10, and highly recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written and refreshing take on the fantasy/adventure genre.

This is sooooo boring. The plot is simple but the narration is really hard to understand: it just constantly fills you with events without explanations. You just have to accept what happens in every single episode without really asking "why" because the brief answer the show would give you just leave you with more doubts. So you just have to passively see things happen. And guess what? Most of these things are disturbing! I mean I am a grown adult and my stomach does not shake for something like this but I simply would have enjoyed more seeing videos of bees collecting their honey or birds feeding their babies since the most of those disturbing scenes the show provides you comes to you even without a purpose. And also, in every single episode someone cries the hell out of his eyes in some constant dramatic climax which never really made me feeling anything since you won't have the possibility to empathize with anyone in this show since anything that happen is relatable to your life and things/people you know. Unless you had some really bad experience I guess.. which I think is not the case of the tons of enthusiastic fans of this absurdly nonsense show. And I am speaking to you, the one who write "amazing world building". It s just an amazing world for its view, where is the building? Two shows and a movie and there is still no explanation on this world building at all. You just are told about this abyss which they actually go aaaaal the way through in a bunch of episodes. And also the music are nice. But what do I do with these exceptional landscapes and this nice music without a strong narrative? The interactions between the characters are poor guys you have to admit, man I know is an "old" shonen but how catchy is Hunter x hunter? How well it keep you engaged between nice and unique characters, a beautiful and dangerous world, good music and a catchy narrative? You know that the plot is the same? A male kid go into dangerous adventures to look for his dad? There is no abyss, of course, that is the only unique thing about this anime! So guys, in my opinion, this was really boring to watch. Because: A) nothing new B) poor narrative and dialogues C) don't have time to empathize with anyone D) unnecessary gore and sexual praising scenes between kids

The synopsis gets a 10/10, the anime gets a 3/10. Fantastic idea that was wasted with a terrible execution. The idea of the show seems to draw a lot from Dante's Inferno (maybe the Manga goes into the Purgatory and Heaven part). Going through layers of hell that get progressively worse and horrific, filled with different conditions and creatures, until you reach the very bottom. Unfortunately, it missed up on a massive opportunity. The first 3 episodes lure you in, the rest collapses. The pros: - Good premise/concept; Inferno-like descent into the unknowns of Hell to be re-united with a loved one - One of the main characters (Reg) is actually intelligent, curious and reasonable in his thought-process - Once into the Abyss, the present outside world is no longer touched upon, which gives you a nice focus on the main story at hand and also gives you that little feeling that you're stuck in Abyss with the characters The cons: - Art is a bit disappointing; washed up paint-brushed backgrounds with odd "plushy" character designs, in a story that is supposed to be serious/gruesome; felt underwhelming and out of place - Most characters are extremely annoying and have all sorts of unnecessary oddities, and the fact that they're kids doesn't help - The way it tries to make itself look "disturbing" is cheaply done by exploiting child sexuality, urination, vomitting. Seeing an adult bleed is to death isn't exactly "disturbing", but seeing a child bleed to death is. It tries too hard to be revolting by constantly focsing on "oh look, penis, oh look, naked, oh look, peeing". The are only 3 mainly "disturbing scenes"; cannibalism, internal bleeding and transformation. Arguablly, only the last one was actually disturbing (even then, we didn't get much time to bond with the characters to feel this amplified sense of distress) - The way it tried to drag out "surviving" with a dreadfully long and boring set of little incidents that really lead nowhere. This time could have been allocated to actually creating a world for each layer of the Abyss. Instead, we got boring, flat worlds that didn't inspire much fear or anything at all, they were just vast lands of emptiness. So much so, that in the 4th layer, Reg could even carry out a set of side-quests (retrieving the items for Nanachi) without ever being threatened or encountering anything. The black-whistle seen looked like your average archeologist with nothing to fend for himself, completely clueless. - The way it rides on mysteries (similar to parts in Attack On Titan), with nothing being explained and just being force-fed the premises. Hopefully this is addressed somewhere down the line in the manga.

When I began this series I had no idea what it was about. The premise of the anime is a breath of fresh air drawing you in as a very innocent story of children exploring a big hole and looking for treasures (almost slice of life-like). As you dive deeper you see that it is much much more with themes that would move almost any viewer. The characters and artwork at first seems very geared towards children as the main characters themselves are still children. At times the artwork gets a bit blurry, but for the most part the world shown and the details in the backgrounds, objects, and creatures are rich and leave the viewer wanting to discover more about them. The sound particularly drew me in. The first time 'Hanezeve Caradhina' played in the background there were chills sent down my back at how beautiful and fitting it was for the scene. Despite being children, and despite living in a world almost alien to our own, there were themes and situations in this series that forces even an adult viewer to relate to. I was brought close to tears by the final episode and I can't wait for the next season.

Let me guess, you are probably deceived by its appearance. At first glance, this actually looks like an adventure show for kids and yet you wonder, how did it managed to skyrocket to the top so fast? But don't worry, we all have been deceived. Let me tell you then, why is so good. If you've read the synopsis, you know that it all revolves around the Abyss. As you are introduced with main characters, the show already gives you a few hints about its true dark nature, but its slow pacing hides it perfectly. Until you go deeper in the Abyss, Riko and Reg are basicly just messing around. You are getting more familiar with their characteristics and watch their friendship improve as they are descending. The further they get the more it is necessary for them to know their roles. Riko is a cook and the knowledgeable one while Reg becomes the defender. So far so good, right? Well, it escalates faster than you will expect even after reading many reviews. Because the second half of the anime will reveal what it actually is about. Unexpected events or breathtaking past. That's all to come, but you should probably check yourself unless you want to get spoiled. One of the strong aspects of the show are the main characters. They behave as actual children would like, with a little spice of anime-fantasy characteristics. As Reg is bashful with his young male body, Riko doesn't really care about it. As she goes deeper, thinking about it as a simple task, Reg is forced be ready for anything that might come and it will come. Riko as an inexperienced adventurer is something that is entertaining to watch while they are getting attacked by stronger and stronger monsters. Spectacular views of Abyss are a must if we are talking about adventure anime, but the round art style of characters' faces is something that keeps the show refreshing. With cheerful but a bit pale colors throughout the series, and vivid, but dark colors with serious scenes, it makes a great contrast. Also well made animation, with hardly noticeable mistakes. As for sound, the opening "Deep in Abyss" is something really hard to skip, it has a really catchy start, then it continues with cheerful voices of Riko and Reg, but still hides a bit of dark tone in background. But that's not all this anime offers, it has great soundtracks throughout the anime that accompanies scenes really well, especially Hanezeve Caradhina will definitely leave something in you after the episode. If you don't like slower starts, I'm telling you to survive that, as I didn't really mind and actually enjoyed even the beginning, waiting for it to build up as it did perfectly. As I almost missed this piece, this hidden gem in Summer 2017, it has become not only my favorite of the season, but one of my all time favorites. Even if it's not that popular yet, the only I can do is highly recommend you to watch this one, as this is one of the best anime I've seen so far. Thanks for your time reading this ;)

[No spoilers] Made in Abyss did not change the way I approach life like Clannad: AS did. It did not resonate with me on a personal level like Koe no Katachi. It did not redefine the limits of anime like Cowboy Bebop. What Made in Abyss did, though, was tell an amazing story. I laughed, teared up a couple of times, and enjoyed the absolute **** out of every moment in the five hours I spent binging it. Before my review, I must say this any parents out there: Made in Abyss is NOT a kid's show. Despite its innocent characters and beginning to the story, this is 100% designed for an older community. This anime has gore and deals with some deep subjects. Made in Abyss is directed and backed by a staff that is 100% invested in making it a killer anime. The staff review and perfect each and every episode while making sure to stay true to the manga. Made in Abyss has been given an extraordinary amount of TLC by its makers, and it shows. Every part of this anime is polished to a point. The story is captivating and never ceases to amaze. The music is beautiful and moving. The animation, although not top-notch, provides a consistently smooth viewing experience. The characters are genuine, and they are not cliche nor Mary Jane's. The world that Made in Abyss is set in has world-building more intricate than One Piece yet has very few plot holes. Overall: do I even need to say it? 10/10 The only thing I ask you to do is to watch the first episode of the anime. In my opinion, this is the most beautiful, best written introduction to an anime ever. It makes you ask so many questions, and draws you into the anime through pure curiosity and wonder. Plot: 10/10 The storyline is killer. Although it's not Code Geass season two (prob one of my favorite anime) where the story is a rollercoaster, twisting and turning every single episode, the storyline is deep, coherent, and contains little plot-holes (I can't even think of any off of the top of my head right now). Art: 10/10 Although the character design looks a bit funny at first, it isn't ugly. One area where I really feel that the art shines is through its lighting and shadowing. By the way, a background artist used to work for Studio Ghibli, so you can already tell why the anime looks so beautiful. I guess I can say this here, but a BIG BONUS (at least for me, even though I'm a guy), was that there was NO FANSERVICE (even though the main characters are like 12 lel). Characters: 9.5/10 The characters are original and memorable. With Riko as the shameless, motivated, Abyss-nerd and Reg, a humanoid robot who has lost his memory, the duo share an organic relationship that grows as the season goes by. Character relations are not forced, and all characters are introduced for a reason. World/setting: 12/10 It's unique and original. It's beautiful. It's understandable. It's like Dark Souls and Spelunkers had a baby, and then a Japanese man came along, kidnapped it, and turned it into an anime. The world-building behind Made in Abyss is on par with Attack on Titan and HxH in every aspect possible. Every part about its setting makes you to want to learn more about how Riko's world works. I gobbled up every intricacy and specific detail from the anime, and I will never get enough of it. Music: 10/10 Absolutely no complaints here. The music is beautiful, and perhaps leads viewers into what is (in my opinion) the most beautiful first episode ever. (I cannot stop watching the sunrise scene of the first episode) PS. This is my personal review. Everyone who viewed this anime got something different out of it and enjoyed or disliked it for different reasons. Therefore, opinions are bound to disagree, so I suggest you go see for yourself... Take a dive into the Abyss.

Well, this is a review of Made In Abyss and I haven’t written review in a long time and this is a show that I am really excited to give a review. Here it goes… Plot: Riko, daughter of the missing White Whistle Lyza the Annihilator, aspires to become like her mother and explore the furthest reaches of the Abyss. At an adventure, Riko meet a boy name Reg who came from the abyss with no memory of his time in abyss. At some point of time Riko got to know her mother is alive and sent a letter to her where she is waiting for her (Riko) in abyss. So, Riko decided to go down in the abyss along with Reg. The plot looks simple RIGHT! Yes, the plot does look simple but as the series progresses the plot becomes thicker. So about the story, I think there are no special attribute to it but one thing that stands out about the plot is the plot setup which is very uncommon in the animes. Characters: I certainly didn’t find any character likable to be honest but one thing definitely stands out is the character development though they only focus on two major characters only (Riko and Reg with Nanachi being third who came to the story at a latter stage). I will say the character section is probably the weakest part of the series. OST: Probably one of the strongest sections of the series. In one sentence, the OST’s are spot on which made the series a lot more attractive and set up the vibe perfectly. A 10/10 on this section. Art and Animation: Absolutely superb. This series is very unique art-wise (reminds me of the Ghibli Art) and also the animation studio did a fantastic job with the animation. I would say the first few episodes animation is beyond perfect! Pheww !! Now with the section-wise analysis is done, now it’s time to do the overall thought of the series which is my favorite part. You might have look at the poster and die wondering how this anime could be good. Well, if you watch anime like “Gakkou Gurashi”, you know this was not the first time that an anime has deceived the viewers with its poster. Now, you can’t measure anime like Made In Abyss in categorically and critically because it’s not that kind of series. I have mainly like an anime series based on what can it give me, does it drive me more into it? And frankly speaking, Made In Abyss has positively answered my questions. It gave me happiness, sorrow, hope, despair, regret at the same time. The series blended the emotion perfectly. There are two types of anime series, there are some series that can be analyzed with everything and then there are some series like “Made In Abyss” (felt like a ride) which you just have enjoy and admire its beautiful work. One thing the series will be always great for its emotional expressions of the characters and how it doesn’t hold back at anything. The series just wants to do what it wants to do which is very rare in today’s animes. Made In Abyss has made a long way. From the moment when I saw the first episode, I felt like this series will going to be exceptional and it was an exceptional series. If you think this series is just kids having some kind of adventure then you are utterly wrong. This series proved me beyond wrong. It’s a gem and a masterpiece of 2017.

[8.5/10] _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ What do you get out of world-building? A sense of creating a universe that is so fantastical yet dealt with pragmatically. The experience of wonder, of awe, of wide-open eyes and dropped mouths with a string of saliva rolling down the side of your cheek. The figurative light-bulb lighting itself above your head as a new piece of crucial information is revealed. The feeling of descent, thematically and literally, as every step you take with these characters feels harder, slower, more exhausting. Beads of sweat drip off your temple. The ecosystem suffocates you. The monsters lurk at the edges of an oasis. Made in Abyss, above all else, supports creativity. It supports the feeling you get when the seed of creation sprouts in your mind and you are left with a blooming flower of concept that you can't help but expand upon. The sustained creation, the never-ending magnitude, the all-encompassing awe. This is what is provided in what I can only call the most jaw-dropping world I have yet seen in anime. Something that explodes and never lets up. Every environment whispers in your ear, shrieks in agony, and curls up unease. For all the faults that this series' harbors, one shining example of unrelenting vision and creative strength carries it through the occasional tedium and narrative missteps. Through the thick shrubbery of clunky exposition and thorny veins of confounding character decisions into the open meadow of inspiring and seat-gripping thematic resolutions. A passion project through and through, we are left with one of the most unique anime on television. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ [Presentation and Sound] Made in Abyss may be the prettiest show out. Not just the background art, or the character design, or the animation in and of itself. Which is lead by names like Kazuchika Kise, the key animator of Ghost in the Shell, Osamu Masayuma, the background artist of Spirited Away, and Kou Yoshinari, the key animator for Steamboy and Kizumonogatari. The talent is palpable. But the prettiness comes from the combination of these elements. The ability to blend everything that works so well into a package that is as astounding as it is subtle with presentation. We go from sweeping shots of different biomes and ecosystems to confined rooms that ooze personality from every pore. A soundtrack that not only utilizes fully written music with consistent reprisals to wondrous backing tracks that act like blankets on some of the shows biggest revelations. Plucking strings to extensive violin. The animation here is also quite solid. While at its peak in the magnificent first three episodes, it remains fairly consistent throughout the series' run-time, with very few dips in noticeable quality. You get a product here that excels in its art, and it needs to, because the art here is almost the forefront to this whole adventure. Without exceptional art we would've been thoroughly underwhelmed by the magnitude of concept being shown here. The presentation, in this case, doesn't just cover the visuals but the way the narrative presents us with the world. Detailed maps that cover the journey that we have yet to forge our path within. Named and unnamed beasts that roam the lands, concepts of physiology that is alien to us but explained in intriguing bouts of exposition. These are all elements which consistently impress in Made in Abyss. When the characters talk about the world, I am never bored, because I am at the edge of my seat wanting to learn more about a place that is as alien as it is familiar, in the sense of human conflict. The world, not just the abyss itself, is so well realized that even the most miniature detail is not left behind or without visual explanation. The city of Osu doesn't just feel lived in, it feels realistically inhabited. The way civilization works, the way the abundance of orphans correlates with the deaths in abyss. How kids are raised looking to die within the chasm that heaves below them. It is so compelling, the morality of it all, that it could've inhabited an entire series on its own without even stepping foot in the titular abyss. Yet this is only a spring board for a series which writhes in its potential. The presentation here is perfect. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ [Characters] We follow Riko and her robot companion Regu as they leap into the darkness and begin a vast journey to find Riko's mother, Lyza. Riko, our plucky, eccentric girl is surprisingly one of the best elements of the series. She's excitable and energetic and curious, but never really dumb enough to truly become frustrating to deal with. Which is a fine line to skirt with a character that is essentially a curious twelve year old girl journeying into what has to be the most dangerous place in the entire universe. With that in mind, the viewers could easily become frustrated with her actions as a curious kid. However, the writers here smartly maintain a grip on how her actions lead to effects without losing grip on her as a character. Regu, on the other hand, is a bit more reserved. As a boy could be. He serves as her guardian, as he isn't prone to the aspect of this Abyss that is perhaps most curious and frightening, its curse. Which gets heavier and heavier the further you go down, and each layer you enter poses a bigger threat to you, not only in experience but in your chances of being able to come back up, as the curse only effects you if you attempt to go up. Regu plays as somewhat of a young boy straight-man, and the relationship he develops with Riko is fairly endearing. He is quite powerful, but they thankfully put a hard limit to his power as a character, which surprisingly leads to character conflict that feels natural rather than completely unbelievable. On their journey they meet plenty of characters which range from exposition-dumps to engaging personalities. My personal favorite is Ozen the Immoveable, a friend of Riko's mother. Ozen is a towering, immensely powerful women that bares the scars of the abyss in more ways than one. With a suitably cartoony voice by Sayaka Ohara, we get a joyfully appealing character. Other characters aren't as strong, for example, Ozen's servant, Mararuk, who never quite forges a believable bond with Riko and Regu, making for a "goodbye" scene that doesn't really hit its mark at all. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ [Story] Perhaps Made in Abyss' most hit-or-miss element. Thankfully, the story here is more hit than miss, but regardless, there are some notable narrative missteps that I feel impact the show's story overall. Most importantly, the stagnating pacing that effected episodes five through nine that lost a lot of this series' momentum that was developed within the first four episodes. The first three, in particular, being some of the most exceptional episodes in anime this year. The narrative here gets suitably dark, too, which I really found myself fearing at first. I heard rumblings of this series getting "dark", and I wasn't quite excited for that specifically because television anime has the track record of being painfully weak when it comes to frightening and gory material. It feels very censored and limp. This fear ended up being a very good thing in the long run, since when this series does end up getting dark... well, lets just say I wasn't expecting it to get that dark. It is faithful to the manga in just about every way, not shying away from some of the most gruesome material and that put an endlessly long smile on my face. I love dark material. I'm a fan of gore and bodily horror. It all is very appealing in the most human sense. The idea that something s…

Amazing story with a great concept that could have been explored so much better but the author chose to throw a lot of incredibly disgusting sexual stuff that has no place in this series. The characters are CHILDREN. Despite the visuals and the soundtrack, the artwork and the plot, I still wouldn’t recommend this anime. The mindless sexual filters don’t add anything to the plot other than make the audience uncomfortable and disgusted. In the first season it may not be that apparent but once you get to the second one, it goes downhill. It’s a shame that the whole concept of this mysterious world was tainted with the stuff above. It could have really great potential.