AKATSUKI NO YONA
One of the most recurrent mistakes that those of us who are immersed in the world of anime make is to consider "Shoujo" as synonymous with romantic anime or manga. Although it is undeniable that most works within this demographic tend to focus on romantic relationships, this does not mean that shoujo is incapable of exploring a variety of themes outside its "representative" genre.
Akatsuki no Yona is a perfect example of this. Without further ado, we begin with this review.
Princess Yona enjoys a life of luxury and comfort, utterly oblivious to the troubles of the seemingly peaceful Kingdom of Kouka; however, the sudden assassination of the king and her cousin Su-won's betrayal, who she loves, puts Yona's life in mortal danger.
Forced to escape with only Son Hak, her childhood friend, and personal bodyguard, a naïve princess soon discovers that Kouka is not the idyllic place she thought it was. Poverty, conflict, and corruption are the norm, and regaining the throne is nothing more than a fantasy given the kingdom's current state.
Guided only by a mysterious legend, Yona must discover a way to restore her country's former glory while being pursued by the forces of the new King, Su-won. Yona's journey will allow her to forge new friendships and discover the corruption and neglect of several villages in the kingdom due to her father's inadequate actions, the former king.
The story presents us with the classic premise of the "Heir with the throne snatched from them, who goes on a journey to recover it.” But beyond whether a story is groundbreaking or not, what is important is how it develops. This is how Akatsuki no Yona has managed to thrill me throughout its episodes under its seemingly unexciting and straightforward story.
Even though I mentioned that there is remarkable progress within the story, this progress is limited to its characters, mainly Yona. If we had to summarize the anime in one word, it would be "Introduction.” The series focuses on introducing the characters that will accompany Yona.
Having their own mini-arc that will portray their decision to join or not join Yona and company in their journey, the dynamics as a group, and their collaboration/participation in the resolution of minor conflicts. Contrary to what one might think, it is an enjoyable prologue because the characters are charismatic and work as a whole.
As the anime progresses, Yona's male companionship grows, but the bonds that form are devoid of romantic overtones. The innuendo and flirtations remain within the bounds of teasing, and camaraderie and friendship are all the characters develop during their journey.
As unbelievable as it may sound to some, Akatsuki no Yona, as a shoujo that has included romance as part of its themes, pushed romantic relationships to the back burner in favor of presenting situations that are both hilarious and crude.
On the other hand, I cannot ignore its more glaring flaws. The last episode poses the direction Yona will choose to continue her journey after achieving her initial goal. Still, minutes later, we say goodbye to a great cast with no answers, not a single hint about the future.
An anime that was progressing extraordinarily well (considering that its twenty-odd episodes are an extensive preamble), the closing of the anime lowers points because it is a story that does not close properly. So far, there is no news of a second season. Possibly the initial intention was for the watchers to migrate to the manga for more (which it succeeded with me). That is where my main complaint about the anime lies.
Taking into consideration the previous section, the best contribution of the anime is its characters. Yona, Son Hak, Yun, and the Four Dragons: Ki-Ja, the white dragon, Shin-Ah, the blue dragon, Jae-Ha, the green dragon, and Zeno, the yellow dragon.
The group dynamics fascinate me mainly because of the dragons' interaction with each other and the rest of the team. Their personalities are as distinct from each other as their powers are, but they complement each other very well. Its seven main characters are gems.
They are attractive, funny, thoughtful, and with a personality, all their own, perhaps relying on some cliché, but they were chosen wisely. I am in love with every one of the main characters, Yona included. No. Especially Yona!
Princess Yona starts off playing a character typical of her position. A delicate, weak, selfish, childish, and vain young girl. Yona never had to worry about anything but her physical appearance because affairs of state were other people's work, and she had no interest in knowing anything about her kingdom.
However, after she savors the bitter taste of betrayal, uncertainty, and loss, Yona will gradually abandon the damsel's role in distress as she becomes willing to become stronger, not only physically but mentally, to stand up for herself and protect those she loves. And considering that Yona's growth in the anime is just the tip of the iceberg, well, that speaks volumes about how she matured through both experience and sheer willpower.
The other side of the coin is Su-won, the traitor. It was a breath of fresh air that Su-won is not the typical antagonist. Su-won is intelligent, cunning, and crafty, a ruler who puts his people's best interests first. Above all, he is a mysterious character whose true motivations for overthrowing the king seem much deeper and more complex than initially planned. That enigma and the combination of all the elements mentioned above make the character enjoyable rather than just another villain on duty.
Studio Pierrot is not among my favorite animation studios; however, I can't help but recognize that the animation of Akatsuki no Yona is outstanding in most of the anime.
The character design is its strongest point, without a doubt, and, for a theme like this, full of bishounen style, an improved animation was required. The camera close-ups and headshots are a visual delight because the drawing is excellent, so the characters' expressions are drawn with exceptional detail. Akatsuki no Yona is probably one of those anime that never misses an opportunity to show off by focusing the attention (especially in moments of tension) on the looks.
A solid and appealing color palette was required according to the story's theme and spirit because of the previously mentioned, which bounced between drama and comedy but without abandoning at any time its attractive colorfulness.
And, of course, one thing I value above all else is consistency. Maintaining the level of animation throughout its episodes is hard work for many studios, but Pierrot succeeded.
In summary, Akatsuki no Yona is a good anime, which I highly recommend as it shows a different side of shojo. Entertaining and fun, but at the end of the day, you are still waiting for the main course because the anime serves as an introduction to a larger story.
