BEASTARS | ANIME REVIEW | Pinnedupink.com

BEASTARS

One of those series that made a lot of noise in 2020 was Beastars after its launch on Netflix. The fact that its premiere on the popular streaming platform coincided with the beginning of the quarantine period allowed it to have a large audience at home looking for something new to watch. And it proved to be absolutely worth watching. Without further ado, let's get started with the review.

In a world inhabited by humanoid animals, social classes have evident divisions. Still, undoubtedly, the most marked strata are between "herbivores and carnivores.” Our story takes place mainly in a boarding school (Cherryton Academy) for all kinds of species in which teenagers receive their training to become functional members of their community.

Unfortunately, this society is much more challenging to maintain than it seems, and the animosity between the two groups becomes increasingly noticeable due to various attacks between them. After the murder of a boarding school student, the focus shifts to Legosi, a rather shy and sensitive gray wolf despite his appearance, who begins to have mixed feelings for the rabbit Haru. Thus, in this tense context, Legosi will embark on an internal journey in which he will have to set his mind straight.

The story of Beastars varies between romantic comedy and psychological thriller with portions of action and philosophical questions. It has everything to grab your attention. The setting in which it is based is as exciting and full of mysteries as you would expect. Although it shows us an animal civilization similar to our own, we will understand that other rules dominate once we see beneath the surface.

The world in which Legosi and company live is chaotic, another developing character that is a reflection of a predatory beast with a conscience that desperately but stealthily seeks to feed. The tension between the characters is constant. With Legosi being such a naive and self-centered protagonist, he discovers at the same time as the viewer the murky truths possessed by the society in which he lives.

It may sound very extreme on my part. Still, I consider that Beastars, episode by episode, makes and strengthens the author’s analogy towards society. There are such sharp divisions so that those with power always remain in it. In contrast, others must stay in the shadows hoping to get a little of what drops.

There are still so many taboos on human behavior, which automatically brand a person for going against what the majority indicates, even when their actions do not affect third parties. How the world can be so damaged to harm those who only want to do good, he captures the hunger for success and recognition in an unhealthy way, which is so much human-like that it is frightening.

It offers this "criticism" without forgetting what it is, a story with interesting characters, which not only serve to represent a whole society, but they have their own identity. The path they travel attracts more and more people, relying on them. It shows crude situations, which unfortunately happen daily in our world, all cemented on a fictional scenario well established and developed in a significant way. That said, I could define the nature of Beastars as a story that is not afraid to be crude but NEVER neglects its warmth.

The characters are, like the series itself, real. Let me explain: they all have a motive, a dream, a goal, but at the same time, they have fears. There are things or situations in their past that prevent them from moving forward with the freedom that every teenager would like. And that is the turning point of all those characters we meet.

They are only teenagers. They are at an age where understanding others and even oneself becomes the most complicated task in the world. Finding our place, what motivates us, what we want to protect, and what we want to reach all are issues that the author captures masterfully throughout the pages of her manga and that studio Orange has been able to respect when adapting. As viewers, we manage to create a bond with Legosi, with Haru, Louis, or any other character.

The way they are written allows us to identify with them and want to know more about them, to see them achieve their goals and accompany them during that journey. There is an individual and collective development, the latter that catapults the work to an even higher level.

The development that takes place individually is intriguing. Those who stand out the most are Legosi and Haru, but there is also Louis, a proud red stag who behaves as the superior of all and runs the academy's drama club. As the plot goes on, we will delve deeper and deeper into these characters' feelings and fears and even witness some transformation at times.

The problems portrayed in this trio are as deep as they are real as they go to the core of each one's personality and get us into situations that make sense for both an animal and a human being. We get to witness the beginning of a toxic relationship, the conflicts and prejudices of being a woman who considers herself promiscuous, and the constant search for perfection motivated by past traumas.

In Beastars, there is no perfect character, and there is no heroic and confident protagonist. Everyone stands out for their insecurities and their attempts to fit into society, either denying their own nature or accepting themselves.

The CGI animation was much more superior than expected. Usually, when we hear that an anime will be adapted with three-dimensional characters, we worry and remember the version of Berserk released in 2016 with its clunky characters and frivolous expressions that looked like something out of a PS2 video game.

Beastars, on the other hand, surprises with fluid animation, attention to detail, and expressions that feel natural. At times, the series uses traditional animation, but this doesn't feel out of place and rich in quality. Also, strong praise should be given to the production that went into the series's opening.

Anyway, I can only strongly recommend you to watch Beastars, an anime that, in my opinion, is one of the best that came out in 2019 and that luckily Netflix uploaded to its platform shortly after for the discovery of many more people. Beastars is an anime that, although at first, may seem a bit shocking, shapes a beautiful and exciting story in which, if you have patience, will end up hooking you from beginning to end.

The 12 episodes that cover its first season and will make you jump immediately to its second one. Which, we’re in luck, recently concluded its broadcast in its country of origin and will be uploaded to Netflix officially in July.