The Promised Neverland

The Promised Neverland, also known as Yakusoku no Neverland, is an anime series based on the Japanese manga series of the same title, written by Kaiu Shirai sensei and illustrated by Posuka Demizu sensei. The manga was first serialized in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump, and it ran from August 2016 to June 2020.

There are a total of twenty Tankobon volumes published by Shueisha. Outside Japan, specifically in North America, Viz Media handled both the licensing and serializing of the manga in the Digital Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine. By December 2020, the series has sold over 26 million copies. This includes digital versions of the manga and, thus, making it one of the world’s best-selling manga series. The recognition of this masterpiece won the 63rd Shogakukan Manga Award under the Shonen category in 2018.

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Following the manga’s massive success, the series was adapted into an anime television series by Studio CloverWorks and was broadcasted on Fuji TV’s Noitamina programming block. Season 1 was 12 episodes long, which adapted the events from the first four volumes of the manga and ran from January to March 2019. Season 2 is currently upon fans, which started airing in January 2021. In all its glory, Season 1 is still considered one of the best anime of the past decade spanning from 2010.

Yakusoku no Neverland didn't stop there, as a Live-Action film adaptation was released to fans in 2020. Consequently, Amazon Studios is currently developing a Live-Action series for it.

Falling under the genres of Sci-Fi, Mystery, Horror, Psychological, Thriller, and Shonen, this legendary series follows the story of a group of Orphan children who attempt to escape their Orphanage after discovering a very twisted secret….

Set in the Grace Field House Orphanage, which is surrounded by a vast forest and a gated entrance, the Orphans, live here without a care in the world. They are all “one big happy family” with their beloved caretaker Isabella, whom they refer to as “Mama.”

The only catches are that they need to take daily tests and not go too far from the Orphanage. These two rules are set in stone to be adhered to no matter what. All in all, they are free to spend their time however they like, even playing outside in the vicinity of the Orphanage.

Every few months, one child is adopted and sent away to live with their new family. Eerily enough, none of them are ever heard of again. This brings their carefree lives to an abrupt stop as they start having suspicions of the “adopted” children’s fate.

The three oldest siblings, Emma, Ray, and Norman, the series’s central trio, become set on finding out exactly what was going on at the orphanage beneath its bright, happy exterior. In a terrifying revelation, they discover the twisted fate of all the orphans living at their orphanage and the real nature of their “Mama” beneath her guise.

The Opening for season 1 is "Touch Off" by UVERworld, and the three Endings are "Zettai Zetsumei by Cö shu Nie from episodes 1 to 8, "Lamp" by Cö shu Nie from episodes 9 to 11 and "Touch Off" by UVERworld for episode 12.

On this note, the music hits viewers hard, both in terms of audio and mentality. The opening’s transitions and art hint at unforetold twists without spoiling them. The excitement, rush, and overall blend of the music is very well done. The OSTs (Original Sound Tracks) know how to send chills down the spine at just the right moment and present the scene so well.

With the official release of Season 2, Yakusoku no Neverland 2nd Season: Michishirube or The Promised Neverland Season 2 Episode 5.5 was released on February 12th, 2021, by the same studio, as a special Recap episode of Season 1 and the first five episodes of Season 2. The opening "Identity" by Kiiro Akiyama and the ending "Mahou" by Myuk are the same as those for the Anime’s season 2. Season 2 follows Emma, Ray, and the remaining older orphans who escaped Grace Field House’s clutches.

But they are not yet in the clear at all, quite the contrary, as relentless demons are hellbent on recapturing them. Their battle for freedom is as complicated and arduous as ever. It has only just begun. Having ventured deep into the unknown wilderness, the orphans only have the books written by William Minerva and each other as consolations. They are determined to survive with these books detailing the world outside the Orphanage. Coded within them is information on how to survive out there with minimal resources.

Despite their pursuers drawing ever nearer, the children remain optimistic as they come face to face with an even worse situation. Their struggle to survive in the ruthless outside world while looking for a place to call home becomes ever more challenging truly. But they have yet to give up hope on such a sanctuary.

The story starts all bright and happy, with all the characters content with their lives at the orphanage. However, the story suddenly takes a drastic turn, in the opposite direction when viewers least expect it. Each plot twist in the series of episodes hit hard, with the rapidly changing atmosphere and feel of the anime.

It straight up goes to dark, gruesome, gory, and horrific themes in contrast to its lighthearted start. Not the typical Shonen anime one would expect. The series is unique, with almost no other contender coming even close. The idea of “escape” for the children in such a situation is a challenge both physically and mentally.

Each plot twist is unique in nature and execution, putting viewers at the edge of suspense for what's to come next and function as connecting threads. They never fail to deliver the unexpected while ensuring the events’ nature and pattern get ingrained in viewers’ minds. The story progressively gets more intense with each new season a new take on the genre involved.

The main characters of the series are what genuinely make it spin in its unpredictable orbit. Norman is the master strategist of the trio but lacks physical capabilities. Ray is seemingly the “emo” of the group who has a gloomy aura around himself yet possessing a brilliant strategic intelligence within, and Emma is the “big sister” of the orphanage.

She is resilient and very physically capable. After realizing the Orphanage’s terrifying truth, their character development commences, after which they become more fierce, cunning, and headstrong. Their battle against the overwhelming odds stacked against them, typically via the main antagonist Isabella, their “Mama” is thrilling and suspenseful to watch.

The art is unique as well. A transition from the anime to the manga would certainly prove not so difficult to even those who only read the manga now and then. Both follow the same art style and capture each moment the best each format could. Be it the atmosphere, character expressions, tense situations, horrors, or scene intensity. The synchronization is perfect. The art very much compliments the overall theme of the series.

As a final verdict, The Promised Neverland is one of the greatest anime out of its genres. Everyone who gets into it will not want to stop watching. The story is that engaging, and the plot twists and unprecedented shocks are probably the best aspects. The suspense built up over “What will happen next?” is well rewarded. The answers will not disappoint.

The way all the events are correlated and integrated into the story will mesmerize and fascinate all those who dare to tread its waters. A 10/10 recommended series that is thrilling, unique, fresh, and has no cliche aspects.