"BEATLESS" Review: What is the appeal of this sci-fi anime about the coexistence of AI and humans?

Comprehensive review and recommendation of BEATLESS

■Overview of the work

BEATLESS is a TV anime series that aired in 2018 and is based on a novel by Satoshi Hase. It aired from January 13 to June 30, 2018, and is made up of 25 episodes. It was broadcast on TBS and BS-TBS, and each episode was 30 minutes long. Animation was produced by Diomedea, the director was Seiji Mizushima, and the character designs were by Hiroko Yaguchi. Copyright ©2018 Satoshi Hase, redjuice, monochrom/KADOKAWA/BEATLESS Production Committee.

■ Story

The setting of "BEATLESS" is a future world where humanoid robots called hIE (Humanoid Interface Elements) play a major role in society. One day, the protagonist, 17-year-old boy Endo Arato, meets the android Lacia and signs an owner contract with her. Lacia is one of five "unexplored products of humanity" created by a super-high-performance AI that exceeds human knowledge, and its performance is so amazing that it amazes the world. Each of the five robots has a different purpose and begins to fight each other for their performance. While the adults can only watch the battle, the boys search for a new relationship. Through his encounter with Lacia, Arato will seek answers to his choices for the future and the relationship between humans and things.

■Explanation

"BEATLESS" is a story about the separation and coexistence of humans and beings beyond human understanding. The original work is by Satoshi Hase, author of "My Humanity" (Hayakawa Bunko JA), which won the 35th Japan Science Fiction Award, and is characterized by his detailed and grandiose worldview. The director is Seiji Mizushima, known for "Mobile Suit Gundam 00" and "Expelled From Paradise", and the original character designs were done by redjuice, known for his illustrations of "EGOIST" and the anime films "Empire of Corpses", "Harmony", and "Genocidal Organ" based on the original work by Project Itoh. A luxurious group of creators has come together to depict a boy-meets-girl story of "humans" and "things".

■Cast

The main cast is as follows:

• Arato Endo: Takuto Yoshinaga
• Lacia: Nao Toyama
• Red Mist: Misako Tomioka
• Snowdrop: Hiromi Igarashi
• Marriage: Shimoji Murasakino
• Method: Amamiya Sora
• Ryo Uminai: Kaito Ishikawa
• Kengo Murashu: Daiki Yamashita
• Yuka Endo: Early Ono
• Shiori Umino: Uki Sato
• Olga Murashu: Yuki Wakai
• Erica Burrows: Emi Suyama
• The Galaxy of Migrants: Hiroshi Kamiya
• Mika Tsutsumi: Kana Hanazawa

■ Main staff

The main staff are as follows:

• Original author: Satoshi Hase
• Original illustration: redjuice
• Director: Seiji Mizushima
• Series Composition: Tatsuya Takahashi, Zappa Gyo
• Character design: Hiroko Yaguchi
• Art Director: Yoshimi Mineta
• Color design: Yuki Hayashi
• Director of photography: Yasuyuki Ito
• Edited by: Toshihiko Kojima
• Sound Director: Hiromi Kikuta
• Sound production: Rakuonsha
• Music: Narasaki (sadesper record), kz (livetune)
• Music Production: Inks2Entertainment Co., Ltd.
• Animation production: Diomedea
• Production: BEATLESS Production Committee
• Opening theme: GARNiDELiA "Error" (SACRA MUSIC)
• Ending theme: ClariS "PRIMALove" (SACRA MUSIC)

■ Main Characters

Details of the main characters are as follows:

• Endo Arata : A boy who met Lacia. Born in 2087, currently a second-year high school student. He lives in Shinkoiwa with his father and sister. At home, he is bossed around by his sister, and at school, he is a good-natured guy who gets caught up in his best friend's troubles. He is attracted to the beautiful Lacia, and gets caught up in the incident.
• Lacia : Lacia-class hIE Type-005. With pale purple hair and ice blue eyes, she is a tool that has not yet been revealed to humans, and is a beautiful and clear-skinned being. Arato Endo met her by chance and made a contract with her as an owner. Arato's sister Yuka had her register with a modeling agency, and she began to work as one of the top models. She is equipped with a variable device called the Black Monolith, which is equipped with a powerful quantum computer.
• Kouka : Lacia-class hIE Type-001. Red hair and red eyes. A tool to "win the race against humans." The weapon, the device "Blood Prayers," has a large blade with a laser oscillator larger than a tank's main gun attached to the rear.
• Snowdrop : Lacia-class hIE Type-002. She is a tool for "evolutionary consignment" in the form of a young girl wearing a white dress. She scatters white petals created by the device "Emerald Harmony" around her, attaching them to electronic devices and taking over their functions.
• Mariage : Lacia-class hIE Type-003. A tool for "creating the environment" with flaxen hair and brown eyes. She possesses a "Gold Weaver", a device resembling a hand-cranked sewing machine that is over one meter long.
• Methode : Lacia-class hIE Type-004. Orange hair, a tool that is given a "shape" that is clearly mechanical, as an "extension of humans". She has been given the ultimate power and freedom. The device is a pseudo-phonon weapon called "Liberated Flame" with enormous energy, which is built into both of her palms and various parts of the body of the unit.
• Ryo Uminai : A classmate of Arata who is investigating the hIE escape incident. He is the eldest son of the family that founded Memeframe, the world's leading hIE behavior management cloud platform company, and has a younger sister named Shiori.
• Kengo Muranushi : A classmate of Arato's who comes into contact with the Lacia-class hIE Kouka. He is the son of the owner of the Azumabashi diner Sunflower, and has a younger sister named Auriga.
• Endo Yuka : Arato's younger sister, 14 years old and 3 years younger than him. She's good at being spoiled and a little bit stupid, but she cares for her brother. After meeting Lacia, she secretly registered for an online modeling audition. She's friends with Auriga and Shiori, and she likes meat.
• Shiori Umino : Ryo's younger sister, 16 years old. She has a mature and cool personality and takes part in the factional struggle at Memeframe Corporation, trying to take Lacia back from Arato. She is friends with Yuka and Auriga, and likes black tea.
• Olga Muranushi : Kengo's younger sister, 15 years old and two years younger than him. Her mother is Veronica, an exchange student from Russia. She has blonde hair and wears a glass bead hair accessory. She is concerned about Kengo's suspicious behavior.
• Erica Burrows : Chair of the Burrows Foundation and CEO of the media group Fabian MG. Born in 2011, she is Arato's classmate. She wakes up in 2104 from a 77-year cryosleep and proposes to the owners of the Lacia-class hIE that they make their battle public.
• Ginga Torai : The head of research planning at Memeframe Corporation, he is deeply involved in the Lacia-class incident. He signed an owner contract with Methode to search for the escaped Lacia-class hIE, and is plotting something by approaching Ryo Uminai, who has ties to Lacia.
• Mika Tsutsumi : Head of the behavior management program planning department at Memeframe. She is in her 30s, but has a friendly personality and speaks like a student. She is good friends with Shiori.

■ Main robot items

Details of the main robots and items are as follows:

• hIE (Humanoid Interface Elements) : Humanoid robots called hIEs are becoming more common among the general public. Under the agency labor contract system, it is now permitted to have hIEs work in place of humans, and as a result, many of the jobs that humans should be doing are now taken over by hIEs. Not only do hIEs perform everyday tasks such as selling goods and helping out in stores, but those with beautiful appearances can also model for apparel. hIEs are becoming an indispensable "thing" for humanity.
• aIE (animal interface element) : These are kept as pets.
• Lacia "Black Monolith" : A variable device equipped with a powerful quantum computer.
• Benigasa "Blood Prayers" : The Blood Prayers have a large blade with a laser oscillator attached to the back that is larger than a tank's main cannon.
• Snowdrop "Emerald Harmony" : When the white petals created by Emerald Harmony are scattered around, the petals attach themselves to electronic devices and take over their functions.
• Mariage "Gold Weaver" : A device resembling a hand-cranked sewing machine that is over one meter long.
• Methode "Liberated Flame" : A pseudo-phonon weapon with enormous energy, built into both of her palms and various other places within the body of the unit.

■Subtitle

The subtitles for each episode are as follows:

• #01 /Contract (Friday, January 12, 2018)
• #02 /Analog hack
• #03 /You'll be mine
• #04 /Automatic world
• #05 /Tools for outsourcers
• #06 /Higgins village
• #07 /Boy meets pornography
• #08 /Awakening of sleeping beauty
• #09 /My whereabouts
• #10 /Dwellings and surroundings
• #11 /Dystopia game
• #12 /Slumber of human
• #13 /The Prayer Within
• #14 /Answer for Survive
• #15 /Edge Line
• #16 /PlusOne
• #17 /A Reason of Own
• #18 /Protocol of Love
• #19 /Paper Tiger
• #20 /Our Error World
• #21 /Higgins' silo
• #22 /Pygmalion
• #23 /Beatless
• #24 /Boy Meets Girl

■ Theme songs and music

Details of the theme songs and songs are as follows:

• OP1
  • Period: 1-24
  • "Error"
  • Lyricist: MARiA
  • Composer: toku
  • Arrangement: GARNiDELiA
  • Sung by: GARNiDELiA
• ED1
  • Period: 1-24
  • "PRIMALove"
  • Lyricist: kz
  • Composer: kz
  • Sung by: ClariS

■ Evaluation and recommendation

"BEATLESS" is a work that skillfully combines science fiction and human drama, and is praised for its deep themes and detailed worldview. Below, we will explain the evaluation and recommended points of the work in detail.

■Evaluation

"BEATLESS" is based on the original work by Satoshi Hase, and the science fiction elements and human drama of the original work are beautifully animated. In particular, by depicting a future in which humanoid robots called hIEs have permeated society, the film highlights the technological evolution of modern society and the ethical issues that come with it. Director Seiji Mizushima carefully portrays the emotions of the characters and the contradictions in society, deeply moving the viewer. Additionally, the beautiful visuals by character designer Hiroko Yaguchi also add to the appeal of the work.

The story begins with the encounter between the protagonist Arato and Lacia, and depicts the battle between five Lacia-class hIEs and the relationship between humans and things that lies behind it. Each episode tells the story from a different perspective, and is packed with thought-provoking content for viewers. In particular, the relationship between humans and hIEs, as well as the fears and hopes for the future brought about by technological evolution, are skillfully portrayed, leaving a deep impression on viewers.

The cast is also impressive, with the voice actors playing each character, including Takuto Yoshinaga, Nao Toyama, Misako Tomioka, Hiromi Igarashi, Shino Shimoji, and Sora Amamiya, enhancing the appeal of the work. In particular, Nao Toyama's calm and beautiful voice as Lacia brings out the character's charm to the fullest. The music, by Narasaki and kz, also adds to the excitement of the story, stirring the emotions of the viewer. The opening theme "Error" and the ending theme "PRIMALove" also deepen the worldview of the work.

■ Recommendation points

"BEATLESS" is recommended not only for science fiction fans, but also for those who are interested in human drama and social issues. Below are some recommended points.

• Deep themes : The film deals with themes that are directly relevant to modern society, such as the relationship between humans and things, the future of technological evolution, and ethical issues. By thinking about these themes while watching the film, you will gain deep emotion and insight.
• Detailed worldview : Based on the original work by Satoshi Hase, the detailed worldview has been adapted into an anime, drawing viewers into the world. In particular, the depiction of a future where hIEs have permeated society is realistic, providing viewers with a new perspective.
• Beautiful visuals : The beautiful visuals by character designer Hiroko Yaguchi enhance the appeal of the work. In particular, the design of the Lacia-class hIE is beautiful and provides a visual treat.
• A gorgeous cast : The performances of the voice actors who play each character, such as Takuto Yoshinaga, Nao Toyama, Misako Tomioka, Hiromi Igarashi, Murasaki Shimoji, and Sora Amamiya, enhance the charm of the work. In particular, Nao Toyama's calm and beautiful voice as Lacia brings out the charm of the character to the fullest.
• Magnificent Music : The spectacular soundtrack by Narasaki and kz will liven up the story and stir the emotions of the viewers. The opening theme "Error" and the ending theme "PRIMALove" also deepen the worldview of the work.

Conclusion

"BEATLESS" is a work that skillfully combines science fiction and human drama, and has been praised for its deep themes and detailed worldview. Viewers can gain deep emotion and insight while thinking about themes that are directly related to modern society, such as the relationship between humans and things, the future of technological evolution, and ethical issues. In addition, the beautiful visuals, stellar cast, and magnificent music also enhance the appeal of the work. This work is recommended not only for science fiction fans, but also for those who are interested in human drama and social issues. Please watch it and experience its charm for yourself.