The appeal and reviews of "To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts": A fusion of myth and adventure

To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts - A Tale of Deep Darkness and Light

■Overview of the work

"To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts" is a TV anime series based on the original manga by Meibee, which aired on TOKYO MX and BS11 from July 1st to September 16th, 2019. It consists of 12 episodes, each 30 minutes long, animated by MAPPA and directed by Jun Shishido. Set in a world during and after the war, the series depicts the process by which the "pseudo-divine soldiers," once hailed as heroes, are transformed into beings despised as "beasts," and the human drama that surrounds them.

■ Story

Patria, a democratic nation born on the continent of Patria, split into the Northern Patria Union and the Southern Patria Confederation due to economic differences, and a long civil war ensued. The Northern nation, which was pushed into a disadvantageous position, used forbidden technology to create "pseudo-divine soldiers" that transformed humans into deformed soldiers in order to defeat the Southern nation. This power led to peace after the long war, but now that time has passed and the war is a thing of the past, the pseudo-divine soldiers have become feared and despised as "beasts" due to their excessive power.

Hank, a former captain of the pseudo-divine soldier unit, continues his journey as a "beast hunter" to kill his former comrades who have turned to beasts. A young girl named Sharl, searching for the killer of her father, a pseudo-divine soldier, meets Hank and decides to travel with him to find out the meaning of her father's death. Eventually, the two of them discover the true reason they must continue fighting, and the existence of the "man who unleashed the beasts" that Hank is searching for.

■Explanation

"To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts" is a dark fantasy that depicts the impermanence, extraordinary life, and sacrifices that war brings. The fierce battle between the deformed weapons "Pseudo-Divine Soldiers" and the "Beast Hunters" is depicted with overwhelming realism and quality. MAPPA, the studio in charge of animation production, is a studio that has released many high-quality works such as "Yuri!!! on Ice", "Rage of Bahamut", and "In This Corner of the World". Director Jun Shishido is a talented director who directed the second and third seasons of "Hajime no Ippo" and served as the chief director of "Yuri!!! on Ice". The series composition and script are handled by Shigeru Murakoshi, who worked on "Zombie Land Saga" and "Garo Anime Series", and the strongest lineup has created the ultimate dark fantasy.

■Cast

• Hank/Katsuyuki Konishi
• Shal / Ai Kasumi
• Cain/Yuichi Nakamura
• Claude/Kaito Ishikawa
• Liza/Yoko Hikasa
• Elaine/Mamiko Noto
• Milia/Ichinose Kana
• Elizabeth (Arachne)/Maaya Sakamoto
• Edgar (Basilisk) / Moto Hiroki
• William (Nidhogg)/Daisuke Hirakawa
• Daniel (Spriggan)/Shinnosuke Tachibana
• Theodore (Minotaur) / Kouki Uchiyama
• Arthur (Behemoth) / Kenjiro Tsuda
• Christopher (Gargoyle) / Jun Fukuyama
• Beatrice (Siren)/Saori Hayami
• Roy (Garm)/Tatsuhisa Suzuki
• Miles (Centaur) / Tomokazu Sugita

■ Main staff

• Director: Jun Shishido
• Series Composition: Shigeru Murakoshi
• Character design: Daisuke Niinuma
• Chief animation director: Daisuke Niinuma
• Design supervision of the pseudo-divine soldier: Takayuki Sano
• Color design: Chikako Kamata
• Art Director: Hirofumi Morikawa
• CG Director: Kazuyuki Ota
• Director of photography: Momoko Mifune
• Edited by Satoshi Aihara
• Music by Yoshihiro Ike
• Production: MAPPA

■ Main Characters

Hank <br> Formerly a member of the Northern Patria Union Army, and captain of the Pseudo-Divine Soldiers. He continues his journey to hunt down the former heroes known as "Pseudo-Divine Soldiers," who have turned into evil and are now known as "beasts." Known as a "beast hunter," he wears a white coat with a hood. In battle, he uses a large weapon like a harpoon and excels in close combat.

Shal <br> A young girl who travels with a desire for revenge against the "Man in the White Coat" who killed her father, a pseudo-divine soldier. In a certain town, she meets her enemy, "Hank," and offers to accompany him to find out the truth behind her father's death and the death of the "Pseudo-Divine Soldiers," the true victims of the war. Despite her neat Western clothing, she fights using a giant gun that was a keepsake from her father.

Kane <br> Former vice captain of the pseudo-divine soldiers of the Northern Patria Union Army. A man from a distinguished aristocratic family who volunteered to become a pseudo-divine soldier. He has a deep connection with "Hank," the unit's commander. In a world at peace after the end of the civil war, he faces the pseudo-divine soldiers on a different path than Hank.

Claude <br> A young major in the Northern Patria Union Army. He comes from a distinguished family and is the commander of the Coup de Grace, a unit formed to hunt down beasts that plague the world. Due to his unique circumstances, he feels a greater sense of mission than most to hunt down the pseudo-divine soldiers.

Liza <br> A member of the Northern Patria Union Army's Intelligence Bureau Post-War Processing Department, she supports "Hank" as he hunts animals. She cares about "Hank" in many ways, and has a sisterly side as she looks after "Charle," who travels with him.

Elaine <br> A doctor formerly affiliated with the Northern Patria Union Army. An engineer who created the "Pseudo-Divine Soldiers" through forbidden research in order to bring an end to the long-lasting war. Thanks to the efforts of the "Pseudo-Divine Soldiers," the war situation improved dramatically, but for a certain reason, she feels responsible for the "Pseudo-Divine Soldiers."

Milia <br> The girl who is always by Cain's side. Her true identity is shrouded in mystery.

Elizabeth (Arachne)
Arachne. She fought against the Southern Army as a member of the "Pseudo-Divine Soldiers," but after the war ended, she worked alongside Kane.

Edgar (Basilisk)
Basilisk, the "Pseudo-Divine Soldier." He was a middle-aged soldier who was loved by the younger members of the corps, but after the civil war, he began to believe that the pseudo-divine soldiers were heroes who saved the country, and thus gods, and he gradually became warped.

William (Nidhogg)
"Pseudo-divine soldier" Nidhogg. "Shal's" father. A warm-hearted man who cares for his family. He wishes happiness for Shal and everyone at the orphanage.

Daniel (Spriggan)
"Pseudo-divine soldier" Spriggan. A kind-hearted young man who became a pseudo-divine soldier for the sake of his poor hometown and threw himself into the civil war.

Theodore (Minotaur)
"Pseudo-divine soldier" Minotaur. A cowardly man who is more frightened and confused than anyone else. Therefore, he continues to follow the teachings of his captain, Hank.

Arthur (Behemoth)
Behemoth, the "Pseudo-Divine Soldier." A silent man. He is faithful to orders and shows no desires or emotions.

Christopher (Gargoyle)
Gargoyle, the "Pseudo-Divine Soldier." A man with a passion for justice. He will not hesitate to take on any difficult mission in order to uphold justice.

Beatrice (Siren)
Siren, the "Pseudo-Divine Soldier." A woman who truly loved "song" and wished to save people with her singing voice.

Roy (Garm)
Garm, the "Pseudo-Divine Soldier." A man who does not fear death for the glory and loyalty of a soldier. He finds life in the war he devotes himself to.

Miles (Centaur)
A "Pseudo-Divine Soldier" Centaur. Before becoming a pseudo-divine soldier, he helped the army as a doctor.

■ Theme songs and music

OP
・"Sacrifice"
・Singer: Mafumafu

ED
・"HHOOWWLL"
・Song: Gero × ARAKI

■ Appeal and evaluation of the work

"To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts" has received critical acclaim as a dark fantasy depicting the world after war. In particular, the tragic fate of the pseudo-divine soldiers and the process by which they transform into beings despised as "beasts" have deeply moved and evoked empathy in viewers. Additionally, MAPPA's overwhelming animation quality and director Atsushi Shishido's meticulous direction have also been highly praised, enhancing the overall perfection of the work.

The journey of Hank and Sharl, which is at the heart of the story, calls into question the cruelty of war and human dignity, and encourages deep reflection in the viewer. In particular, Hank's anguish in killing his former comrades as a "beast hunter" and Sharl's search for the meaning of her father's death deeply move the viewer. In addition, the supporting characters such as Cain, Claude, and Elaine also have their own backgrounds and conflicts, adding depth to the story.

In terms of music, Mafumafu's "Sacrifice" and Gero x ARAKI's "HHOOWWLL" are important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the work. In particular, the opening theme "Sacrifice" has impressive lyrics and melody that symbolize the tragic fate of the pseudo-divine soldiers, and it has been deeply engraved in the hearts of viewers.

■ Recommendation points

"To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts" is a dark fantasy that depicts the world after war, with deep themes and high quality. In particular, the tragic fate of the pseudo-divine soldiers and the process by which they transform into beings despised as "beasts" evoke deep emotion and empathy in viewers. In addition, MAPPA's overwhelming animation quality and director Atsushi Shishido's meticulous direction have also been highly praised, enhancing the completeness of the work as a whole.

Here are some reasons why I recommend this work:

• Deep themes : The themes that question the cruelty of war and human dignity will encourage viewers to think deeply.
• High quality : MAPPA's overwhelming animation quality and director Atsushi Shishido's meticulous direction enhance the completeness of the entire work.
• An inspiring story : Hank and Schaal's journey will deeply touch the hearts of viewers.
• Fascinating Characters : Hank, Schaer, Cain, Claude, Elaine and other characters all have their own backgrounds and struggles that add depth to the story.
• Memorable music : Mafumafu's "Sacrifice" and Gero x ARAKI's "HHOOWWLL" are important elements that enhance the atmosphere of the work.

Related information

The original manga for To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts is written by Meibee and published by Kodansha. The official website and social media accounts provide the latest information and fan art. If you're interested, be sure to check them out.

Conclusion

"To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts" is a dark fantasy that depicts the world after war, with deep themes and high quality. The tragic fates of the pseudo-divine soldiers and the process by which they transform into beings despised as "beasts" will deeply move and sympathize with the viewer. Additionally, MAPPA's overwhelming animation quality and Director Shishido Atsushi's meticulous direction have also been highly praised, enhancing the completeness of the work as a whole. The points that make this work recommended are its deep themes, high quality, moving story, fascinating characters, and memorable music. We encourage you to watch this work and experience this story of deep darkness and light.