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April 2marked the release of the anime adaptationforThe Beginning After The End, one of the most highly praised isekai manhwa that has followed in the footsteps of series likeMushoko Tensei. Released as a web novel series written by TurtleMebefore being adapted into a manhwa, the story follows the adventures of Arthur, a former warrior king who was reincarnated into a world of magic after his untimely death.
The source material is lauded for its unique story arcs, intricate worldbuilding, and intense fight scenes. Given the high pedigree of this series, how does the anime compare so far to its source material? IsThe Beginning After The Endanime worth watching, or would an interested new fan be better off reading one of the other versions?
The Anime is a Mixed Bag So Far
TBATE Fans Have Been Highly Critical of the Anime
As of this writing, there are only two episodes of the anime released so far, but those two episodes have been quite divisive among fans. The primary reason for the anime’s controversy among TBATE watchers is the disappointment in animation quality. So far, the episodes have featured a lot of still frames and camera panning, which fans felt are beneath the dignity of the TBATE series and story. The backlash online has spawned the coining of meme names for the series, such as “The Still Frame After The End” and “Solo Framing” in reference to a comparison between TBATE’s adaptationand the oneSolo Levelingreceived.
In response to the animation in the episodes, some fans even rallied together tostart a change dot org petitiondemanding the cancelation of the current series and having it completely redone. This lack of care in the animation was especially noticeable during episode 2, where an entire fight scene plays out nearly completely in a series of panning still frames punctuated by sound effects and action lines.
Based on what we have seen so far, it seems likely that fans hoping to see their favorite series' moments recreated in beautiful sakuga will be left disappointed with this series adaptation.
The Show’s Redeeming Qualities
What the Anime Brings to the Table
Setting the animation aside, the story direction showcased so far in the anime version might make it worth the watch. The show incorporates additional scenes in the beginning of the story, which add depth and interesting motivations to its characters that were not as developed inother versions ofThe Beginning After The End.
The best example of this so farcomes with the scenes of King Grey. In the manhwa’s beginning, Arthur’s past life is not very emphasized at first. He is portrayed as an extremely strong warrior king who fell victim to assassins, but we don’t know much more than that. In the anime version, a greater emphasis is placed on King Grey’s cruelty, coldness, and willingness to inflict violence on innocents. Grey is seen ordering a mass bombing of a city and executing a man’s family in front of him. This extra dimension to his character in the anime gives greater weight to his actions. It also provides a better contrast between Arthur’s old and new life so the audience can better see how Arthur gets to appreciate the love he feels from his parents.
Hopefully, the show will continue to expand upon concepts from the source material through additional scenes that flesh out the world and its characters. For many fans of the anime medium,The Beginning After The Endmay be a solid skip unless the animation can improve in later episodes. However, for those who care more about an interesting story and characters, the show looks like it is making some interesting choices to make it worth investigating.
