

Beastars... This may be shorter than my other works simply because I am astounded, almost at a loss for words- I have no idea what to write. So let's get started.
Beastars has gone the route of a full CGI anime, a risky choice that doesn't have the best track record, yet it has been pulled off perfectly. It looked so incredible I often forgot it was CGI until you're reminded of that with in the most dramatic moments of the show where the animation could almost only be done by a computer, otherwise, it couldn't be pulled off, especially when it comes to the fur and fluidity. A lot of subtleties were used in the animation to provide a closer look into the characters thoughts, honestly, they weren't too hard to notice but they flawlessly conveyed the range and strength of the emotions every SINGLE time, in every single episode. The music and sound design were also top-notch, truly the highest tier possible. The music always drew you into the scenes on screen, captivating you into an almost trancelike state as you watch in awe at the events unfolding, the magnitude, the struggle- capturing the emotions perfectly, amplifying them. All of it serves to enthral you to the screen, as I've mentioned.

Shows with an animal cast always seem to convey the strongest- often human- emotions when done right, and almost everything about this anime IS done right. One of the strongest themes present in this show is dealing with peoples true natures; often the very intense struggle against them and putting the mask back, repressing and actively suppressing who someone truly is for the "benefit" of society, often having the opposite effect. It's because the cast of this show are animals which allows such an intense, raw look at the suppression of someone's "true" nature. Legoshi is the primary focus on this topic, being a grey wolf who after 17 years of repressing his instincts, they explode without warning- causing him to nearly eat another student. It was an incredibly captivating scene, the music and voice acting perfectly demonstrating the intensity of his internal struggle. It seems I forgot to mention, but this show has some of the best voice acting I've ever seen in anime, It's always perfect on every single occasion. Unfortunately I can't find the clips on here to show off the voice acting, only music. I hope you can imagine my disappointment.



Naturally, Legoshi develops a very wide range and complexity of emotions from this incident, feeling a pleasure that he's never been granted before, with his self-loathing and hatred reaching an all-time high in his entire life. It's an ensemble cast, with all the main characters and important side ones showing a high level of complexity in their thoughts, emotions and actions. It's truly sublime writing. I said I was lost for words, yet as soon as I started the words came naturally.
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