Made in Abyss (メイドインアビス) is a 13 episode fantasy anime based on the manga of the same name by Akihito Tsukushi. The series originally aired over the Summer of 2017.
Riko is an energetic orphan in the town of Orth. Orth is build around a massive shaft that goes down an unknown depth into the plant. The city supports professional spelunkers, Cave Raiders, who brave the depths of the shaft, known as the Abyss, returning with wonders and treasures. Riko dreams of being a renowned Cave Raider like her deceased mother. On a routine upper zone mission for children of the orphanage, Riko is saved fro a creature of the lower depths by a mysterious robot boy. Fascinated by the boy she names Reg she sneaks him back to the orphanage. Reg has no memories and Riko suspects that he came from the deep depths of the abyss. She vows to take him down to help find out who he is, while also trying to find evidence of her mother.
To do so they risk death from many factors. The deeper one goes into the Abyss the more dangerous the environment becomes; with vicious creatures and deadly flora. Even more deadly is some force that kills people as they try to ascend from the deeper depths. Riko understands that she will likely never be able to return to Orth. Ignoring the dangers she and Reg plunge into the depths looking for answers.
Little did I know what kind of story I was in for. Riko is fantastically optimistic and foolish in her bravery. The death of her mother who was a famous Cave Raider only serves to bolster her confidence. She takes it upon her self to use Reg as an excuse to delve deep into the pit, something she has been planning on doing her entire young life. She has never been able to accept that her mother was dead and expects to find her living well beyond the point of safe return...waiting for her to join. Reg has no understanding of who he is or why he exists and goes along with the plan eagerly but also with a sense of duty to protect the vulnerable Riko. Together the have to overcome increasingly dangerous obstacles if they have any chance of reaching their imagined goal.
The world of the Abyss is fanatically imaginative and complex, with Riko acting as a guide for both the viewer and Reg; explaining the environment and dangers that dwell on each layer. What initially drew me to this series was the fantastic character designs. The artwork is unusual, very childlike in some regard, with detailed and beautiful landscapes reminiscent of Ghibli features. In someways the series feels like a decedent of Nausicaa. While the art drew me in the story and world its self is what kept me coming back. As the story progressed it slowly took on a darker tones, continuously threatening to destroy the characters optimism. What dangers lurk in the hearts of men? Unfortunately the story did not get wrapped up in the 13 episodes. Instead the production company opted to make a movie that continued and possibly concludes the story. The film was broken into two parts and was released in Japan over the course of January 2019.
The anime was simulcast on Amazon Prime and was licensed by Sentai Filmworks. The anime is currently available on blu-ray as well as a number of volumes of the manga. This series is worth the time.
Riko is an energetic orphan in the town of Orth. Orth is build around a massive shaft that goes down an unknown depth into the plant. The city supports professional spelunkers, Cave Raiders, who brave the depths of the shaft, known as the Abyss, returning with wonders and treasures. Riko dreams of being a renowned Cave Raider like her deceased mother. On a routine upper zone mission for children of the orphanage, Riko is saved fro a creature of the lower depths by a mysterious robot boy. Fascinated by the boy she names Reg she sneaks him back to the orphanage. Reg has no memories and Riko suspects that he came from the deep depths of the abyss. She vows to take him down to help find out who he is, while also trying to find evidence of her mother.
To do so they risk death from many factors. The deeper one goes into the Abyss the more dangerous the environment becomes; with vicious creatures and deadly flora. Even more deadly is some force that kills people as they try to ascend from the deeper depths. Riko understands that she will likely never be able to return to Orth. Ignoring the dangers she and Reg plunge into the depths looking for answers.
Little did I know what kind of story I was in for. Riko is fantastically optimistic and foolish in her bravery. The death of her mother who was a famous Cave Raider only serves to bolster her confidence. She takes it upon her self to use Reg as an excuse to delve deep into the pit, something she has been planning on doing her entire young life. She has never been able to accept that her mother was dead and expects to find her living well beyond the point of safe return...waiting for her to join. Reg has no understanding of who he is or why he exists and goes along with the plan eagerly but also with a sense of duty to protect the vulnerable Riko. Together the have to overcome increasingly dangerous obstacles if they have any chance of reaching their imagined goal.
The world of the Abyss is fanatically imaginative and complex, with Riko acting as a guide for both the viewer and Reg; explaining the environment and dangers that dwell on each layer. What initially drew me to this series was the fantastic character designs. The artwork is unusual, very childlike in some regard, with detailed and beautiful landscapes reminiscent of Ghibli features. In someways the series feels like a decedent of Nausicaa. While the art drew me in the story and world its self is what kept me coming back. As the story progressed it slowly took on a darker tones, continuously threatening to destroy the characters optimism. What dangers lurk in the hearts of men? Unfortunately the story did not get wrapped up in the 13 episodes. Instead the production company opted to make a movie that continued and possibly concludes the story. The film was broken into two parts and was released in Japan over the course of January 2019.
The anime was simulcast on Amazon Prime and was licensed by Sentai Filmworks. The anime is currently available on blu-ray as well as a number of volumes of the manga. This series is worth the time.
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