Made in Abyss (Summer 2017) Series Review

Fantasy worlds have always drawn people in because they allow them to dream and imagine fantastic things. Even more so when the world-building is truly intriguing! However, not all series are what they seem to be at first glance. Made in Abyss is a great example. Despite its cute art and its protagonists’ innocent goals, there’s a reason why fans also call it Suffering in Abyss!

Synopsis

The city of Orth is home to the largest and deepest chasm in the world, the Abyss. People known as cave raiders have made it their life’s goal to discover what lies beyond it, as well as bring back mysterious relics found there. Unfortunately, the chances of getting back to the surface get lower the farther down you go. Even so, many still challenge it, at the cost of their lives.

Riko, a 12-year-old girl, is one of these cave raiders who really long to get as far down in the Abyss as her late mother once did. When she meets an amnesiac robot named Reg, who seems to have come from the depths, her chances of accomplishing this goal get higher.

Made in Abyss Episode 9 Official Anime Screenshot

Plot

Made in Abyss is a pretty enthralling show! With a world that’s so well conceptualized, complete with amazing lore and unique creatures, it’s like it truly exists! Whenever I got to know more about the cave raiding society and how the Abyss worked as the story progressed, I was pulled even further into its universe. There’s also the fact that Riko and Reg’s adventures are wonderfully narrated. No transition felt forced or told just for the sake of making a point, so it all flowed smoothly. Most of the time, the characters don’t even need to say anything just to show what they should do or how they will act! They show it instead, and it’s still clear as day to the viewer. However, the best thing is how you’re already in the zone watching the episode, and then suddenly it ends with a cliffhanger! This show is quite good at leaving us with questions every week, so you just can’t help but look forward to the next part of the story! Even the finale, though it ended really nicely, still had tons of questions. We want to learn more about this world! (Season 2, perhaps?)

And then there are the feelings it makes one feel in each episode. One time you’re laughing at Riko’s innocence and Reg’s awkwardness, or maybe even feeling warm-hearted because of how other characters interact. Next thing you know, you have your hands on your face because of shock and despair! I’m not kidding! I can’t even remember the number of times this show took me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions! However, this is also one of the aspects that makes this show an amazing experience. The feelings it draws out from you is proof that you’re really invested!

Last, we have the characters. Most of those you meet throughout the show are pretty memorable and amusing. Though, if I have to vote on which character grew the most in these 13 episodes, it’d be Reg. He went from a clueless robot just following Riko around, to someone who could easily pass off as a normal boy because of how human he got, emotionally and mentally. The troubles they both went through made him realize just how much he needed to do everything in his power to protect Riko. Meanwhile, Riko’s determination, stubbornness, and resourcefulness made me love and support her as well! Even when the odds were against them, she still had her wits about her, properly telling Reg what she knew about the Abyss. It would seem to some that she wouldn’t get far without Reg, and I won’t deny it, but the same is true for him. Don’t get me wrong! They’re totally amazing on their own. However, it’s their mutual dependence on each other, Riko’s knowledge and Reg’s skills, that is their strongest point.

Made in Abyss Episode 7 Official Anime Screenshot

Art & Music

Hats off to Kinema Citrus for a job well done! Week in and week out, I saw nothing but quality art and animation! I gotta admit that their adaptation of the mangaka, Akihito Tsukushi’s visualization of the Abyss was what made the show more magical to watch! The backgrounds were eye candy, the character designs were simple yet memorable, and I don’t remember seeing any movement or any drawing out of place becoming a distraction. This was such a beautiful anime adaptation overall that it can come close to a movie! I could clearly see the pains it took all the staff just to make this series visually appealing and make the viewers’ experience worthwhile!

Then there’s the background music! Oh my goodness, don’t even get me started! It’s totally my aesthetic! I didn’t think that I could fall in love with soundtracks like this! The visuals were already fantastic, but from beginning till the end, the BGM upgraded my overall experience! They just matched so well together! It’s like I was playing an RPG whenever the duo went on their adventure or discovered some new info! And when it was time for drama or silliness, it heightened my feelings! Not to mention the voice actors were superb in bringing the characters to life, especially the seiyuu of Riko and Reg, Miyu Tomita and Mariya Ise !

Made in Abyss Episode 12 Official Anime Screenshot

Themes & Trivia

Mutual dependence: Like I mentioned earlier, Riko and Reg’s friendship and partnership were just so lovely to see! They are amazing on their own, but they’d never survive without the other! Surely the only reason they’ve been able to come so far compared to the others with their level of experience was that they had each other to rely on!

Motivation and determination: Different cave raiders have different reasons why they want to risk their lives in the depths of the netherworld. Some of them go for fame, others for the money, but most go for the knowledge. Their level of determination depends on how much they want these things. Riko went for her mother, and she kept on going despite the hurdles because her love for her was so strong.

Survival adventure: It takes an incredible amount of skills, know-how, and guts to challenge the great chasm, especially since it’s not only the terrain that could possibly kill you but the creatures as well! And even if you can get past them all, heading up will be quite the problem because of the Curse of the Abyss.

Made in Abyss Episode 13 Official Anime Screenshot

Comments

Made in Abyss has certainly earned a spot on my list of favorite series! It’s such a rare but precious gem of a show, and I hope a lot more people discover it and fall in love with it just as I did! The stunning visuals, the lovable characters, the marvelous writing and all of the suffering it contained, everything was just splendid! I really, really hope we get another season with this quality, or even better!

Made in Abyss Screening Report: Voice actresses Miyu Tomita (Riko), Mariya Ise (Reg), and Shiori Izawa (Nanachi) appeared on stage along with director Masayuki Kojima and producer Shinpei Yamashita.

Click on the photo to read the report: From Made in Abyss Screening Report: Voice actresses Miyu Tomita (Riko), Mariya Ise (Reg), and Shiori Izawa (Nanachi) appeared on stage along with director Masayuki Kojima and producer Shinpei Yamashita.