LogFAQs > #974576409

Had a bit more to say about this show so I'll just go with the 1 writeup for right now.

5. Made in Abyss
Genres: Fantasy, Adventure
Favorite Character: Vueko

I was really slow to pick up on Made in Abyss, in large part because it took me a long time to understand what it was actually going for. At first glance the show looks like a lighthearted adventure show, which of course couldn't be further from the truth since this is among the most unnerving and horrifying pieces of media I've ever seen. Even at a second glance and when I started watching, I was expecting a trite, edgy show about kids encountering horrific monsters and trying to escape, and this is honestly hardly any closer.

In reality, Made in Abyss is a show about the Abyss itself, and the stories of the characters who with eyes wide open choose to venture into or live there, in spite of all common sense and reason. And the abyss is just--well, it's an amazing setting. The artistic direction in developing the setting is also meticulous and focused. It's creative in a way that almost feels familiar but is also completely alien; it's covered in layers of mystery that refuse to let their secrets be known; and despite it's horrifying nature there's also a sense of beauty and serenity that permeates the entire world. It just has this way of drawing you in and holding your attention, which I suppose explains why the characters are so fascinated by it as well.

The stories within the show are also incredible, though it's sometimes hard to say much concrete. There's real human emotions on display, but the nature of the Abyss lets them be used and explored in ways that would be virtually impossible anywhere else. You do get your fair share of "monster escape" plotlines which are pretty straightforward, but some of the others are so far removed from the human experience as to be borderline beyond comprehension. This doesn't stop them from being gripping and heart-wrenching though. Especially season 2, which although I think it was less popular in general, to me it was one of the most harrowingly beautiful stories ever. The production here is also unbelievably good, with breathtaking visuals, an immaculate soundtrack, and even the voice acting consistently knocks it out of the park. Not sure what else to say but this show is just an incredible experience, and also a unique enough one that we may never see another anime that feels quite the same.