TV REVIEW: NieR: Automata 1.1a S1E1: “Not to [B]e”

When I heard that there can be an anime adaptation of NieR: Automata, I used to be excited nearly instantly. The NieR: Automata online game is definitely one in every of my favourite motion RPGs, largely due to the distinctive imaginative and prescient of creator Yoko Taro. The world of NieR is an enchanting mix of the weird and the subversive, providing a dystopian future timeline that gives one thing really totally different from most video video games and even most tales in its style. At the identical time, it’s a collection that explores tough ethical decisions, bittersweet and tragic occasions, all rooted in deep characterization and worldbuilding. It’s a narrative that works properly as an anime, specializing in the androids 2B and 9S as they wage a protracted warfare in opposition to alien machines.

This opening episode of the anime covers the prologue and opening sequence of the online game. In phrases of storytelling, it’s largely extraordinarily devoted to this part of the sport, a nice shock given what number of tasks have deviated from the supply materials. It would appear that Yoko Taro’s involvement was an essential a part of the writing course of, because the story is true to the characters and the world that he created. Because of that, all the things on this episode feels grounded within the actuality of the sport, from the characters to the PODs and the Goliath-class mech. The main beats of the sport’s opening sequence are honored as properly, together with the long-lasting scene of 2B drawing her sword in opposition to the buzzsaw robotic arm. The dynamic between 2B and 9S, the core of the sport’s story, performs out precisely as introduced within the sport, although hinting on the deeper secrets and techniques revealed in later chapter. This is the emotional middle of the sport, with the tragic love between the 2 androids which can be separated by obligation, and the anime captures this completely within the first episode.

At the identical time, this isn’t a shot-for-shot remake of the online game, nor ought to or not it’s. There are small modifications within the anime’s narrative, although nothing that violates the imaginative and prescient of Yoko Taro. Indeed, some parts even add to this. The anime begins with one in every of these moments, set later within the sport’s story, and hinting on the limitless cycle of affection and dying that 2B and 9S are destined to repeat. But there are additionally different small additions as properly. The sport focuses on 2B’s perspective as a result of that’s the participant’s perspective, and this sequence is a part of 2B’s story. The anime, nevertheless, takes a broader perspective, filling within the gaps by displaying us what 9S does whereas 2B is infiltrating the robotic manufacturing facility. This is just not achieved fully completely, as they modify a scene the place 2B destroys a gaggle of machines within the sport, as a substitute having the machines be inactive as she passes. However, this nonetheless works properly sufficient in a story sense, and nothing is misplaced with such minor modifications. The modifications that exist are few, however they typically deepen the story that already existed.

The artwork fashion for the NieR: Automata anime is nice to have a look at, capturing the stylistic taste of the anime. The scene with 2B within the flight go well with as her squadron is destroyed appears to be like higher right here than within the authentic sport, if something. The background particulars seize the settings depicted within the sport, they usually excel with the robotic designs and the motion sequences. The art work of the characters isn’t fairly as photorealistic within the anime, taking a extra stylized method, but it surely works for the characters. The motion appears to be like fluid on the display, sustaining the visible beats and feeling in step with the gameplay from the online game. The essential visible moments are all there and captured properly, even in an anime-style format. There are additionally good visible touches distinctive to the anime, such because the shot of a sleeping 2B with out her blindfold. In addition, the top phase goes full Yoko Taro by way of strangeness, replaying alternate endings via a puppet present. The animation is additional strengthened by the sport’s haunting and distinctive theme music, together with iconic tracks like “Bipolar Nightmare” in the course of the battle with the Goliath. Everything blends collectively properly, making one thing visually new whereas respecting the previous.

So far, NieR: Automata 1.1a is all the things a great adaptation ought to be. Everything about “Not to [B]e” respects the sport that Yoko Taro constructed, whereas leaving room for the animators to contribute one thing worthwhile to the system. It additionally works as a primary episode, utilizing the Goliath mission as the right introduction to 2B and 9S, whereas hinting at Yoko Taro’s deeper themes. Hopefully in some unspecified time in the future we’ll see an English model voiced by the sport’s English voice solid. But as it’s, that is nonetheless a really sturdy begin for the anime, and hopefully we’ll see extra of Yoko Taro’s work (resembling Drakengard and Drakengard 3) tailored on this format.

Score: 5/5

Director: Ryouji Masuyomi

Writers: Yoko Taro and Ryouji Masuyomi

Cast: Yui Ishikawa, Natsuki Hanae, Hiroku Yasimoto