Jamesy: Shouldn’t you be a dog now?

Movie Slate: Nah, this isn’t a werewolf movie.

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Today's Movie Slate is brought to you thanks to Chelicera.

So, "Beastars", what can I say about it that hasn't been said before? Well all I say here is pre-season 3 premiere, meaning these thoughts may change in the future depending on how they wrap the show up. These are merely my thoughts on seasons 1 and 2 of this show, and while I've not read all of the Manga I have enough knowledge of both to give my thoughts and make some observations.

Season 1 is practically perfect in achieving what it aims to. It's perfect in presenting the characters, showing their inner conflicts and tribulations. The animation is beautiful, the use of 3D models at times was never distracting for me, but I can understand why anyone would be put off by this choice. It's a show that sure had a lot of budget and it's all on the screen, especially when it came to the action and the fights, which isn't unusual to see on any anime set in high school, but this show made the action feel...really meaty, for lack of a better word. There is a level of visceral violence that works on both the physical conflict and the emotional conflict, and the clashes between characters feel very real and relateable. It's funny because for a show starring exclusively furry characters it felt like a real human story, with the good ol' themes of belonging, isolation, confusion about one's identity, and a good dose of body horror. As of this time I can't find any deal breaking flaws with it, but I might have a few nitpicks if the series doesn't lead to a satisfying conclusion.

Season 2 has all of the good things from season 1, but it unfortunately felt flat in several parts on the dramatic department. It's kind of interesting to see the series kind of crumbling under the weight of its own popularity and quality, while also trying to stay true to the manga that it's based on. There is a part towards the end of this season where they could've resolved a few pacing issues from the manga, but instead they just adapted it straight and barely changed or improved anything on it. I want to be vague so I don't spoil it for anyone, but we end up finding out who the murderer from season 1 was, and the resolution to that is both intensely dramatic and incredibly underwhelming. This is the conflict that started the whole series, you can't just write it off with the equivalent of a wrist slap. This and also a shift in feel that makes this season a bit more anime-y kinda make Beastars lose some of its own identity. The first season is so strong and so unlike any other anime out there that it's kind of annoying how much safer and less sharp the second season is.

Despite fumbling a bit on its second season, Beastars is still a strong show that has enough brains, heart and beef to keep fans and casual viewers engaged for its running time. This might change when its third and final season rolls in, but until then giving a recommendation is fairly easy.