The next big thing from renowned studio Trigger, BNA: Brand New Animal is the latest Netflix Original Anime to land on the service, hot on the heels of the similar-at-a-glance BEASTARS. But where the latter is a serious drama about animalistic nature of the characters and the instincts that drive them, BNA is a more effusive action adventure, chock-full of Trigger's signature simple designs and vibrant, imaginative animation.
Directed by Yoh Yoshinari, he of Little Witch Academia fame, the show's first episode does much to set an atmosphere of exuberance and danger. Our heroine, a Tanuki named Michiru is seeking refuge in Anima city, a supposed utopia for her anthropomorphic kind. She's set upon at the border by fascist thugs, and then rescued by a bunch of opportunistic chancers led by a mink named Marie Itami, who promptly fleeces her for cash in exchange for safe passage. It appears that whether human or animal, the world is a cruel place.
Once inside the city, Michiru stumbles into a festival celebrating the 10th anniversary of the founding of the city, and this is where we get that signature Trigger showcase, a blend of music, outrageous movement and vibrant colours. Stumbling onto a sabotage attempt, Michiru meets a mysterious wolf named Shirou, who chases after the perpetrators and brings them to justice, Batman style. It's a packed 22 minutes and there's a lot to take in.
There's much to admire in the show - the pacing is very tight, and despite the deceptively simple character designs, the fluidity of the animation and expressiveness of the cast is on par with their other classic works.
If there is a niggle, it's a technical one and no fault of the show itself. The show is available dubbed, but doesn't think to subtitle important signs/messages, requiring you to rewind and put the subtitles on so that you can understand exactly what's on screen. It always irks me when an English dub paradoxically expects you to be able to read Japanese, and Netflix really need to fix this, it's sloppy and the show deserves better.
Comparing this to BEASTARS is, ultimately, pointless. Despite the surface-level details looking similar, they are entirely different shows, from the emotional beats to the animation style. Pop BNA on pause and you might be surprised at how basic everything looks, but in motion it's spectacular. The more detailed and moody feel of BEASTARS remains classy, but it lacks the exuberance of BNA.
So, First Thoughts then? So far so good, and you'd be a fool to bet against Trigger when it comes to delivering a fulfilling and exciting story. I fully expect to be entertained from start to finish, even if I do have to keep rewinding it to put the sodding subtitles on...
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