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A review by xsleepyshadows
BEASTARS, Vol. 1 by Paru Itagaki
5.0
Wow, how bizarre and compelling this manga is! ~And fantastic art to boot!~ I'll be kinda wrapping my thoughts around 1-3 in general.
We have Legoshi who is an awkward teen who happens to be a large carnivore in a world of peaceful tension between herbivores and carnivores. Legoshi is a sensitive individual who can feel this tension all too well in their society and really tries to hid away from it. Later he finds his predatory nature is awakening when he encounters a dwarf rabbit. He borders if it could be love or obsession - Which could it be?
This series is kinda a nature vs. nurture, social expectations (of carnivores, size, animals "cuteness" factor which impacts larger animals options of them greatly) and regular society expectations (what it is to be a beastar, slut shaming, etc...)
I really like the nature vs. society going on here - I think it tells what makes a society work and contrast that with animals instincts (unlike human-ist qualities portrayed by animals. That part instead is the society aspect - which is refreshing) Can their natural instincts be quelled with an hour every two weeks to be in a room that simulates their some of their harmless natural behaviors? (the room is like a warm room for lions to nap on a sunny day, an area where zebras can camo- themselves, the wolf area is a beam that simulates moonlight) The animals that are presented in the story still have their natural qualities which still show with their characters and behaviors. There's an interesting aspect to the carnivores - which sometimes can snap and bear fangs at each other that leads to a darker aspect with the other herbivore portion of society.
Something I also like the first 1-3 volumes is the drama. It's usually a slice of life as we follow Legoshi and his thoughts/feelings. And when the drama happens you feel it through this sensitive perspective AND the art dazzles at showing what events are happening. When there is a fight or conflict - it feels real and raw because it's so sparingly used.
AND OMFG THE THEME SONG FOR THE UPCOMING ANIME!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgo9dJB_icw is just a travel through Legoshi's psyche!! Which kinda blew my mind!! brilliant!
I've seen a lot of comparisons to zootopia and it has that vibe - but more, darker and I think more thought provoking.
I can't recommend this enough - I read all 3 in one night non-stop!
We have Legoshi who is an awkward teen who happens to be a large carnivore in a world of peaceful tension between herbivores and carnivores. Legoshi is a sensitive individual who can feel this tension all too well in their society and really tries to hid away from it. Later he finds his predatory nature is awakening when he encounters a dwarf rabbit. He borders if it could be love or obsession - Which could it be?
This series is kinda a nature vs. nurture, social expectations (of carnivores, size, animals "cuteness" factor which impacts larger animals options of them greatly) and regular society expectations (what it is to be a beastar, slut shaming, etc...)
I really like the nature vs. society going on here - I think it tells what makes a society work and contrast that with animals instincts (unlike human-ist qualities portrayed by animals. That part instead is the society aspect - which is refreshing) Can their natural instincts be quelled with an hour every two weeks to be in a room that simulates their some of their harmless natural behaviors? (the room is like a warm room for lions to nap on a sunny day, an area where zebras can camo- themselves, the wolf area is a beam that simulates moonlight) The animals that are presented in the story still have their natural qualities which still show with their characters and behaviors. There's an interesting aspect to the carnivores - which sometimes can snap and bear fangs at each other that leads to a darker aspect with the other herbivore portion of society.
Something I also like the first 1-3 volumes is the drama. It's usually a slice of life as we follow Legoshi and his thoughts/feelings. And when the drama happens you feel it through this sensitive perspective AND the art dazzles at showing what events are happening. When there is a fight or conflict - it feels real and raw because it's so sparingly used.
AND OMFG THE THEME SONG FOR THE UPCOMING ANIME!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgo9dJB_icw is just a travel through Legoshi's psyche!! Which kinda blew my mind!! brilliant!
I've seen a lot of comparisons to zootopia and it has that vibe - but more, darker and I think more thought provoking.
I can't recommend this enough - I read all 3 in one night non-stop!