Beautiful, Breathtaking, Brutal
Fans just can’t seem to get enough of one, if not the, best anime of the summer. From its amazing locations and art design reminiscent of classic Ghibli films, to its surprisingly dark subject matters, Made in Abyss has both charmed and horrified newcomers, but nonetheless captivated them with its world. A world that even the likes of children aren’t safe from.
Focusing on a giant chasm known as the Abyss, the residents of the town surrounding it make their living by diving into its depths in order to salvage relics. Unfortunately for these cave raiders, the deeper they go, the more affected they are by the infamous Curse of the Abyss; a phenomenon that causes intense bodily harm triggered by any kind of ascension.
After finding out her legendary cave raider of a mother may be alive at the bottom of the Abyss, a young girl named Riko teams up with an amnesiac-stricken android named Reg in order to reach the netherworld’s end and find her. As their journey progresses, they discover that not only are their vast wonders below, but also unspeakable horrors.
As we eagerly await a second season, we’ve put together what we believe to be the top five Made in Abyss moments!
Fair warning, there are MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
#5: City of the Abyss
Arguably the scene that first convinced anime-lovers to see the series through to the end, watching the sun rise over the city of Orth was downright magical. Of course, what really clinched it was the stunning yet ominous view of the Abyss, setting the stage for the adventure to come.
#4: Ozen
Blurring the line between antagonist and mentor-figure, the first of the Four Sovereigns introduced Riko and Reg to the concept of “tough love.” A veteran cave raider whose super strength made her a deadly foe in combat, the only thing scarier than her punches was her demonic expressions and attitude towards the fruitlessness of life. Still, she taught out heroes a valuable lesson about the nature of the Abyss; it has no mercy.
#3: Goodbye, Mitty
As if the show couldn’t make us shed more tears, we were greeted to the tragic sight of watching the adorable yet deformed Mitty meet her end at the hand of Reg’s Incinerator. This was all a mercy killing, and in a way was the best outcome the character could have hoped for, but watching Nanachi break down over her friend’s overdue death still choked us up.
#2: The Curse
If we were ever in doubt about this anime’s dark side, or just how deadly the Curse of the Abyss was, this moment was a bitter reminder. In order to escape a rampaging beast, Riko and Reg are forced to ascend to higher ground, but as a result Riko starts to suffer from the effects of the course, radically bleeding from every orifice, while all Reg can do is watch on helplessly.
#1: Nanachi’s Past
This little Hollow has quickly gone on to become a fan-favorite. However, none of us were expecting them to have such a harrowing past. Used in an experiment for the amusement of the warped Sovereign Bowdred, Nanachi was transformed into her new fluffy form as a result of the Abyss’ curse, all the while forced to watch their friend Mitty be reduced to a blob of sentient flesh. Traumatising doesn’t even begin to cover it.
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