Made in Abyss
2017
Original language: Japanese
- animation
- drama
- action & adventure
- sci-fi & fantasy
The story
Located in the center of a remote island, the Abyss is the last unexplored region, a huge and treacherous fathomless hole inhabited by strange creatures where only the bravest adventurers descend in search of ancient relics. In the upper levels of the Abyss, Riko, a girl who dreams of becoming an explorer, stumbles upon a mysterious little boy.
What it’s like
Lush, painted backdrops shift from sunlit, cluttered surface streets into cold blue-green caverns, glowing with bioluminescence and strung with rope and lantern light as the view drops layer by layer down a vertical shaft. Animation is detailed and rounded, with creatures drawn in odd, whimsical shapes that stay charming until they don't. The score swells with wide, lyrical strings and hushed silences in the deep, so wonder and dread arrive together. The pacing is patient and episodic, with long stretches of wandering and quiet camp talk broken by sudden, sharp danger. Its tone is wistful and bittersweet, a sense of awe that never quite sheds its unease. A young girl and a strange small companion form a tender, sometimes painful bond as they venture deeper. Intensity runs high: frequent graphic gore, body horror, bodily injury and cruelty, and tragic deaths that land hard, with the darkness getting heavier the farther down they go. This suits viewers who want big-hearted adventure and strong atmosphere, and who can handle brutal violence and emotional grief, not those seeking anything gentle.
More TV shows like Made in Abyss
Closest in mood, pacing and theme. Tell us why you loved Made in Abyssand we’ll explain which ones fit you.
