To the Abandoned Sacred Beasts
Synopsis
With the initiation of the Patrian civil war came the creation of half-beast, half-human soldiers—a development of the outnumbered Northerners in a desperate attempt to counter the overwhelming Southern forces. Able to quickly dominate battlefields and achieve victory with ease, the soldiers' godlike abilities earned them the name "Incarnates." However, as the war raged on, the Incarnates encountered a problem involving the beasts inside them that they were unable to rectify by ordinary means. Once the war was over, mysteries and accounts of the Incarnates submitting to the misfortune of their war days surfaced. Aware of the horrors they faced during the war, Special Sergeant Major and former captain of the Incarnates Hank Henriette becomes a Beast Hunter—those who take the lives of Incarnates who have succumbed to the issues they experienced on the battlefields. After witnessing her father, a former Incarnate soldier, meet his end at the hands of one such Beast Hunter, Nancy Schaal Bancroft resolves to hunt the man who took her father's life. However, Nancy's eye-opening encounter with the Beast Hunter influences her to instead seek the reason behind her father's death and the Incarnates' problematic existence in society. [Written by MAL Rewrite]
Audience Consensus
Audience sentiment is mixed. The initial concept and setting are praised, but the repetitive plot structure, underdeveloped characters, and inconsistent writing lead to disappointment. Schaal's character is a major point of contention for many viewers. Some find enjoyment in the action and themes, but overall the anime fails to live up to its potential.
Strengths
- Interesting premise involving super soldiers dealing with the aftermath of war.
- Unique setting inspired by 19th-century America with steampunk elements.
- Good action scenes and character designs.
Weaknesses
- Repetitive 'monster of the week' format becomes boring.
- Underdeveloped characters, especially the antagonist and supporting cast.
- Inconsistent writing quality, with a decline in the later episodes.
- Schaal is an annoying character.