As a big fan of the original The Beginning After the End novel and webcomic, I went into the anime with sky-high hopes - only to come crashing down faster than Arthur in a bad mana training session.
First off, the pacing is a complete mess. They cram major life events - rebirth, childhood, training - into just a couple of episodes with almost no emotional weight. One moment baby Arthur is being adorable, the next he's somehow a mana prodigy, and you're left wondering if you accidentally skipped three episodes.
The animation quality is painfully average. For a series that's supposed to be filled with intense battles, beautiful magic, and rich worldbuilding, the visuals feel lifeless and rushed. Fight scenes lack the fluidity and impact needed to make them memorable, and sometimes characters look off-model mid-conversation - like they were drawn by two different teams.
Voice acting? Hit or miss. Arthur's voice actor tries, but some emotional scenes fall flat because the dialogue feels stiff or way too melodramatic. Also, the supporting cast sounds like they're reading a fantasy script for the first time in their lives.
Worst of all, they butchered some of the most important moments from the original story. Deep character development and world lore? Almost nonexistent. Instead, they favor tired isekai clichés and shallow action.
Honestly, it feels like a cash grab banking on the popularity of the novel and webcomic without respecting what made the original special.
Unless they turn things around drastically in future episodes, this anime adaptation might be the real "beginning of the end" for the franchise's reputation.
