BNA: Brand New Animal – Season 1 Review
With wildly successful works such as Kill la Kill and Little Witch Academia, Studio TRIGGER has made a name for themselves as one of the fastest-growing animation studios in the last decade. Their infamous reputation for convoluted and controversial hits is offset by their impressive quality in animation and art style. With that said, does BNA: Brand New Animal, their latest title, break this previous pattern or continue their spiraling path?
The series is set in a world where “beastmen” (half-human, half-animal) and humans live together, but not in harmony. The main protagonist, Michiru Kagemori (Sumire Morohishi/Cherami Leigh), is a human girl who found herself unexpectedly transformed into a beastkin, and her only hope is to reach Anima City, a supposed haven established for her kind. There, Michiru befriends a human-hating wolf named Shirou Ogami (Yoshimasa Hosoya/Ben Diskin), and together they investigate how Michiru became a beastkin while unravelling hidden mysteries and dark secrets along the way.
When first watching BNA: Brand New Animal, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed Studio TRIGGER’s unique art style. Straying from the typical look of other studios, the vibrant and lo-fi style-colour scheme of the show really stands out in a positive way. Combined with its excellent use of lighting, the visuals in BNA turn out gorgeous. From the detailed background of Anima City to appealing character designs; while it was clear that there were budget cuts in particular frames, the overall aesthetic quality of the series remains top-notch.
The animation is also worthy of praise, setting an extremely high standard for the rest of the year. Whether it’s Ogami flying through the air or Michiru’s adorable interactions, each scene is charged with vigor and energy, the movements and expressions being a delight to watch because of their compelling exaggeration. Admittedly, the fight scenes lacked the complexity and wit that many viewers would have wished for. However, the fight scenes never failed to lose their charm, remaining quite engaging and dynamic throughout the season.
Unfortunately, despite these outstanding positives, the series unfortunately falters when it comes to the themes and plot.
It is disappointing to see that BNA bites off more than they could chew in their twelve episode season by unsuccessfully cramming an excessive amount of themes. The series fails to have a clear focus in the first half of the season, with the theme of discrimination being tossed around to no end-result. In the second half, there is a shift in focus, and the previous idea of discrimination is further overshadowed by a mix of poorly-executed societal themes. By the end of the season, viewers may find it hard to even grasp what the show is trying to convey.
This unfortunately also leads to faulty characters within the show. While Michiru is certainly a lovable and enthusiastic character to watch, the issue lies in her severe lack of development. The writers did a poor job in this aspect as she remains a one-dimensional character throughout the series, even when others are constantly pointing out her flaws. I felt that Ogami suffered similarly, being mainly defined by the “cool hero” stereotype, and slowly losing his charm as the series progressed. At the minimum, he experiences character development because he eventually learns to control his resentment for humans by the end of the season.
Having said that, one of the more admirable aspects of BNA: Brand New Animal is its world-building. I can appreciate how, in a similar way to Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, each early episode focuses on meeting new species and races while exploring the world that the series is set in. BNA does this well, and through captivating characters, interesting infrastructure, and history, by the end of the season, viewers will certainly feel that they have a solid grasp of the culture and inner workings of BNA’s unique society.
The series also deserves some credit for its entertaining episodes and steady action. Although the overarching plot and motives of characters are easily predictable, the series manages to keep you interested by maintaining a fast pace of conflict in its lively world. The ending is similarly rewarding for fans of the show, tying up loose ends while leaving the door open for a bright second season.
If you enjoy Studio TRIGGER’s previous work, you are bound to enjoy BNA: Brand New Animal. The clash between its glaring issues and outstanding aspects pave the way for fun convolution and a wholesome mess of storytelling. If you prefer style over substance, this show is definitely one you should check out.
BNA: Brand New Animal is now available to watch on Netflix UK.