#anthropomorphized animals

Finally! We're back to one of the most fascinating shows in the world of anime. I was basically obsessed with the first two seasons, and it feels like it's been forever since then. This third season (I refuse to call it the final one) is somewhat uneventful, but the ensemble and the world-building are so rich that I'm just happy to spend time here. The central allegories also remain as biting and timely as ever, which is certainly a plus. And truly, Orange's mixture of 3D animation with touches of 2D is downright stunning; I feel like no other studio or style could have done this story and world justice. The whole thing just feels so... alive. It's definitely a big part of what makes Beastars so spellbinding. I haven't heard great things about the final stretch of the manga, but I'm still excited to see how this one-of-a-kind story wraps up.

Like...peak furry design.

@dropthedrawing

This was a very odd final season. Even up to the last episode, it never felt like it was heading towards any sort of 'finality', and then it's suddenly over with a super rushed epilogue. And it doesn't help that the story's allegories have only gotten more and more muddled with time. I was still happy to spend some more time with these peculiar characters, though, even if I can't help but wish for a stronger ending. Studio Orange's animation work remains incredibly immersive, and it's responsible for keeping the show engaging throughout this uneven season, along with the voice acting. All in all, Beastars deserved a better send-off, but the show will always be a boundary-pushing anime.

Also, kind of weird this video mentioned Western anthropomorphized animal cartoons but not Looney Tunes or Hanna-Barbera.  They kept citing Disney cartoons as many people’s introductions to furries, but most people I know grew up with Warner Bros’ anthropomorphized animals.  At that time, it was such a common thing to expect from cartoons that no one considered it a subgenre with the name “furries”.  It was just how cartoons were.  If cartoons weren’t anthro’ animals, then that was considered weird back then.  At least by the Normals’ standards.  I’m kind of glad things have changed, because that common assumption that “all cartoons are about talking animals” kind of went with the other assumption that “all animation is for kids”. And that kind of overly broad generalization of an entire medium, has never been good for the diversity of an art form.  

https://bookriot.com/2018/04/23/graphic-novels-about-anthropomorphized-animals/

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