The anime adaptation of The Beginning After the End premiered on April 2, 2025. Episode 1, titled “Reincarnation,” lays the groundwork for the story of King Grey, a powerful ruler reborn as the infant Arthur Leywin, retaining his past life’s memories and wisdom. The episode introduces us to this new world and Arthur’s doting parents, showcasing his accelerated growth and understanding of his magical surroundings. The narrative focuses on Arthur’s internal monologue, contrasting his past life’s ruthlessness with his current chance at a loving upbringing and a desire to correct his past mistakes.
Current Rating of TBATE based on episode 1 with a total of 19.8K Votes is 4.7/5.
However, the reception to the first episode has been notably negativily polarized, particularly on platforms like Reddit and Twitter.
Comparisons to other isekai anime, particularly Mushoku Tensei, were frequent, with some viewers on Reddit finding the initial premise and execution to be generic and lacking originality. The slow pacing and focus on early childhood were also points of criticism for some.
A few viewers on Twitter and Reddit pointed out that the episode did a decent job of setting up the world and Arthur’s unique situation as a reincarnated king, establishing the premise for future development. Fans of the source material appreciated seeing certain elements from the early chapters adapted, including glimpses of King Grey’s past life. Also appreciated the Opening and Ending songs of TBATE Anime
Several users on Reddit and Twitter expressed disappointment that a potentially beloved series wasn’t given to a studio with a stronger track record for animation quality, especially considering the popularity of the source material.
Some viewers felt that the episode’s adaptation missed some of the nuances of Arthur’s character from the source material, portraying him as colder or less humorous than they remembered.
A significant portion of the feedback on Reddit and Twitter heavily criticized the animation quality, with many describing it as a “slideshow” or a “PowerPoint presentation.” Numerous users pointed out the excessive use of still frames and the lack of fluid movement, which detracted from their viewing experience. Some called it “slide lock 2.0”.
Even some fans argued that its budget is even lower than some mild h*ntai anime “Please Put them of takamine san”, “Yandere Dark Elf: She Chased Me All the Way From Another World!” and “Makina san Love bot” as all three are also airing in the April 2025
Overall:
The premiere of The Beginning After the End Episode 1 appears to have presented a dichotomy for viewers. While some found the storytelling and emotional elements engaging enough to look past the perceived shortcomings in animation, a significant portion of the online community, particularly on Reddit and Twitter, expressed considerable disappointment with the visual presentation. The prevalent concerns about the animation quality and its potential impact on the rest of the season are hard to ignore.
Whether the narrative strength will be enough to overcome the animation criticisms in the long run remains to be seen. Many online reviewers and commenters suggest applying the “three-episode rule” to see if the animation improves or if the plot becomes more captivating. For now, the beginning of The Beginning After the End has sparked a divided response, with a clear emphasis on the desire for better visual fidelity to match the source material’s perceived quality.
The Beginning After the End premiered on Crunchyroll on April 2, 2025, at 10:25 a.m. PT.
Check out: The Beginning After the End Anime Complete Release Schedule
