Last week, just before ACEN, I finished the anime BEASTARS. Many describe it as an adult version of Zootopia, but that description is a little oversimplified. Both series use the complex relationships between anthropomorphic carnivores and herbivores as allegories for prejudice. It is true that Beastars is darker, more violent, and contains stronger sexual themes than Zootopia. With that said, it is also a coming-of-age story where the main cast begins their journey in high school. They must come to terms with the harsh realities of adulthood along with their own primal urges…
At the center of the story is Legoshi, a large gray wolf who can appear frightening at first glance. Despite his appearance, he is actually very kind and gentle by nature. After a fateful encounter with a dwarf rabbit named Haru, he begins developing feelings for her. To make things even more complicated, one of Legoshi’s clubmates was recently devoured by another student. This tragedy pushes the tensions between carnivores and herbivores closer to a breaking point. All of this is only the setup for the first season! The characters also have to deal with a shady black market, organized crime, and the difficult transition into adulthood.
Beastars does an amazing job portraying struggles related to prejudice and sexual desire. The carnivores live with the stigma of violence in much the same way many minorities experience unfair assumptions in real life. Their hunger can also be interpreted as an analogy for sexual desire. Both are primal temptations that must be understood and controlled. I definitely recommend this anime, especially if you want to take a walk on the wild side!
So what do you think?