Anime adaptations that attempt to capture the essence and depth of the story and characters of a video game nearly always end up failing in doing the source material justice, unfortunately. This is because adapting such an intricate and interactive medium like video games–which typically have multiple branching paths and endings based on player choices and actions as well–into a linear narrative and with the need to condense a lengthy gaming experience into a handful of episodes, may as well be likened to the adversity of defying causality itself. It inevitably leads to a rushed storyline, lack of characterization and cast development, the omission of
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plot points, and a less immersive experience in general. And so, NieR:Automata Ver1.1a–which sought to adapt one of the most acclaimed video games of all time and one that fully utilizes the mechanisms of the complex medium in which it resides–seemed almost predestined to disappoint as yet another disappointing VG-to-anime adaptation. Of course, no one in their right mind was expecting this to parallel the game itself, but it’s regrettable that at its best it wasn’t something more than merely satisfactory; Ver 1.1a is still remarkably superior to most others like it and as a standalone anime, it isn’t even bad.
The anime’s biggest flaw is its inability to create atmosphere, which is conversely one of the game’s biggest strengths complemented by a patient story. This is especially problematic when atmosphere is fundamental to Nier Automata’s compelling, thematically rich and very visual storytelling and how Yoko Taro would funnel a lot of his creative direction through; sometimes powerfully enough to even recontextualize the world he’s concocted. Nier Automata is set in a beautiful post-apocalyptic world where futurism is overrun with greenery, yet the anime never leans into this hauntingly desolate, atmospheric world except for once in episode 2 with the anime-original opening sequence involving the Machines. The pensive sadness of Nier Automata is lost to mere opaqueness because it fails to use silence to tap into the potential of its world for the narrative it wants to tell, which consequently jeopardises the plot and characters as they are not yet interesting enough to stand on their own. This whilst relying on still frames and sometimes exposition dumps leads to the anime underselling otherwise emotional key story beats, and it makes the story feel like it’s preoccupied with moving from plot point A to B despite its commendable efforts to avoid that so it can manage with the handful of episodes it was dealt with in order to condense such expansive content into. In retrospect, the hasty execution of the anime; obviously owing to an atrocious production schedule that was overbearing the staff; was indicative from the quality of the premiere in all its low frame-rate, zero-compositing CGI glory; which was also just a 1:1 adaptation of the prologue devoid of any artistry intent on specializing the content for a 20-minute-length TV format. Let alone the third delay five episodes later which resulted in a four-month hiatus.
However, the art direction and series composition cannot be ignored for their merits. And the score is of course palatial, using OSTs directly from the game. Regardless of the immersion-busting CGI and very average animation, the art direction expressly displays an appreciation for aesthetics with its gorgeous character models and beautiful background art, accompanied by a refined color palette harmonious with the overarching mood of the series. This isn’t all too surprising considering the works of art that were the key visuals for this title. Regarding series composition, Ryouji Masuyama the director intended to leave everything from the source material unchanged before Yoko Taro insisted otherwise, and I believe that change was for the better. It justifies the existence of this adaptation, and the mixing of the game’s story with its scattered supplemental content alongside the subtle–occasionally witty–fanservice is very much appreciated. The anime-original content is nothing to write home about, but it is respectful of the pre-established story’s sensibilities. All of this shows the meritorious effort of this adaptation and it confutes the bystanding impression that this is just another soulless cash-grab. I just wish it had properly put these strengths to use. There are amazing background shots which the anime doesn’t allow to linger and enrich its atmospheric narrative with, the elegant music from the game is only used for 10 seconds between scenes, and the pacing is plagued with inconsistencies where less important plot points drag on with uncomfortable lethargy whilst others are quickly transitioned through or skipped altogether with negligence towards thematic exploration. The direction is chiefly monotonous and this makes the story’s presentation lacklustre.
There are glimpses of excellence in NieR:Automata Ver1.1a, but its faults ultimately make this a somewhat mediocre and forgettable anime as a standalone title. The 2D visuals and the music must be praised, and the efforts in which it takes to be an inoffensive swerving from becoming a pointless 1:1 adaptation as an inferior product is also worthy of that same praise. But aside from needing to have played the game to sincerely appreciate most of the aforementioned merits; even if you have, the direction remains predominantly monotonous for a source material with such artistry and this results in a debilitated presentation of oftentimes dull executions of the powerful themes and world wielded by Nier Automata. Unfortunately, the haemorrhaging production schedule did no favors for the patient narrative either and this anime deserved so much better than having its reputation tarnished by a huge hiatus.
Watch this after you’ve already played the game. The anime being your first exposure to Nier Automata isn’t ideal. But at the same time, this certainly isn’t an offensive disaster of an adaptation enough to leave a bitter aftertaste either. As I said, Ver 1.1a isn’t a bad anime by itself; the story and the art direction are still much better than average. It isn’t a second-rate product to the video game struggling to justify its existence like many VG-to-anime adaptations fall victim to the fate of, and there is evidently charm to it. So you can’t go wrong with picking it up as supplemental content. And seriously, play the video game already if you haven’t… Nier Automata marked a landmark step in video game storytelling because arguably for the first time ever, video games went toe-to-toe with the likes of film and literature in the philosophical arena. It’s a metafictive, nihilistic yet hopeful postmodern masterpiece. Its themes of existentialism, identity, free will and determinism, consciousness and emotion, transcendence and evolution etc are timeless, and they’re explored with sophisticated intricacy. Even if Ver 1.1a was a stellar anime adaptation with industry-setting cinematography, it still wouldn’t completely capture the ethereal beauty of this title because of how extensively it utilizes the complex medium in which it resides.
Alternative Titles
Japanese: NieR:Automata Ver1.1a
Information
Type:
TV
Episodes:
12
Status:
Finished Airing
Aired:
Jan 8, 2023 to Jul 23, 2023
Premiered:
Winter 2023
Broadcast:
Sundays at 00:00 (JST)
Licensors:
Aniplex of America
Studios:
A-1 Pictures
Source:
Game
Duration:
23 min. per ep.
Rating:
PG-13 - Teens 13 or older
Statistics
Ranked:
#17912
2
based on the top anime page. Please note that 'Not yet aired' and 'R18+' titles are excluded.
Popularity:
#881
Members:
272,442
Favorites:
2,064
Available AtResourcesStreaming Platforms | Reviews
Filtered Results: 32 / 43
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Your Feelings Categories Jul 23, 2023
Anime adaptations that attempt to capture the essence and depth of the story and characters of a video game nearly always end up failing in doing the source material justice, unfortunately. This is because adapting such an intricate and interactive medium like video games–which typically have multiple branching paths and endings based on player choices and actions as well–into a linear narrative and with the need to condense a lengthy gaming experience into a handful of episodes, may as well be likened to the adversity of defying causality itself. It inevitably leads to a rushed storyline, lack of characterization and cast development, the omission of
...
Jul 23, 2023
Some shows are virtually inseparable from the narratives surrounding their creation, and for 2023’s *NieR: Automata Ver1.1a*, it had two narratives that it needed to reconcile. The most-obvious of the two was its troubled production life, subjected to delays that finally led to a months-long hiatus before at last returning to remind the anime community that it was, indeed, still a thing. Wondering whether it was actually Covid, or if that was just a convenient excuse to make up for the lack of time, is ultimately not the point. What does matter is that it was plagued with much woe, leaving all involved in the
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Jan 21, 2023
I do feel like it's a bit hard to really rate NieR as an anime product, when as per normal, Game adaptations are normally hit or miss. But in the case of NieR, instead of being a title that either not many know, or it isn't as widely regarded. In NieR's case, they're not only well established in the gaming world, but they're well loved too. For it's deep story, characters, and many plot points that really hit you deep in the feels. It's as if NieR breaks that mold of 'OK' or 'not good' game stories, as it's a story that is well received,
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Jan 21, 2023
NieR: Automata, is one of the best games that has been released. If you have played through it, you know 100% what I am talking about and how deep the story of the game goes. It is no surprise to us that A-1 Pictures picking up this masterpiece, would be this good.
I cannot express enough on how much the game had an impact in my life when I finished it. And after 6 years, here I am writing a review on an anime adaptation that I never dreamt would be possible. Story: 10 (Masterpiece) As I said before, there is no surprise that the story that the ... Mar 12, 2023
As someone who's played the Nier Automata game and Nier replicant remake (All time favorite game), I really like this anime. At first when I watched it I thought it was just going to be a literal copy paste of the games, but after watching for some time I realize that there is really a lot of added content that I wish was in the games as well, mostly in the character relationships between 2B and 9S, as well and even more so Adam and eve, I absolutely love their interactions. In the beginning it may seem like a carbon copy of the game but
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Feb 2, 2023
NieR: Automata tackles the philosophical theme of meaning and existential despair, it revolves around topics such as finding your cause, finding a reason to live, a reason to fight, and the profound feeling of despair over that struggle. It has an incredible story and some of the best action combat systems ever developed, and while it's not the best-looking title out there, it's still a beautiful one. It's one of the best games of all time, I hope this anime will live up to expectations.
And I also recommend you to play the game and/or read the Light Novel to fully experience Yoko Taro's Obra ... Jul 23, 2023
"NieR:Automata Ver1.1a" is not bad, just DISAPPOINTING. I'm a huge fan of the "NieR" universe and this show made me feel LOST too many times (and not in the good way...) There were some episodes that did GREAT things with the lore (spoiler alert: A2's "origin" and those promising glimpses of Replicant) and THAT IS what this show should've been: a COMPLEMENT to its source material, NOT an intent to tell its story in a WAY shorter and less complex form of media. "Is this for newcomers or veterans?" I wonder, because I can't see myself feeling satisfied as any of them. Art and animation
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Jan 21, 2023
The Nier anime is Schrodinger's anime. It's both at the same time really good and then really freaking bad. I really want to love the anime of this but I just can't because of various issues which I will get into in a bit. I'm not trying to dunk on this because it's popular and I hate popular things. I've bought this game 3 times at this point. Digital JP because it came out early in Japan but still had all the language support, physical English release and then the Steam version which required a fan patch for years to
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Dec 6, 2023
If you live on this planet, you have probably heard of Nier Automata, the legendary video game created by Yoko Taro and released in 2017.
I am a big fan of the video game and I really waited for the premiere of this anime with great excitement and expectations. Nier Automata has an extraordinary story, incredible characters, and truly impressive plot twists that made me fantasize to the fullest of what could be achieved by turning this game into an anime series. However, there is an absolute reality that clearly escaped Yoko Taro and that I did not count on: the narrative of a video game is ... Mar 8, 2023
This is shaping up to be one of the most faithful and well adapted stories out there, and the story it is adapting is incredible on its own already.
(well adapted as in making meaningful additions that support the medium it's in, instead of just copying the original in a second format) I cannot tell you enough to watch this and settle in for the ride, no matter if you played the game or not. The first episode cgi is a bit iffy, but just bear with it for the first few minutes, the art style itself is gorgeous and the added dialogue between characters has ... Jan 25, 2023
. The anime adaptation of Nier is a highly anticipated and hotly debated topic among fans of the game series. In my opinion, the three episodes that have been released so far have succeeded in showcasing the unique features and aspects of the Nier world that make it stand out from other games and worlds.
. One of the standout elements of the anime is its use of music. The Nier games have a renowned soundtrack, and the anime skillfully incorporates the music to transport the viewer into the world of Nier and enhance the overall atmosphere and emotional impact of the story. In my opinion, ... Apr 11, 2023
I have recently played this game so I thought let's check this out, and when I say this blew my mind, it really did!
I know this might not be everyones cup of tea, considering theres a lot of cgi involved, but I certainly didn't mind that at all, since the game itself is nothing but cgi haha. I love how they portrayed the characters in the anime, I love the enthusiastic voice acting and I love how they used the original osts from the game. Also it is very refreshing to see some good comedy bits here and there. The animation is stunning, the atmosphere is ... Jan 30, 2023
Im going to keep this Short
Nier Automata is one of my Favorite games and seeing it get an Anime Adaption got me hyped. But after watching the first episode I could already tell the Story was going to replicate of the game. I am one of the people hoping this show would have its own story. Though the story is not bad, it was just executed pretty bad in the show. The Art style is amazing but the CGI is horrific, it is just a copy and paste of the in game models with very to little shading. To those reading this I recommend Watching/Playing ... Jul 25, 2023
For any fans of the game, as you watch this anime you might realize some things are not the same, this is not because the animation studio or writers messed up. The creator of both the game's and anime's story Yoko Taro has stated that the story in the game was made to be that of a game and would not be as entertaining or have the same impact in the anime medium. A lot of people are hating on this adaptation because they were expecting a one-to-one adaptation. I can somewhat understand as I was also one of those people but seeing how quickly
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Jan 18, 2024
While I had some hope for this I knew going in this would not hit the same as the video game as most adaptations rarely do. What we did get wasn't bad, it retained most major plot points and kept most things intact it also rushed a lot of them leading to them feeling empty and lacking the weight that came with them in the game. I really like that they brought in the original voice actors from the game and it made it a delight to watch in the least. The animation is good and the soundtrack borrows nicely from the game. As a
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Jul 24, 2023
A visibly very beautiful anime. Its audiovisual aspects are undeniably very well done. Very cool and attractive kind of post-apocalyptic setting but unfortunately it is stopped by a very confusing and unexciting script.
First of all, I'm not someone who had access to the original material, I never played the adapted game, so this anime was my first contact with the universe of Nier Automata and right away I saw a huge potential for entertainment, but throughout this season the script was making the anime extremely tiring. It was hard to stay motivated, even more so with all the Staff problems that this anime ended up ... Aug 2, 2023
tl;dr play the game, it's infinitely better, and maybe just maybe, come back to watch it later
There are just two works in all media that have ever made me cry: Nier Automata (game) and Tengen Toppa. Nier Automata is my favorite game of all time; I even have it tattooed on my skin as a tribute. I truly love the Nier series, and I'll be honest, this anime adaptation is a HUGE disappointment. Aniplex is known for doing amazing work, and A-1 Studio has produced some good shows too, although others not so much. But the point is: WHY did they have to mess up the ... Mar 9, 2023
The game is a masterpiece that not a single article online gave it justice, but there is a reason why this masterpiece never gotten an anime adaptation, though many have claimed that the story is "typical" anime, it was designed to be a game and NOT an anime. I am not gonna lie, at first I thought, just like most video-game adaptations, that this was gonna be so bad, but then I heard that Yoko Taro will be intimately involved in the making of this adaptation and I sighed a bit, cause no way in hell will Yoko Taro make this
a copy-paste adaptation, and ... Aug 16, 2023
First of all you may be hype cause you may heard about Nier game and the respect of it from players but this is " Nier anime not Nier game" do not raise your expectations too high
everybody may seen the score of anime and it will Doubt the viewers , dont worry about it , thats happened cause they stopped the show airing in EP3 and it made a gap and decrease the hype the story is same with game its enough good to attract you. the art of characters is Eye-catching and also there is no prob in movements & display viewing angle & ... Dec 30, 2023
It's alright, but I think this show was pointless. The story works better as a game. The story hinges on the fact that YOU are the one playing it. When you're just a neutral observer it doesn't hit as hard. It'd be like if they made a movie adaptation of Spec Ops: The Line.
The animation and voice acting both in the dub and sub are very good however. Also the soundtrack is straight from the game, which I see as a good thing seeing as imo it's one of the best soundtracks in gaming and now anime. All in all this isn't for everyone. Some ... |