Story: 8.5
From the very beginning I was drawn to the story as the sudden change in tone from being cheerful to a heart wrenching one was beautifully portrayed in the first few episodes. However, this sense of depression was relieved through the hopeful storytelling of a feeble and ignorant princess becoming independent by finally gaining insight towards the corruption of her kingdom through her thrilling adventure. What makes an adventure story exciting is the thrill of discovering new characters that the protagonist meets along their journey and discovering who these people are, what their upbringing entails, what powers they possess, and most importantly what affect will they have on the story. Akatsuki no Yona used this element of the adventure genre almost perfectly by using the interesting characters of the four dragons, Yun, and the priest to add depth and excitement to this anime and to further develop Yona’s character. In addition to the plot, the method of storytelling elevates the audiences’ curiosity and interest from the very beginning, as the anime vaguely introduces the various characters and their powers and Yona’s strength as a leader in the opening scene. This clever method of storytelling allows the audience to be put into state of confusion, yet allows them to develop a strong sense of curiosity, ultimately becoming completely consumed by the story.
Characters: 9
The strong point of this anime is the characters as I explained before an adventure/action anime is centered around the development of the protagonist and his/her companions. Each of the characters in this story had a purpose, which was disparate motivations to follow Yona on her adventure, and this allowed each character to have depth. Hak and the four dragons are powerful and brave warriors which already appeals to the audience, but each of them have a different reason to follow Yona on her journey of self-discovery which strengthens the sense of camaraderie and complements the uplifting tone to the anime. However, the major character development and the aspect of the anime that appeals to me the most is the depth in Yona’s character. Seeing a powerless, frail, and cheerful girl being struck by misfortune and being forced to overcome all of it riles my emotions and immediately brings a tear to my eye. But it is Yona’s ability to escape her sheltered world as a princess and face adversity using her own strength that connects to the audience. It is the fiery passion that Yona gains while maintaining her emotional fragility that makes me pray for her triumph over her many difficult trials that gives dimension to this anime.
Animation: 8
The animation is not particularly unique but it is fluid and matches the adventure genre by having very bright and memorable character designs and animation. What appealed to me specifically was the strength and force that the animation had during the more emotional and important scenes as various colours, images, and textures were used to really portray the strength of certain characters, especially Yona.
Sound: 9
The beautiful openings that perfectly reflect the vibe of the entire anime and the character of Yona, as she is the focus of the anime, captivated me entirely and are definitely worth listening to alone along with the various calming OSTs.
Enjoyment: 9.5
This anime has made me hooked from the very beginning and constantly made me wanting more after each episode. From the very first cliff hanger to the very final seconds of the anime I felt like I was on a journey alongside Yona and this is what gives adventure anime its value. The ending of the anime was slightly rushed and some characters, such as the antagonist, Suu-Won, wasn’t properly developed, but this only leaves the audience asking more questions and hopefully the second season (let’s all pray for one) answers them!
