Reviews

I didn't expect to like the anime movie as much as the manga for the simple reason that so much was changed or omitted... and normally, I'm usually a stickler for not changing things and letting things stick with the themes and tone they were meant to represent. For context, I recently read through the entirety of what I could find for Asura, which is what was covered in the movie, just not the apparent epilogue that came later. So as well as a movie, I'm reviewing this as an adaptation.

That being said, everything felt like it really popped to life in this movie... We are missing entire plotlines from the manga like Asura finding out about the lives of his parents and learning forgiveness, his relationship with the local group of boys, and Wakasa's love triangle, but at the same time I know this movie was still enough to get me really emotional and keep what was needed, and I can't knock it for that. In my head, I still see the dopey-er design for Asura from the manga, but the animation and acting felt pretty flawless while watching.

The one later scene that is criticized for having been changed the most, Wakasa's decision on whether or not to save herself from starvation with what she believes to be human meat, while arguably changed for a more hopeful outlook on humanity, still got me tearing up because of Asura's pure desperation to see Wakasa live. It's not an exact adaptation and there are arguments to be made for things that should have been kept, but I would still buy this movie to add to my personal collection, as well as the manga, if given the chance.

Asura best unga bunga boi.