The Beginning After the End anime premiered on March 30, 2025, introducing audiences to the reincarnation tale of King Grey as Arthur Leywin in a magic-rich world. Adapted from TurtleMe’s popular webnovel and webtoon, this Crunchyroll Original, directed by Keitaro Motonaga and animated by Studio A-Cat, has sparked mixed reactions across platforms. Here’s a breakdown of Episode 1, titled “A New Life,” and what fans are saying.
The Beginning After the End Episode 1: A Promising Start to a Beloved Saga
Episode 1 opens with King Grey’s assassination and reincarnation as Arthur Leywin, a baby in the magical world of Dicathen. The narrative unfolds through Arthur’s perspective, blending his seasoned inner monologues with the innocence of his new life. As he grapples with his helplessness in an infant’s body, Arthur begins to experience emotions he never felt as a king—love and protection from his parents, Reynolds and Alice.
The episode closely follows Volume 1, Chapter 1 of the webnovel. It focuses on Arthur’s early struggles, including crawling, basic magic discovery, and adjusting to his new reality. Fans appreciate the slow burn of storytelling over action, with foreshadowing of Dicathen’s rigid hierarchy and magical depth teased in subtle ways.
Animation and Art
Studio A-Cat’s animation has drawn mixed reviews. While some fans praise the direction and emotional moments, others criticize the art style for its washed-out colors and limited animation quality compared to the webtoon’s vibrant visuals. Reddit threads echo concerns about budget constraints but acknowledge that strong writing might carry the adaptation forward.
Despite criticisms, some viewers find charm in the restrained visuals, noting that Episode 1 focused more on character moments than flashy action sequences. The emotional grounding provided by Arthur’s interactions with his parents compensates for the lack of visual spectacle.
Emotional Impact and Voice Acting
The emotional core of Episode 1 resonates strongly with fans. Arthur’s struggle to reconcile his past as a tyrant king with his new life as a loved child is both heartwarming and humorous. His gruff monologues juxtaposed with baby antics add depth to his character while keeping the tone light.
Voice acting has been praised for its authenticity. Natsumi Fujiwara (Arthur Leywin) and Yamato Kinjo (Reynolds Leywin) bring warmth and strength to their roles, grounding the story in familial bonds.
Fan Sentiment
Reactions are divided between cautious optimism and disappointment. Some fans admire how Episode 1 captures the essence of TurtleMe’s story, while others worry about whether Studio A-Cat can deliver consistent quality across its planned 24-episode run. Comparisons to Solo Leveling highlight concerns about production value but also underscore TBATE’s potential to fill the gap left by other popular isekai titles.
What’s Next?
Episode 1 sets up Arthur’s journey in Dicathen while hinting at larger mysteries surrounding mana, magic hierarchy, and adventurer guilds. Fans expect Episode 2 (airing April 6) to adapt Chapters 2-3 of the webnovel, introducing young Arthur testing mana and possibly showcasing action sequences to silence doubters.
