The Beginning After the End anime finally aired its first episode on April 2, 2025. Based on the massively popular web novel and comic by TurtleMe, the release had fans curious to see how the story would be handled in anime form. But shortly after the premiere, viewer reaction turned negative, especially on platforms like Reddit, MyAnimeList, and X (formerly Twitter). The biggest issue people are talking about? The animation, which many say barely moves and looks unfinished.
How the Original Story Gained Its Following
The story begins with King Grey, a powerful monarch who commands respect but feels empty on the inside. After dying, he’s reborn in a different world as Arthur Lewin, a child in a magical land filled with monsters, adventurers, and spells. With all the memories of his past life intact, Arthur decides to live better this time, seeking real connection and trying to change from who he used to be.
What set the web novel apart was its balance of strong storytelling, a clear magic system, and a plot that develops steadily over time. Readers appreciated that Arthur already had maturity and knowledge, unlike many isekai characters who start from scratch.
The web comic adaptation launched on Tapas in 2018 and stayed true to the novel, helping it find an even wider audience. Yen Press began printing the comic physically, releasing six volumes by 2024.
A-CAT Anime Version Isn’t Living Up to Expectations
Excitement for the anime picked up after the October 2024 announcement at New York Comic Con. Directed by Kitaro Motonaga and animated by Studio A-CAT.
Still, some fans had concerns about Studio A-CAT. Their past projects include Frame Arms Girl (2017), Getter Robo Arc (2021), and Highspeed Étoile (2024). While the studio has tried different genres, their work has often been seen as inconsistent, especially when it comes to animation quality. So when fans heard AAT was handling this adaptation, expectations were mixed.
Fans on Reddit and MyAnimeList Share Frustrations
On Reddit, reactions were mostly negative. Many users said the first episode looked more like a slideshow than a real anime. One top comment said:
“Yeah, the animations were as bad as people were expecting. It’s pretty much Slide Lock 2.0.”
Another wrote:
“Stop giving Studio AAT anime to adapt. This was absolute garbage slideshow.”
And someone else added:
“Honestly, not surprised considering the studio. They have a track record of stinkers. Hope the story carries this like The Fable.”
Even people who enjoy the web novel were disappointed. One comment read:
“The story is a good power isekai. Shame the animation is this bad.”
Over on MyAnimeList, the reaction wasn’t any better. The first episode has a score of 6.65 from over 3,400 users, far from a strong start. One user said:
“I’m in shock at how bad everything is. I don’t get how they let this air without fixing it.”
Another wrote:
“I’d rather have no anime at all than see it ruined like this.”
Some fans are still watching, either because they like the original material or just want to see how people react. One post summed it up like this:
“I’ll still watch. I like the novel. And I enjoy watching TBATE fans meltdown. It’s not bad.”
Also Read: 10 New Anime Releasing In April 2025 You Don’t Want To Miss
X Users Respond With Jokes and Memes
On X, things got more blunt. One tweet said:
“Just watched episode one. Only covered five chapters. 99% was a slideshow. Studio AAT should never cook again. Embarrassing.”
Nothing is more frustrating than seeing your favourite webtoon finally getting an anime after literal years of waiting just for it to get the worst animation in anime history.
— sayu (@shinoakiw) March 31, 2025
TBATE deserves fucking better. https://t.co/FIhhFc5iTk
The animation was often mocked with screenshots and clips showing limited movement and clunky transitions. The phrase “never cook again” has now become a popular way of saying a studio failed at delivering a quality product.
LMAO pic.twitter.com/r4HpRcJ2Vo
— Martin || 藤川 (@ogblynz) April 2, 2025
Crunchyroll Numbers Tell a Different Story
Interestingly, the one place where the anime is getting a lot of positive feedback is on Crunchyroll itself. The first episode earned a 91% upvote rating, with around 35,000 upvotes and only 1,000 downvotes. That number beats the premiere numbers of Mushoku Tensei, which got 17,000 upvotes and about 300 dislikes when it launched.
Why the big difference?
The likely reason is that Crunchyroll’s viewer base includes more people who already read and enjoy the web novel or comic. These fans were probably excited just to see the characters animated and may have been more forgiving of the poor animation. Also, Crunchyroll’s voting system is limited—you can upvote or downvote, but there’s no space for long comments or back-and-forth discussion like on Reddit or MyAnimeList.
So fans who dislike the episode might skip rating it there and instead talk about it on other platforms.
Viewers Are Divided, and That Probably Won’t Change Anytime Soon
So far, The Beginning After the End anime is off to a rough start. The story still holds up, but the animation is dragging it down. Most people outside Crunchyroll agree that Studio A-CAT didn’t do the source material justice. Some are hoping future episodes improve. Others are already out.
What’s clear is that fans are split, and where you look affects how the show is being received. If you’re just checking Crunchyroll, it might look like the show is being well received. But a glance at Reddit or MyAnimeList shows just how frustrated many longtime fans really are.
