WISE Score
Avg. Tomatometer
A breathtaking, high-stakes adventure that looks like a Ghibli film but hides some of the most disturbing body horror in modern animation.
100%
Made in Abyss is a masterpiece that I would never, under any circumstances, show to a child. It is a brilliant, beautiful, and deeply moving series that also happens to be nightmare fuel.
If you're an adult looking for high-concept sci-fi/fantasy with real teeth, this is essential viewing. If you're a parent looking for something to watch with your 10-year-old because they liked The Legend of Zelda, run away as fast as you can. This isn't just 'dark'—it's visceral and traumatic.
This is strictly for older teens (16+) and adults. Do not let the big-eyed character designs fool you; this is one of the most violent and emotionally taxing shows in the genre.
While the bond between Riko and Reg is genuinely touching, the show's later shift into extreme suffering and nihilistic trauma outweighs the 'cute' beginnings.
The world-building is top-tier. The Abyss is a vertical ecosystem with its own physics, biology, and mythology that feels completely original.
This is a 'trap' show. It starts like a Ghibli adventure and ends with graphic body horror, limb amputation, and psychological torture. It is not for children.
For mature viewers, it's a profound look at the cost of ambition and the resilience of the human spirit under impossible pressure.
There is a specific kind of anime that fans call a 'suffering' show, and Made in Abyss is the gold standard. It uses a visual language we've been trained to associate with childhood wonder—lush forests, whimsical creatures, and plucky orphans—and then systematically deconstructs it.
What makes the show work isn't just the shock factor; it's the internal logic. The Abyss is governed by 'The Curse,' a physical law where going down is easy, but coming back up causes everything from nausea to total loss of humanity. This creates a one-way-trip narrative that ratchets up the tension to unbearable levels. You aren't just watching a journey; you're watching a sacrifice.
If you finish Season 1, you cannot jump straight to Season 2. You have to watch the film Dawn of the Deep Soul first. Be warned: the movie is even more intense and contains some of the most controversial and disturbing imagery in the entire franchise. If you have a low tolerance for 'mad scientist' tropes or child endangerment, this is where you'll likely tap out.
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