Children of the Whales
Miriam Herrera
Recap
We are back once more in a different world filled with children trying to fight for their lives, a world that has divided them into two different classes. While they learn to survive in a world that is slowly breaking apart and a past that they don’t know about or will understand. As they see that other people are coming back, ones that will soon become a part of their history. We stumble into another world with the Children of Whales.
Review
Chakuro is a boy that lives on a vessel called a Mud Whale, where two different classes of people live. The Marked using a power called the thymia an ability that allows those to move objects with their minds, however, this ability comes with a price, having a short lifespan. While this is a looming factor in their lives, they continue to help those that are called the Unmarked. The Unmarked are those that do not have the thymia and are untouched by the curse of having short lifespans. They coexist with the Marked and live peaceful with them, while those that are Unmarked are still trying to find a way to expand the lives of the Marked. While they live their lives peacefully on the Mud Whale, they do not know the outside world. Something that will soon change as girl name Lykos entered their lives and soon enough everything they had ever known becomes part of their story.
Children of the Whales is a brilliant story that with beautiful animation, however, the slow start of the story as each character is introduced slows down the story around the characters. It takes a while to get into, but once the story does pick up, it gives us more then we could ever know. The opening song is, “Sono Saki e,” by RIRIKO; the opening revolves around the Children of the Whales and how their life is introduced. The brightly done animation is eye-catching as we see them all watching a faraway land that they wish to be a part of. The ending song is, “Hashitairo,” by Rionos; the ending is entirely different from what I’ve seen as it spans over the vast desert showing that it is far and wide and ready to explore for the Children of the Whales.
Final Thoughts
While the anime is eye-catching, the slow start does seem to make those lose interest in the anime and turn away. The animation while incredible appears to be unable to close the gap between these slowed episodes and then rushed ones. However, it is another anime that I do recommend as the story did catch the attention of many. The Netflix Original does have both sub and dub versions of the anime, and while a second season has yet to be announced, we will hold our breath for it.
Children of the Whales: A Slow Start
- Writing - 8/108/10
- Plot - 7/107/10
- Character Development - 8/108/10
- Production - 8/108/10
- Music - 8/108/10
This is a splendid show that’s very underrated. I like how it’s constantly asking the questions of what is community and what do we lose in war. And the production value is not only good but it also shows how far J,C. Staff has come.