The release of The Beginning After the End episode 2 on April 9, 2025, has left much to be desired, especially concerning its animation quality. Fans who eagerly anticipated the continuation of the series were met with disappointment, as the visuals were characterized by lackluster CGI that many considered subpar. Some viewers even suggested that this new anime adaptation may fall short compared to its already criticized predecessor.
In recent memory, Blue Lock season 2 has emerged as a notable example of an underwhelming anime adaptation. Despite receiving substantial fanfare akin to the hype surrounding Studio A-Cat’s work, The Beginning After the End has set a new benchmark for how not to handle animation in adaptations.
Disclaimer: This article reflects the author’s personal views.
Subpar Animation in Episode 2
Episode 2 follows the Leywin family on their journey toward the main city in search of a worthy teacher for Arthur. Amidst their travels, Arthur finds himself engaged in a fierce duel with one of Reynolds’ friends. Unfortunately, their adventure turns perilous when bandits ambush them while crossing a bridge.
During the chaos, Reynolds breaks the news to Arthur about becoming an older brother, as Alice is expecting another child. In a brave bid to protect his mother, Arthur sacrifices himself and is struck by a bandit, tumbling down the valley. While the storyline offered some intrigue, the animation fell drastically short of expectations.
The animation quality was so poor that it barely resembled a polished production, evoking a sense of viewing a rudimentary PowerPoint presentation. The movements of characters and creatures felt disjointed and lacked fluidity, raising serious concerns about the studio’s animation technique.
This disheartening situation echoes the sentiments surrounding Blue Lock season 2, another anime sequel often criticized for its animation flaws. However, many believe the animation quality from studio 8bit may still outshine that of Studio A-Cat, given the latter’s failure to faithfully represent the source material.
Fan Reactions: A Wave of Discontent
The fanbase has seized the opportunity to draw comparisons between The Beginning After the End and other titles notorious for their animation issues, declaring this adaptation the most egregious of them all. Other series mentioned included Blue Lock season 2 and The Record of Ragnarok, both cited for their glaring animation shortcomings.
Some fans took to social media to express their frustrations, directing their ire at the animation studio for robbing them of the excitement associated with this highly anticipated manhwa adaptation. One particularly frustrated viewer encouraged fellow fans to read a few chapters of TurtleMe’s original work to appreciate the disparity between the source material and its adaptation.
‘This animation is somehow worse than Blue Lock’ a fan lamented
‘And I thought Record of Ragnarok was bad’ another expressed
‘Please don’t support this animation quality and just read a couple of chapters from the webtoon; you’ll understand the level of butchery done to this PEAK!’ one user claimed
‘F*ck that lazy a*s money-hungry studio for poorly adapting such a good manhwa’ another fan stated
Concluding Thoughts
While The Beginning After the End season 1 may not currently measure up to iconic series such as Solo Leveling, the storyline—akin to Mushoku Tensei—will pick up momentum after the initial 1-2 seasons. However, with the current state of the anime, the future looks uncertain, especially as fans continue to voice their discontent over the subpar animation.
Nonetheless, it’s not uncommon for anime series to switch studios after a season, which may provide a glimmer of hope for fans anticipating better animation in future episodes.