Is The Beginning After The End Just Mushoku Tensei in Disguise?

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Summary

  • TBATE is not similar to Solo Leveling, as it follows a former king reincarnated in a medieval world.
  • Some similarities with Mushoku Tensei have been pointed out, but accusing TBATE of copying might be excessive.
  • Fans are criticizing TBATE’s animation quality, with concerns about outsourcing the production.

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the upcoming anime adaptation of “The Beginning After The End” (TBATE), a series that has truly captured my heart! The original novel and its webcomic have built a devoted fanbase, fueling anticipation for this potential blockbuster.

As I’ve noticed, numerous individuals have voiced their belief that “TBATE ” might follow the footsteps of “Solo Leveling“, piquing curiosity about potential parallels between these two narratives. However, considering the unique aspects each story possesses, is it truly justifiable to draw comparisons between “The Beginning After The End” and “Solo Leveling“?

Why Is The Beginning After The End Compared To Solo Leveling?

Ever since the anime adaptation was confirmed, TBATE has been tipped as a potential future blockbuster, much like Solo Leveling. Similar to TBATE, it originated from a novel penned by a Korean-born author. However, the writer of TBATE is actually a Korean-born American who relocated to the U.S. at a young age. Shortly after, the story was adapted into a webcomic format, and you can read both the novel and the webtoon on Tapas.

To be completely honest, The Beginning After The End and Solo Leveling are quite distinct from one another, with unique settings and stories. While the former revolves around a ruthless king reborn as a newborn to atone for his past sins in a medieval world, the latter follows a low-ranking Hunter who has an opportunity to become the strongest around by leveling up. Despite the fact that there are many fans who appreciate both series, they couldn’t be more different.

A portion of the comparisons could be an effort to enhance the promotion of the series, as labeling it “the next Solo Leveling” or similar would undeniably garner interest. Some people even anticipate that it might achieve the same level of popularity as Solo Leveling did (to be honest, the narrative possesses the capability to become an enormous success).

TBATE Looks More Like This Other Anime Series

While TBATE shares certain resemblances with a well-known anime, it might have drawn inspiration from this one, though the details aren’t clear. I’m referring to Mushoku Tensei: Jobless Reincarnation.

In the fresh universe, Arthur Leywin’s persona shares some similarities with Rudeus, though it might be merely a coincidence. Interestingly, both narratives unfold in a manner where the protagonists offer insights to the readers as if they are storytellers themselves. Moreover, both lead characters acknowledge that they weren’t model individuals in their past lives, although their ‘badness’ stemmed from distinct origins and took unique forms.

From an external perspective, it’s been suggested that the series TBATE might have drawn inspiration from Mushoku Tensei. However, labeling it as a blatant copy or rip-off seems to overstep boundaries. The climax of Episode 2 sets TBATE on a path distinctly separate from that of Mushoku Tensei. Furthermore, it’s important to note that many medieval isekai series share common themes due to their reliance on similar tropes.

What About the Animation of TBATE?

As an observer, I find it noteworthy to delve into the growing apprehension surrounding the potential influence from Mushoku Tensei. However, what truly stirs up discussions among fans is the less-than-favorable feedback towards The Beginning After The End’s animation. On various social platforms, there’s an ongoing chatter about “subpar animation quality.” A significant portion of these criticisms revolve around the use of numerous still frames during action sequences, a technique that could benefit from more fluid motion to enhance viewer engagement.

Reddit users mentioned that the first two episodes were produced by different studios because Studio A-Cat specializes in 3D computer graphics (3DCG) animations and needed to collaborate with other studios for creating 2D series instead.

In this entire episode, the only instance where animation resembled reality was when the girl with black hair fought off the wolves. However, it quickly switched back to a presentation-style animation.

— imtherealdazza on Reddit

The overwhelming majority of discussions about the newest episode on Reddit seem to center more around the animation quality than the plot itself, indicating a significant level of disappointment among fans regarding this aspect.

Is There Any Hope The Animation Will Improve?

As an anime enthusiast, I’ve often found that the initial three episodes of a new series tend to be its finest—though there are always exceptions, it seems that shows boasting top-notch final episodes usually had a solid start. It’s rare for a series with subpar animation in the early stages to significantly improve later on, mainly because budget constraints often play a significant role in the quality of animation over time.

Despite the current situation, there remains a possibility that things might turn around. If fans can rally enough support for the series, the production committee might recognize its popularity and potential financial loss if the fans are unsatisfied. In such a case, they could choose to invest more in the show, potentially improving it, especially in future seasons. However, the odds of this happening seem slim but not impossible.

You can currently stream “The Beginning After The End” on Crunchyroll, with multiple language subtitles available. Dubbed versions will be added later on.

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2025-04-11 18:44