The Beginning After the End: How Different Are Sylvia’s Anime and Webcomic Designs?

Summary

Sylvia’s character design in the anime adaptation of TBATE differs greatly from the source material, making her nearly unrecognizable.
The anime design emphasizes Sylvia’s menacing and powerful appearance compared to the webcomic’s more grounded and less over-the-top version.
Fans find Sylvia’s black armor form in the anime more horrifying but prefer the webcomic’s dragon form for its regal and mystical look.

In the anime adaptation of “The Beginning After the End“, the design for Sylvia’s character has sparked debate among fans due to its departure from the original source material. While certain fans appreciate her revamped look, others express dissatisfaction, yearning for her original design. Altering a character’s appearance is not unusual in anime adaptations; however, with Sylvia, the modifications are so significant that she appears almost unrecognizable compared to her original depiction.

Sylvia is a vital character within “The Beginning After the End”. In an incident where Arthur falls off a cliff while shielding her mother, it’s Sylvia who saves his life. For the subsequent four months, they reside in a cave, situated in the confined area between the Beast Glades and the Elshire Forest. Quickly, a powerful connection develops between them as they discover solace in each other’s company.

Sylvia’s Character Design in the Anime, Webcomic, and Novel

A Visual Comparison

First Anime Appearance: episode 1
First Webcomic Appearance: chapter 12
First Novel Appearance: chapter 8

In the captivating anime adaption of “The Beginning After the End”, I can hardly believe my eyes when I see Sylvia! Her character design has undergone such a dramatic transformation that she seems like an entirely new character. At first glance, she exudes the enigmatic aura of an ancient seer, pulsating with a mystical, almost magical energy.

Intriguingly, her figure bears a striking resemblance to Ainz Ooal Gown from “Overlord”, especially in terms of her priest-like silhouette and exaggerated shoulder structure. However, she’s missing the distinctive skeletal head that Ainz is known for, thankfully!

In the comic strip online, Sylvia is portrayed as a humanoid monster with horns and glowing red eyes. Her design in this version is less frightening compared to her animated counterpart, which appears to have been drawn from a dueling card game, giving it an over-the-top feel. The comic’s depiction of Sylvia seems more realistic and toned down.

“Sylvia was the living embodiment of the phrase, Don’t judge a book by its cover.”—Arthur Leywin

From where I stand, the book portrays Sylvia’s design as a colossal figure, standing over 10 meters tall and boasting fiery red eyes and two massive horns, strikingly similar to her webcomic version. Her mouth sports two fangs that subtly emerge from her lips, enhancing her fearsome appearance. Remarkably, Arthur mentions that her sleek black armor gleams, resembling a treasure even without any adornments or embellishments.

Aesthetic Differences

In the anime version, Sylvia’s appearance takes on a more dramatic and ominous tone compared to her webcomic design. Her sharp features, particularly her dragon-like head, make her seem incredibly formidable and fearsome. A long, flowing black cloak further emphasizes her dominance, making her aura all the more imposing. The anime version also highlights Sylvia’s draconic traits, such as a thick tail that accentuates her beastly nature. Given how monstrous and overwhelming her design appears in this adaptation, it’s no wonder Arthur was taken aback when he first laid eyes on her.

Contrarily, in the webcomic, I find Sylvia’s appearance to be subdued, grounded, and distinctly demonic. Her body armor gives off a tyrant or afterlife knight vibe, with an aura of silent, dignified authority surrounding her. There’s a haunting quality to her design that suggests she might be a cursed existence, waiting to break free from a long, sorrowful fate. However, when compared to her anime design that radiates ancient, overwhelming power, her webcomic design is often perceived as cute and endearing, especially when she’s casually sitting next to Arthur.

“She reminded me of my mother in that she was gentle and kind.”—Arthur Leywin

Compared to Sylvia’s webcomic dragon form, her appearance in the anime is not as impressive. In the webcomic, Sylvia appears majestic and mystical, but her anime version seems lackluster and unimpressive, particularly when compared to Arthur. Regrettably, her anime form doesn’t even resemble a dragon; instead, it has more of a pegasus-like appearance, which is a common observation among fans who generally concur with this assessment.

Color Palette

Observing closely, I notice that although there are differences in aesthetics, both the anime and webcomic versions of this story seem to share a common color scheme, largely consisting of deep blacks, grays, and cool undertones, creating an ominous atmosphere. What truly stands out in these designs, perhaps even more so than the differences, are Sylvia’s fiery red eyes and mouth that emit a sinister, otherworldly glow. This fits perfectly with her portrayal as an ancient yet powerful entity lurking in the shadows.

Why Did the Anime Change Sylvia’s Design?

Which Is Better?

It’s unclear why the anime version of “The Beginning After the End” altered Sylvia’s character design, but it seems the creators aimed to make her appear more imposing in her black armor form. They opted for a design that accentuates power and intimidation rather than closely resembling her original appearance. In truth, Sylvia appears significantly stronger in the anime compared to the webcomic. However, due to the relatively poor animation quality of “The Beginning After the End” thus far, Sylvia’s new character design hasn’t been showcased with the movement and fluidity it deserves.

Harboring anger and seeking revenge might lead to self-inflicted pain, Arthur Leywin.” (As an observer)

In general opinion, fans find Sylvia’s black armor form scarier in the anime than in the webcomic. Her immense size and dragon-like qualities make her seem even more frightening to young Arthur. However, when it comes to Sylvia’s dragon form, the anime design doesn’t measure up to the webcomic. The golden runes, wings, and regal appearance of the webcomic version are lacking in the anime, resulting in a less impressive dragon form. Nonetheless, many viewers hold out hope that the anime will improve as more episodes air.

2025-04-21 01:36