(CR) Tower of God

[Stark700]

The webtoon 'Tower of God' is apparently getting anime adaptation, to be made by a Japanese anime studio.

Source
https://twitter.com/YonkouProd/statu...54238755741696
http://www.bloter.net/archives/348696

[Stark700]

It's coming Spring 2020

Official website

tog-anime.com

https://twitter.com/AIR_News01/statu...11656979349504

[Stark700]

New key visual and promo (from Crunchyroll) are out now

https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-ne...nal-this-april

[LKK]

CR will carry the stream. (Source)

[bakato]

Originally Posted by Guardian Enzo

Still no director or screenwriter though, that I can see.

Where are you looking?

Takashi Sano (Sengoku Basara: End of Judgement, Transformers: Energon) is directing the anime at Telecom Animation Film (Lupin the Third: Part 5, We Rent Tsukumogami, Orange). Hirokazu Hanai (Dances with the Dragons, Chain Chronicle: The Light of Haecceitas) is the assistant director. Erika Yoshida (Trickster, Namu Amida Butsu! -Rendai Utena-) is in charge of series composition. Masashi Kudo (Bleach, Hayate the Combat Butler!) and Miho Tanino are designing the characters. Kevin Penkin (Made in Abyss, The Rising of The Shield Hero) is composing the music.

[Anh_Minh]

YouTube

https://youtu.be/Vvk-o7GnWtk

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

4.5 billions readers? I like ToG as much as the next guy, especially if the next guy managed to stick it out through the whole Hell Train, but I really don't think that's true.

[marconii2002]

13 episodes confirmed https://bbs.ruliweb.com/family/211/b...5/read/2208607

[bakato]

PV with opening here. If I wasn't listening to the lyrics and distinctly heard japanese, I would've pegged this as k-pop, which it is.

[Anh_Minh]

YouTube

https://youtu.be/RNyClma6awo

Sorry; dynamic content not loaded. Reload?

Is it just me, or does it look more sexual than I think it's supposed to, despite everyone keeping their clothes on? Especially 0:12.

[Stark700]

First episode is up on Crunchyroll now.

Looks like first episode is called "Ball" and it starts out with a girl saying that she will climb the tower before she disappears. A strange creatured named Headon (caretaker of the tower apparently) introduced himself and we got the main premise going.

I think the design of the tower looks fascinating with the unique art style. And interestingly enough, the MC is thrown into a setting with rules and mysterious creatures. Kevin Penkin is also doing the soundtracks for this show and it's fantastic. Pretty interesting start imo.

[bakato]

This was awful. Direction and animation are terrible and completely botched the appeal of the series.

[Rageth]

I liked the episode. There were some bits like with Yuri that were cut, but I think we get an idea for her motivation anyways, even if it's incomplete.
The opening gave me a headache.

Otherwise, I'm liking the style of the show so far.

[Anh_Minh]

I hope it'll be popular. I'm rather curious about what the anime only watchers will say.

[mergele]

I am having a though time deciding wheter I'd rate the source story or the adaptation work worse. I guess the adapatation did sometimes have some animation at least?

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

Originally Posted by Anh_Minh

I'm rather curious about what the anime only watchers will say.

I like the artstyle but the rest of the first episode is pretty mediocre. I mean, Yuri & her assistance really scream "plot convenience" by giving Bam insta-weapon & insta-translator. So, if Bam didn't conveniently ran into them, he'd just be dead right there. And now, thanks to the translator, he no longer need to worry about language barrier too. In addition, the sword-girl thingy granted Bam even more power outta nowhere. And Bam got all those all at once just because he's extremely lucky & cute? Hilarious.

Please tell me that the writing will get better later on.

[bakato]

Originally Posted by Obelisk ze Tormentor

I like the artstyle but the rest of the first episode is pretty mediocre. I mean, Yuri & her assistance really scream "plot convenience" by giving Bam insta-weapon & insta-translator. So, if Bam didn't conveniently ran into them, he'd just be dead right there. And now, thanks to the translator, he no longer need to worry about language barrier too. In addition, the sword-girl thingy granted Bam even more power outta nowhere. And Bam got all those all at once just because he's extremely lucky & cute? Hilarious.

Please tell me that the writing will get better later on.

This adaptation drops the ball in so many ways. In anticipation of the anime, I reread these 4 chapters for the first time in years and I was astounded at how well it hooked me in.

The story starts off by throwing "boy chasing girl" at us and at this point we really don't know anything about their relationship so we can't really invest ourselves in the boy's plight.

Spoiler for Scene Cut from Anime #1:

We get another "boy chases girl" in the form of Yuri and Evan. Yuri excitedly tells Evan an irregular has opened the door, much to his shock, who worries about being caught by Headon. They observe the boy's interaction with Headon from a safe distance as Evan observes that the irregular seems to be a normal human with no notable powers, quickly popping Yuri's excitement. As Headon presents his test, Yuri declares the boy has no chance of success and only death awaited him if he took the test. As the boy charges forward, his eyes filled with determination stokes Yuri's excitement and against Evan's warnings she leaps into the fray. Their interaction here serves to establish Yuri's whimsical and reckless nature with no regard for rules, while Evan plays the straight man but nevertheless goes along with her antics. The scene itself also plays into a sense of destiny as Yuri only chose to intervene when she saw the boy's determination to take the test in spite of the odds.

Source comparison:
As Baam enters the cage, Yuri asks Evan in his capacity as a Navigator if there was any way for Baam to win to which he responds that the difference in strength is too great and it would take a miracle. It's at this point where Evan takes the spotlight and I am officially sold on this. Evans' monologue reveals his earlier words to be a lie as there is one method for Baam to succeed. His opportunity lies in the fact that the eel sees him as food rather than a threat. Therefore, it will just swallow him whole. So Baam just has to stay still and let the eel swallow him, then stab it's tongue with Black March. When the eel opens its mouth to scream in pain, Baam would leap out of its mouth and make a break for the ball while the eel was incapacitated from the pain.

...But he wouldn't tell Baam this because a Navigator is supposed to show the path to those who can walk it and he deemed that Baam possessed neither the confidence nor bravery for such a feat. It was better for Baam to run around, reach his limit, and be saved by Yuri than die trying to implement this strategy he lacked the spirit to try. But it's here that Baam blows away his, and by extension the audience's expectation. Baam figured out the answer on his own, but not out of bravery. Rather his fear of losing Rachel overpowered his fear of death. We may not know much about their relationship, but a guy willing to go this far for a girl certainly moved my heart.

When Baam initially fails to pop the ball and the eel begins to wake up, Evan shouts at him to ask Black March to ignite. He thinks to himself Baam can walk this path, but unlike his earlier deductions this notion is not based on any logical reasoning. Evan doesn't know what it is, but Baam has a certain charm to him and he's certainly charmed us.

The anime cuts out some dialogue between Baam and Black March that sheds a little light on Baam's relationship with Rachel. Black March asks him why he wants to climb the tower. Jewels, power, beauty, glory? Baam answers Rachel which puzzles her. Baam explains that Rachel isn't as marvelous as jewels, or beautiful, but she's the most precious thing in his life and he doesn't need to climb the tower as long as he's with her. Black March narrows her eyes and declares him boring, but she doesn't dislike that. Plus his face is just her type.

Spoiler for Scene Cut from Anime #2:

With Baam having be transported the next floor, Yuri and Evan prepare to journey in pursuit. As Yuri complains about Black March's promiscuity, Evan is strangely silent. When asked, Evan wonders aloud if he was like Baam when he first entered the tower to which Yuri shoots down with a dead pan face sicne he looks nothing like Baam. Turning serious again, he asks Yuri if Baam will change. There are many things Baam has yet to experience. Some great power of extraordinary beauty will attract Baam eventually. Will he keep following Rachel? Can such unwavering passion exist? Evan can't even remember his desires when he first entered the tower. Baam will change just like them. Yuri pops the tension by strangling him for lumping her in with him. Then with certainty states that from the day they met, Evan hasn't changed at all. Not even his height. End scene.

This scene adjusts the perspective of the audience in preparation for the journey up the tower. This story setting is pretty unique and its themes and outlooks stray far from the beaten path.

In short, this shell of an anime fails to set the foundation for SIU's story. Don't expect anything.

Spoiler for LAST SCENE: Foreshadowing:

When Yuri and Evan leave, Headon turns to someone and asks what she will do now?

[Wandering Soul]

The animation and direction are going to take some getting used to.

[Von Himmel]

Not sure with the directing and pace, but I like the BGM and voice casting here. Also it's refreshing to see Tower of God without all DBZ tier fighting all over the place again.

[serenade_beta]

Spoiler for ep1:

Hmm, I like the setting... perhaps?
How to say it...
It looks promising, but as far as the first episode goes, it was pretty hard to keep track of because it just slapped a bunch of characters in the viewers' face. And these characters are expressing some kind of emotion, but I'm sitting and staring at it with dead eyes because no time has been spent on developing the characters and I couldn't care less about any of them.

I like the unique animation style.
I also am interested in the Druaga's Tower-ish setting.
I'm iffy on the sudden Test 2 being a death-game thing. We all know how boring those turn out (points to the previous season).

Also, the OP is really bad and the rapping is really stupid.

Anyways, definitely will try a few more episodes at least.

[Tougarashi]

ep1

Spoiler:

Even though the background of the story is dark theme, the anime was directed with light-hearted approach. Not knowing the webtoon and story line ahead, I really enjoyed it. Character design for Lizard girl is interesting. 2nd level of the tower gave me a vibe of Hunger Games, which I don't mind watching the different versions of it anyway. Can't wait for the next episode. Should I start exploring the webtoon now?