Arknights is one of those projects that one can have a skewed perspective of depending on how they've been targeted. The luckiest of us all will see gorgeously animated ads promoting a cool dystopian future with lots of gunfights and half-animal people while those less fortunate will see some of the worst TV live-action ads ever concocted.
Like with Genshin Impact, another insanely popular game, Arknights is getting an anime adaptation, and it's coming pretty soon. From Yostar Pictures - the animation subsidiary of Yostar Games - comes a TV animation about a story of resilience and hope in a dystopian future on the planet of Terra.
The Story of Arknights
The MyAnimeList page for Arknights: Prelude of Dawn doesn't offer much in terms of a synopsis for the series but its trailer echoes much of the game's overall story description. This series will likely be an introduction to the world of Terra, its politics, and the members of Rhodes Island, the protagonists.
This anime coming to be is something of a blessing to anyone who has been vaguely interested in the series from its marketing but utterly uninterested in playing the game itself. It's a similar hurdle that holds fans of Fate from playing Fate/Grand Order, and why the animated adaptations of the stories are so anticipated.
In a dystopian future, the inhabitants of the planet Terra display traits of animals, and a disease has spread across the world called "oripathy." This disease actually gives people the capability to wield magic, but such benefits are meager before the mortality and infectious spread.
The infected are made outcasts, prompting many to join a militant group called Reunion in opposition to the world governments. Between the resistance movement and the corrupt governments are the protagonists, the operators of Rhodes Island, led by the protagonist and player character, "Doctor."
The Series
The story sounds pretty compelling, and the visual style presented through the ads and various cinematics since the game's launch is really enticing. It's an intersection of cute anime girls with militaristic aesthetics that caters to a very specific niche, but the use of color is unique. The whole world is gray, and the monotony is only broken up by vibrant bursts of color.
The color comes through in the characters and their magic, which seems to lighten up the world in the same ways that they aim to cure the illness plaguing it. With every animated OVA, ad, and special animation having been animated in-house at Yostar Pictures, the style remains consistent, though sometimes animated in 3D rather than 2D.
Back in 2020, to celebrate the 1st anniversary of the game's release, Yostar released a 10-minute special called Holy Knight Light, with much of the same staff that will be tackling the TV anime. It's highly recommended to get an idea of what to expect from the show. Plenty of action interspersed with some levity for good measure, all drenched in some well-directed cinematic lighting.
Granted a lot of mobile game promotional material is produced well but in short bursts, hence why the Fate/Grand Order commercials always look so unbelievably detailed. However, through effective use of digital effects work and keen directing, Arknights' visual style isn't so detailed that a TV animation couldn't be imagined in a similar quality.
Yostar Pictures' resume isn't quite extensive, mostly relegated to short specials, the commercials for their mobile games, and the Azur Lane TV anime from 2019, which sits at a 6.29 on MAL. Still, based on what they have presented for Arknights in animation up to this point not only looks pretty but has proven it can tell a fun story too. The music is pretty great too; a cultural blend of genres that has netted some impressive artists to lend their talents to the franchise.
This new series could be an opportunity to get even more fans turned off by the series' trappings as a mobile game, as well as a chance to elevate Yostar Pictures should the show prove successful. As of now, there is no word on where the anime will stream outside of Japan, but hopefully, some update will come soon.
Arknights: Prelude to Dawn airs on October 29 in Japan. An international release is not yet confirmed.