Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master

Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master - In the realm of historical anime, this show stands aloft with its widespread wings, even if it doesn't get the popularity that it should deserve all the more. As a bona-fide Asian, having lived and watched countless palace-centred series ranging from Chinese to Korean live-action drama shows that have lasted for time millennia, I had the privilege to learn a part of history that not only is a centerpiece of the Feudal times, but this is essentially where the world got its start in a lot of aspects, from romance to politics. Of course, the Japanese medium,just like its East Asian counterparts, has all of that too in anime form through the depiction of the historical fantasy genre, ranging from the likes of Fall 2022's heavily underrated Koukyuu no Karasu a.k.a Raven of the Inner Palace, to last Fall's Magnum Opus of Kusuriya no Hitorigoto a.k.a The Apothecary Diaries. And one such work is quite the novelty that it's the ONLY way you can experience it the best: novelist Chisato Abe's Yatagarasu series, with the anime covering the first 3 volumes (out of 6) that comprise Part 1 of the novel series. And yes, despite the overall marketing of the anime as the adaptation of the 2nd novel, which is where the show got its title as Karasu wa Aruji wo Erabanai a.k.a The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master, trust me that the series goes much deeper into more than just that part of the adaptation alone. Be it either MAL Rewrite or Crunchyroll's synopsis that you can read as a starter to the anime, believe me on this one sole fact: once you get into the lore of the show, you CANNOT get out of it easily, it's just that engrossing. But to give a brief summary of the context, trust everything you know and come to expect when it comes to the historical fantasy genre, and amp it up a notch given all of its heavy-laden drama and mythology that doesn't take away the essence of what the anime is all about, summarized in 3 parts: marriage for succession, a reluctant figure growing to become a prominent figure to help somebody, and that somebody is ascending the conquest for royalty as the true figure of its kingdom/nation against all the heavy-handed politics as to be expected of the Feudal times. It's a lot to take both the anime and this review in general, so don't expect to get everything on the first leg. The thing that sets Yatagarasu apart from the alikeness of historical fantasy shows is literally in its name: humans who are said to be able to shapeshift into said creatures of 3-legged mythical god-crows, and the central chess piece is a laid-back boy by the name of Yukiya. The second son of the rather medium-sized family living in the small village of Taruhi, and one that stands out not being in a good way, he's the kind of young man who just wants to have fun and not get nosy into unorthodox business matters that the adults always have daily trifles with. But from one situation to another, he gets roped into the world of the adults, thanks to this rather fine adult of Wakamiya through the imperial courts. Unbeknownst to him, the Yatagarasu also has a hierarchy system to determine who has the right to lead the Kingdom of Yamauchi in its unique parallel world of humans and gods co-existing alongside one another, and it's the true Kin'u a.k.a Golden Raven who has that right and holds the fate of the kingdom in his hands. And that responsibility lies with Wakamiya, the young Imperial Crown Prince himself, whom Yukiya is forcefully sent to become his new attendant in the hopes that he'll become a useful member of society. Despite not getting along initially whilst having other yatagarasu (like Sumio) as his close attendant, Yukiya may not like being an errand boy for Wakamiya, but little does he know that his involvement will, like Wakamiya's fateful choices, shake the kingdom in ways beyond what he could ever anticipate. Let's break it down even further: as mentioned, the anime adapts the first 3 volumes of Part 1 of the novel. Volume 1, comprising of the Karasu ni Hitoe wa Niawanai a.k.a A Raven for All Seasons novel, focuses on the political marriage aspect where esteemed noble ladies from all areas of Yamauchi, representative of the lands they come from (North, South, East, and West), are all vying for the spot to become Wakamiya's wife in the hopes of birthing future heirs of generations to bring the kingdom to prosperity. At the centre of this is Asebi, the second princess from the Eastern family, who comes into the marriage game as someone who boasts a rich family background, but has little to no redeeming values of her own, always coming forth as a princess who lacks social etiquette and maintains her innocence as her only tool to aid being the perfect wife material for Wakamiya, despite being way out of place. And if you know anything about political marriages in general, it's a very (and I mean VERY) messy affair of instances from accusations to allegations of princesses trying to elevate themselves over their competition, and as infuriating as the subject matter comes, this is pretty bog-standard and time-period accurate as the princesses will stop at nothing to make and break other rivals to make their name stand out amongst the rest. Yet, you can think of the whole political marriage subterfuge as the backdrop to the main adaptation of the series: Volume 2, comprising of what it was advertised to be - Karasu wa Aruji o Erabanai a.k.a The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master. This is where both Yukiya and Wakamiya get the main meat of the story going as it is, being adapted in parallel alongside Karasu ni Hitoe wa Niawanai (which I thought was a nice touch and a smart move), focusing more on the aspects of Yukiya growing, not just as a young teenager who thinks he's got the smarts to survive in the harsh outside world, and with Wakamiya quickly shooting him down to his humble abode as a test and a testament to how well he can actually survive with the crevices of Yamauchi as notable events happen that could very well jeopardize the prosperity of the kingdom to come. And this is where we land with the latter half of the anime (from Episode 14 onwards) adapting Volume 3 of the novel: Kin no Karasu a.k.a The Golden Raven, exposing more of what makes Yamauchi the kingdom that it is, and how it handles crises in the form of human-eating monkeys serving as provincial pagan gods, and an Underground that keeps all of that harmony for time millennia — a sacred tradition that must not be tampered with. And how all of this was weaved together like fine tapestry, it's just a marvel of art, worked to the finest of details. The high praises of the show can be summed down to both the plot and its characters. As much as the story flows from one point to the next, despite it being infodump from time to time, you'll never really have the feel where you'll get lost trying to understand what the hell's going on in this seemingly larger-than-life story. Even so, all of the speculations derived from the various adapted novels depicting their specific case scenarios, each question raised will undoubtedly always have its answer resolved in a way that actually makes sense of how and why the world-building happened in the first place, and not just for plot convenience nor contrivance. Coupled together with characters who aren't written monotonously, every single one of them, protagonist or antagonist, has a reason for their parts of involvement, and doesn't go wasted when their intrigues get the better of the audience trying to assimilate who they really are when intentions serve as the tipping point for further analyses. This is not a show for the faint-hearted, as everyone is multi-layered and multi-faceted to the point of competency and interest, and it's the "one blink of an eye and you'll miss important fine details" kind of adage that connects each and every one of significance, which makes characterization ALL the more important. There is reason enough to love Yatagarasu not just as a fictional historical fantasy show, but of the depiction that's done with the help of the people that bring this to the small screen. Yuru Camp a.k.a Laid-Back Camp director Yoshiaki Kyougoku is back on the directorial seat to helm this "intricate sum of moving parts" show, and I have to say that no one does it better than this guy who's slowly building a reputation of his own, challenging himself to direct an anime that's so far out of his comfort zone. Alongside series composer Yukiko Yamamuro (who helmed the live-action movie of mangaka Mitsuru Adachi's baseball series Touch), the writing of the show is so impeccable to the point where not one scene goes unwasted trying to serve as exposition, only to be forgotten by the wayside. Everything has a sense of purpose, and what may look like scenes that are out of place in the beginning, will come back to be revisited in different POVs that ultimately layer the appropriate sense of mystery enough to show the amount of heft of the set-up. This is exactly how you make mystery series enticing, and Yatagarasu achieves that to a T. For what it is worth, Studio Pierrot's production on the anime might not look the best, but what it makes up for in quantity, it gives sheer quality right out of the gate. What doesn't seem like much in the way of animation because of the constant use of long shots and static scenes, the beautiful artwork compliments that so much to the point where the lack of animation doesn't even amount to much, so that the mesmerizing can truly take over and give the series a good first impression throughout its run. Likewise, the music department may also feel lacking, but the subtle use of its OST at key moments helps elevate the show to the point where even the mundane is still notable for the subsequent scenarios to come that can give the music a run for its composition. While Saucy Dog's OP is just alright and honestly forgettable, Akiko Shikata's ED makes up for it in sheer composition that fits in line with the show's historical morales to goodness. If Kusuriya no Hitorigoto proves something about historical fantasy, it's that the genre itself actually has an audience that appreciates this rather niche content, but the caveat is that that number is small. Like Koukyuu no Karasu, Yatagarasu is massively underrated not just because of its affiliations being in the same genre, but that people dismissed this as a show so adept that it feels boring to the point where nothing happens, and that it takes a while before anything notable can take centerstage, and it wouldn't amount to much at the end of it all. Oh no, NOT in this show, where everything has substance and service for a historical Seinen show that simply just got overlooked by the masses, and Lord behold that anime like this will make people smarter at all (which is part of the intent anyways). If you want to take a chance on Karasu wa Aruji wo Erabanai a.k.a Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master, please, PLEASE do, you'll certainly not regret wasting 8 to 9 hours binge-watching the anime from start to finish. It's an excellent must-watch series that was both unfortunately marred by the masses and fortunately marvelled at by the minority as an inspired folktale of legend, and one thing's for sure: it's now a certified hidden gem that delivers on all cylinders. Either way, you're doing yourself a disservice if you like (or love even) period-accurate history with endless copious amounts of never-ending drama so gripping and fascinating, it keeps you in your seat for 25 minutes' worth that goes by so fast that it feels like 5 minutes, it's just that engrossing and captivating.

The show is separated by two arcs. If I were rating just the first, it would have been a 9/10. The first arc takes a few episodes to establish itself but once it does, it's a story full of intrigue and unexpected twists and turns. The second arc however, just isn't as strong as the previous. All the unanswered questions and political drama in the first arc were mostly ignored. Though I can appreciate the world building, if there isn't going to be a season 2 then they should have just cut this arc completely. As a whole, I still think this show is worthy of praise eventhough it takes a minute to get into and the second arc not being as strong as the first.

When the first cour began I was expecting a typical run-of-the mill harem story, which I was totally in for anyway. Pretty soon the creators threw us into a rich world of beauty, mystery, and ever-present threats. For anyone who enjoys the kishoutenketsu (introduction, development, twist, conclusion) storytelling style, this one is for you! Overall 10/10 (spoiler-free) The premise of Heian-like period Japan intrigued me from the start (historical fiction for the win!), with cunning characters of the inner palace. The introduction of the four houses and what stakes they have in gaining a connection to the imperial family sets the premise: behind the fleeting sakura andsmiles lies an ongoing battle for power and prestige. Yatagarasu politics mirrors our own, but with the added layer of shapeshifting forms, very telling in how they are referred to in the story: miyagarasu(?), or "court ravens" vs yamayatagarasu, the "hill ravens" (lit. "mountain ravens" but I'm going by the subs). The fact that their distinguishing between the two already hints a lot to how their society is run, and that's just the tip of the mountain! Of course, what kishoutenketsu story would be complete without a number of twists and turns? Just when you think all the problems are solved, the story continues, making you question everything you thought you knew about the characters, plot, and world. It's difficult to describe it in more detail without spoiling, so I'll recommend you give it a try for yourself. Art 10/10 The animation is fluid and you can tell a lot of love has been put into making the yatagarasu in their bird and human forms seamless and realistic. I enjoyed rewatching to see how each character's clothing styles reflects their political affiliations and trying to guess their storylines based on it. My favourite scene comes from episode 13 where the direction took faction colours, lighting, and camera angles to really nail the scene. I never saw it coming, but in hindsight all the visual signs were there, which really speaks to how much effort the animators put into even the smaller details like facial expressions. (To those of you who've seen it, you know what I'm talking about :) Music 10/10 Not the most knowledgeable about music, but I enjoyed the soundtrack and play the OP often. The soundtrack hits hard when it needs to, particularly in key moments that truly make the conclusions feel earned. Characters 10/10 Imagine you're wading off the shore, when suddenly the seabed drops beneath you. I felt that some characters began as archetypes to draw viewers in before moving on to explore who they really are. I think they used familiar archetypes as the baseline before expanding on what each of them actually means and how they can add to the story. Take Yukiya for instance: A male protagonist who is the "second blockhead son" of a local lord. At first I thought he was a typical shounen protagonist who'd rise in the ranks and overcome his awkward stage to be accepted for who he truly is. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised to see him out of his depth in central court politics and have to use his own wits and help from others to carry on. Whether he submits to the court is another thing, but the real treat was watching his own internal conflicts between his ideals and the expectations of others, contrasted with the external conflicts going on all around him. Even the side characters who don't get as much spotlight will leave you wondering what else they're hiding behind their feathered cloaks... Story 10/10 I found the first watch a tad confusing as I figured out who was whom and their roles in the story. Honestly, the best enjoyment for me came in the rewatches, since I already knew the outcome I could search for clues or details I'd missed beforehand, and understand the characters a lot better. The original novelist did a great job in crafting a story where you think you know everything there is to know about the characters, world, and setting, then sweeps the rug out from under you at the end. Truly a mastercraft in kishoutenketsu! The series truly has a bit of something for anyone, be it court politics, battles for the harem, underworld societies, comedic splashes, and an abundance of world building details that grow more vivid as you watch on. I encourage anyone interested in fantasy politics and world building to watch until the very end. Adaptation 9/10 As this anime is an adaptation of a novel with several manga adaptations, I thought it worth mentioning that there are always going to be details lost in translation. I have only had the opportunity to read a little bit of the manga, and I feel that there were a couple of things the anime could have expanded on some more. For instance, Yukiya's backstory gets more time in the manga and the character relations are better ironed out, and I imagine the novel expands on it a lot more. Still, the anime gives enough hints for you to figure out it's something big, so rewatches are definitely recommended. As there are currently no official English translations, I hope they'll be licensed soon after this anime airs! Conclusion As someone who loves historical fantasy and character-driven stories, Yatagarasu was a real gem in this year's lineup. If you liked Apothecary Diaries or Frieren I think this anime is worth a shot. Just be warned that you'll probably be wanting a second season by the end. :)

It is a non mainstream anime although it is studio pierrot. This anime got me into it from episode 1, although some people only started to love it after giving it a try to three episodes at least. It is extremely amazing anime, from touching into topics like mythology and traditional customs from the japanese history. It is a straight up 10 for me, it includes lots of mystery and I did not find the plot very obvious at times, which made me go into a detective mode to find out what happens. I think the best arc was the first one because there werelots of plot twists, imo. The last arc is also really great! I definitely recommend this anime and to anyone giving it a try to at least watch three episodes, I met some people who only started getting more into it on episode three. If you are into history and mythology, this will be a great journey from the start, believe me! If you have anyone to watch it with, I do think you would have a better time as two heads are better than one at finding out what happens.