The NieR: Automata Anime is Disappointing

[@maxderrat]

What did you think of the NieR: Automata anime?

[@yujin_sumeragi]

it was alright

[@acedias12]

I enjoyed it.

[@seiferrocks]

Had a fun time with it. Glad they had went with a deviation with some events to better justify the shows existence. I hope they make one for gestalt/replicant since I believe it would work better as a show than automata.

[@minhnguyenquang7220]

With the limited amount of time they had, it was a good attempt at telling the story in another format. You cant expect the anime to have the same build-up and momentum as the game while being faithful. Also there are some extra contents that are worthwhile for existing fans so that's nice.

[@alternate720]

Nah, I can blame square enix; for taking down accord’s archive website, since anime are just expensive commercials for promoting other media. Now newcomers will have to either mine for new info or just leave it at the waste side, way to go SE😂

[@malcolmbacalso8492]

The anime felt more like a supplement to the game rather than a stand-alone experience. I wish they worked out the kinks more to play to the strengths of the absurdity of the story.

[@TheSanvale]

I think the best parts of the anime were the new ones, things we didn't see in the original work -The machines evolving by themselves (no dialogue at all) -Adam in despair because of Eve's death -The physical language in the relationship of 2B and 9S, animated was more charming. -The story of A2 with Lily. -A2 interacting with the machines of the village and showing more of her gentler nature than just rage or apathy. (makes her arc a little better) I showed the anime to a friend that didn't know the game and he enjoyed the first part a lot and picked up a lot of the story bits, but the second was too much things to take in such a short time. I guess your review is spot on!

[@YTHandlesWereAMistake]

As someone who heard a few retellings and discussions of the material in passing and bounced off the game because of idiosynchrasies with it's port, and then watched both parts of the anime in one week, I can say I really enjoyed the whole story and it somewhat solidified in memory the experience and the events taking place. And I didn't think part 2 was too much to grasp, though it did pick up the scale a lot. A2 was portrayed simply awesome as a whole, and the reveals about scanners pairings with E models and humans hit hard in just the right way. Edit: I do also think the jarring side-by-side of negative and positive story beats might be there to make you, the viewer, somewhat uncomfortable. And to show that the whole world is moving and doesn't get frozen when something happens. And for the details left out - I think that is precisely to save up a bit on time scale, as they wouldn't get an approval for showing this in 48 episodes or, god forbid, 96 that it could have used. So instead of cutting an event out completely, you leave the miniscule detail for the caring fans, as a nod, and move on with the main plot events.

[@isaaccho7752]

Man, someone had to say it. Animating side content that wasn't in the game was cool with the replicant references. However I think a more compelling narrative would've been something like cyberpunk edgerunners. Something new and untold that gets people interested into the world of Nier without butchering quality of stories already told in the game.

[@АлексКвант-у8ж]

Something like YORHA boys?

[@Grimm-o8f]

I’m not familiar with the 2017 RPG NieR: Automata but I like the anime better!, Hopefully they should do final fantasy 7.

[@mateusgreenwood1096]

It's so weird that they try to present Jackass as a lovable comedic relief. She invented a highly addictive chemical (drug) that basically ruined the lives of dozens of androids and deliberately spread it's availability, never stopping to think of the consequences. She is either obliviously evil or completely indiferent.

[@Herr_Gamer]

Jackass heisenberg needed money for explosives after all

[@jadenkarpoff9158]

Funnily enough though the addict that sells the drug in the desert is one of the only Yorha androids besides 4S and the protagonists that survive after the destruction of the bunker. As I understand it they also kill Jackass off in the anime whereas in the game she gets off scot free, so you could say they actually did more to appropriately punish her.

[@jacksypher3403]

The idea is that she's not evil, she just wants to have a good time. She's like a chick at a rave passing out LSD or Ecstasy. Also androids aren't real people. They're robots. And Jackass is also an android since no humans exist anymore

[@hollowsteel]

Tbh the anime jackass was a better route to take her character… I’m biased because they really did just turn her into Hange from AOT but for robots, and I love Hange-type characters so

[@alejandroaraiza2226]

But the second ending song is GLORIOUS

[@yutikoo]

yeah the only good thing about it is

[@OsokaOiv]

I mean it was composed by MONACA. Same composers for the game soundtracks.

[@jacksypher3403]

In defense of Jackass: She's kinda like that in the game too She once gave me a fish to eat that killed 2B, Credits rolled and sent me back to the Title screen. The first time you meet her she blows up a gate unnecessarily with homemade explosives. Even other characters are annoyed by her which is why she hangout by the camp near the desert (where she annoys the merchant) instead of the Resistance camp. Her name is Jackass so yeah she's supposed to be that way, its just not as prominent in the game because she's just an npc with side quests

[@Human_01]

This was well written. Well done.

[@jacksypher3403]

@Human_01 Thanks

[@plompudu2529]

18:01 Since you asked - yes I'd most definitely love you exploring all the hidden info, secrets and such! :)

[@naagamune]

i really want him to tackle even the ties to Reincarnation. i feel like a lot of that has flown over a lot of peoples head when the anime aired. Adam turning into an enemy from reincarnation. 10H outside the moon server etc.

[@sethkarma2072]

I would also very much enjoy a dive into it.

[@Herr_Gamer]

@@naagamunein fairness, only a teeny percentage of the fanbase gave Reincarnation more than a sideways glance for being on mobile and a gacha game. Hard to blame them, honestly, though at least the moon server story got big enough that it has been retold around the community so I believe a good amount of people noticed it

[@naagamune]

@@Herr_Gamer unfortunately true it is a shame that there is no way to play it anymore. I was one of the few who stuck with it from day 1 to EoS

[@tragicallyfunny]

yeah, excuse me?! How can someone just drop a bombshell like that and leave us begging for a new video. how cruel!

[@Emerald-kun]

Anime studios won't risk doing more episodes than 12 or 24 at max now, which ironically hurts the quality of their adaptation by taking the safer approach financially, and I think that is quite unfortunate.

[@Herr_Gamer]

Remember when a show was given time to flush out world, story AND characters? Good times. Now it’s mostly either or

[@AC-dk4fp]

This is an exageration 12 episodes has always been the normal length for late night anime with two cour series being the exceptions. Longer day time series are still being made. Things have changed a little with how longer series run but these fan targeted video game adaptations have generally been short.

[@chrisdiokno5600]

TBF, I get the cour based setup. Especially if its adapating a manga. That way they allow more of the manga to be made

[@Herr_Gamer]

@@AC-dk4fp while true, some series still get repeated 12 episode seasons like the remake of LOGH

[@AC-dk4fp]

@@Herr_Gamer Quite a few one cour series get sequels but the post 2018 LotGH was continued in theatrical format with the 12 episodes being chopped up versions of the theatre releases. What people seem to be complaining about is an apparent disappearance of 2 cour series which is off topic since Nier 1.1 is one of the exceptions to that already.

[@raptorskilltor4554]

The virgin nier automata anime vs the chad nonexistent drakengard anime

[@Emery101]

Shout out to Mikhail.

[@eldritchmorgasm4018]

"Drakengard 1" as an (uncencored) anime, 24 episodes & 3 movies with different endings for the finale (you chose what's canon & maybe leading into other stories like DRAKENGARD 2 & NIER), might be nice

[@SpikeJet2736]

To be fair anime doesn't tend to get it right any better than Hollywood does. The Persona animes for instance are also pretty mediocre. The only anime based on a video game (aside from Cyberpunk Edgerunners) that I remember with fondness is Gungrave. The problem is that Nier Automata's story was clearly made with the video game medium in mind. It's the same reason why alot of people think Watchmen shouldn't have been adapted into a movie that it only works in comics

[@valkrieknights]

The pacing is fast because the game's pacing is fast. The only reason the game feels well paced is because of all the travel time, combat, and exploration. Things that would just be boring to include in a show. As for the emotional connection that you don't really feel from the anime, it's because you aren't able to immerse yourself as you can in the game. In game, you ARE 2B, you ARE 9S, and you ARE A2. You're there experiencing the story for yourself. As for the anime, you're just an onlooker watching events unfold. It'd be like watching all the cutscenes on youtube.

[@HanakoSeishin]

> you can [immerse youeself] in the game. In game, you ARE 2B, you ARE 9S, and you ARE A2. How is this claim different than when people who want to ban videogames say that in GTA you ARE a dangerous criminal and you ARE shooting cops and civilians?

[@valkrieknights]

@HanakoSeishin who said it's different? It might even be more true in GTA where you can go online and roleplay. Just because you can immerse yourself in a world, doesn't mean you're capable of the things you did in that world.

[@HanakoSeishin]

@@valkrieknights So you ARE are a dangerous criminal and you ARE shooting cops and civilians and now you are even admitting it. Logically you belong to jail now, don't you?

[@valkrieknights]

@@HanakoSeishin have you ever watched a movie that made you feel something (ie pain, happy, sad, scared, anxious, etc)? That's because you had some level of immersion. That doesn't mean you're suddenly an action hero, a spy, a martial artist, or a character in a video game. I don't know what point you're trying to make or why you're bringing this up here, but if you don't see the difference between immersing yourself in a fictional world and repeating those actions in real life, then that's on you.

[@HanakoSeishin]

@@valkrieknights > That doesn't mean you're suddenly an action hero, a spy, a martial artist, or a character in a video game THIS is the point I'm trying to make. Because in your initial comment you claimed that you ARE indeed the character you play as.

[@nightlydata2181]

It could've done more but I'm incredibly satisfied. The anime was never supposed to replace the game. It's supposed to INTRODUCE ppl into Nier wit an easier jumpin on point than buyin a whole game they're unsure they're interested in playin for a whole 30hrs. I think it succeeds enough at that. I think the anime would've been improved if they did more plot changes but the issue is the anime staff & producers wanted the anime to be as close to the game as possible as to not piss off fans who may not like the big plot changes. They wanted to be as close as possible to the source in a way that worked while YT wanted to change things up way more. I can't speak for jp fans(who would be the main audience to appease) but many western fans expected greater changes so the anime could be used as a medium to its fullest. I think we got both more & less than we were expectin but overall it still worked for wut it is. So the majority opinion is it's "really good" but not "perfect". I like the anime a lot but it doesn't beat the game & I kinda wasn't expectin it to. I LOVE the ED theme of part 2 tho. I also like the idea that this was another loop of the same events & we actually got somethin minorly but impactfully diff.

[@reifuTD]

One of my favorite anime is a horror anime called Higurashi When They Cry, it's based off a Visual novel series. The reason why I bring it up is, the anime was cut into story arcs that would retell the story of the characters in different ways. Each time the story was retold anime that anime or the Visual Novel new details and information was introduced explains some the actions of characters in earlier retellings. Why couldn't NeiR be written in the same way? Side Note the guy who wrote the Higurashi When They Cry Visual Novel is working on the story for the Silent Hill F game.

[@JohnGrandline]

Seku-Senpai plays Umineko part 1

[@Poruasecas]

I totally agree about this not being a good adaptation and the worst way for someone to experience automata for the first time, but I'm kinda glad about it. The anime has nods to so many things outside of the main game (the stage plays and the manga where they took the lily flashback from, the novels and events where we see different iterations of 9S and of course all the references to the other games in the series) but there's something that sadly not adapted outside of some blink and you'll miss it frames towards the end, and that's the drama cd about the creation of YorHa, I wish they had made it into an extra 25th episode exclusive to the blue rays or something similar because that's the only real complaint I have with the anime.

[@Poruasecas]

Also yeah please make more Nier autómata content about those secrets ❤

[@nicholaslewis6182]

I thought It was amazing. I watched this video with bias set by the name you gave it. Which mirrors the bias you watched the anime with I think. It was beautifully presented with a lot less focus on the dynamic between 2B and 9S. Which was fine for me. Seeing more about Pascal and the children, the kingdom and even Lilly. That the virus can be overcome and fleshing out more background. Adam and Eve exchanging places. Much like dark tower this is an evolution. A single turning of the wheel. Even the bot battle at the end was amazing as their change is reflected heavily in more than end game notes was amazing. Emil is a side character. His absence in more than reference was fine. His time in the sun wasn’t Automata. It was alongside his friends before this world came to be. He was a remnant and relying on his stories would have felt contrived in my opinion.

[@funkydovahkiincat8176]

Although I think the anime was mostly good, I think it would be way better if it was a shorter anime focused on A2's backstory or any other plot that can be more easily adapted. The game is just too much for a anime with only 24 episodes.

[@unomaster6828]

The game is definitely better, especially just how unique the experience is. It's also an overall more cohesive narrative. However, I thought the character development for 9S and 2B was slightly better in the anime.

[@nooaah8286]

Ok starting off- I have to respectfully disagree in nearly every point💀 If someone was to ask me if the anime is a good supplement to the game, I would answer with: Kinda. Nier automata is phenomenal and if you know you won’t probably play the game then PLEASE WATCH THE ANIME. - I am a huge Nier automata fan it is in my top 3 games oat. And yes the anime isn’t perfect, however like mentioned in the video adapting the story structure and also the storytelling through gameplay elements (like the flickering screen with 2B on the bridge, fans will know) is impossible. And as a fan I can recognize how much effort was put into this anime to try and encapsulate this game exclusive moments as good as possible. You can feel the effort. There were so many Easter eggs and so much love to details. - Every week I looked forward to the episodes cause I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. Yes they didn’t do every epic moment justice, however the made up for it in other moments. So all in all perfectly fine - One big point where I really DO agree is the lack of philosophical concepts. There wasn’t enough room for it in the anime to really dive into it, like the game did with sidequests. That is also the big reason why I would still always say: PLAY THE GAME. You would really miss out on a big part of what makes Nier so special. - All in all I really love the anime and can approve of it as a fan. I think it does serve as a really good entry point. I myself watched the first 3 episodes, really liked the vibe and story, played the fucking game to 100% finished the rest of the anime. And then in the second half continued weekly. (And no this isn’t bias. I watched 3 episodes. So I basically played the game before I knew anything)

[@velvet_victor]

I found it hard to get through some of the episodes in the first third of the anime, especially those focusing on the war between the Yorha units and the machines, they just felt incredibly boring to me. And I hated how they turned 9S into a generic over enthusiastic anime character (with minor glimpses of sadism) - also, what’s up with Jackass? lmao However, I think they absolutely nailed Route C. From the episode *SPOILERS* where 2B dies onward, I was completely hooked. I also loved how they handled the ending. It made up for the earlier slog, in my opinion.

[@Jdjdjdujakzgsha]

“Minor glimpses of sadism” He’s way more sadistic in the anime then the game there are several instances where he massacres not combative machine lifeforms that didn’t happen in the game

[@velvet_victor]

@@Jdjdjdujakzgsha I wasn’t arguing that he is more or less sadistic than his game version, the point was that I found him to be way more annoying

[@Jdjdjdujakzgsha]

@@velvet_victor I dunno why he’s pretty much the same as he is in the game besides the added brutality

[@velvet_victor]

@@Jdjdjdujakzgsha maybe it’s all those 'anime reactions' that they added, but I did found him to be much more over-the-top, loud, and openly flirtatious with 2B (in a pervy anime character trope kind of way, which kinda made me uncomfortable). Maybe I’m misremembering how he actually acted in the game, but he didn’t bother me nearly as much there.

[@morgonfr33m4n1337z]

I actually consider the anime a sort of "sequel" to the game It is similar to how R3incarnation's "memorial" art book acknowledges the shutdown of the original gacha game as an actual event that happened in the timeline. In this same fashion, the "memorial" art book was a "sequel" or "epilogue" to the gacha game. They clearly show it to be a different timeline from the games (and stage plays on that matter), and Accord appearing at the end just confirms it. Daily reminder that Automata was a stage play first The games certainly didnt replace the stage plays, and the anime wont replace the game. It is reasonable to think that from Accord's POV, the anime timeline is merely the timeline she moved onto after the game's

[@ragnot95]

18:26 Yes Max! Please do!

[@Vintagestep]

Tbh, after many years of watching anime, I feel what you said about the pacing problems being present in a lot of series just because nowadays production formats have to fit the 12 episode format and pack as much as possible to keep viewers engaged in the current way of interacting with media. I know about a lot of younger people that watch episodes speed up x2 until an action scene comes and such, or using their phone while watching (even I fall to this one from time to time) it's a pity... Imagine what this show could've been if It was made in the period of shows like Serial Experiments Lain, Ergo Proxy or Denno Coil... Still, this is just gibberish, as you mentioned, game adaptations were lackluster back then, and this game didn't even existed haha

[@Herr_Gamer]

Ergo Proxy is such a hidden gem, but only kinophiles will ever want to watch it in the future. But you’re absolutely right, the 12 episode format has done a lot of harm. My personal favourite example is Gundam: Witch from Mercury. Had a great prologue, had a broad universe full of moving pieces set up very effectively, broad set of characters with solid personalities… and then at the end of season 1, they start actually working on the plot which only escalates and escalates untill the last few episodes where the bubble just flatly bursts. Entirely new concepts are introduced and thrown away in half an episode, old plotlines are left unfinished, barely any of the characters get to finish their arcs… It’s always a pleasant surprise when modern releases get the 24 ep treatment, like the Spice and Wolf remake and Shangri-la Frontier

[@AC-dk4fp]

Lain is one cour and Ergo Proxy and Dennou Coil are two cour just like Nier 1.1a and could happily lose 2 episodes. 12 episode series existed in the 2000s and re-cap filler episodes were a lot more common, as were DVD bonus episode left off the broadcast for production reasons.

[@Vintagestep]

@@AC-dk4fp I meant in terms of directions, they allocated enough time to let the stories breath and the pacing was different from modern shows. And yeah, it's true, one season shows were common, but bi seasonal o yearly shows were way more common back then than they are now. tbh, I agree with some of the ideas of the video, it was way too dense for some impactful moments to really soak in. At the same time, I can see how trimming some stuff could've work as well.

[@AC-dk4fp]

@@Vintagestep Year long high concept Science Fiction series were pretty much all marketisable mecha affairs unless there was a succesful manga to adapt. Most video game adaptations just left off the remaining 3/4 of the plot or dumbed down more serious visual novels into harem antics. About the only well paced 24 episode video game adaptation was Gungrave which massively expanded a short arcade style game.

[@BardoUmbra]

1:25 *Endless Eight PTSD triggers* Yeah, it can't be done.

[@mateusgreenwood1096]

The story works BECAUSE it's told inside a videogame, all the meta moments and subversive, self aware elements are lost when you change the format. ...and also in all those crossovers.

[@Herr_Gamer]

I think season 1 of the anime was fine for newcommers, but season 2 was heavily geared for preexisting fans. And of course, Accord showing up at the end is somewhere between a hug and a giant middle finger to fans from Taro. Anyhow, I was reluctant at first too. I feared it would be too passive, but what the anime really did was expand on the world and characters. Exactly what it should be. If anything I’d prefer if it could gloss over the main story a bit more. I think it’s a mistake to treat this as an adaptation rather than another multimedia addition to the franchise. It reads to me more like an alternate route - one of the cycles unseen in the game. Aside from the early CG, I also really loved the artstyle they went with. The slight red eyeshadow on the characters was a preem touch. Emil in the show I believe to be another of his clones separate from the one in the game. Just like how at a certain point you’ll find tons of Emil heads in the desert and at one point can even have a boss battle with them. The other side characters I understand why they didn’t do too much with. Mainly time limits. Giving Jackass so much screentime was also a very Taro move. To cut it short I think it was a wonderful series for fans, but very much laden with issues largely caused by the medium. I seriously loved everything with A2 and how they handled YoRha’s fall along with 9S’ deterioration. I think a large contributor to my enjoyment was my preexisting connection to the characters. The philosophical moments didn’t need to take long as I’d already experienced it. I could put most of my focus on the new and changed parts. Again, fanservice. Further, I think watching this weekly, one episode at a time, greatly elevated my enjoyment by allowing each episode to simmer before moving on. It’s easier to forgive the faults this way, and I will certainly be rewatching it. It was a highlight of my week to relive the story with a good amount of surprises thrown in. 2024 was also the year I was able to finally attend a NieR concert live, got my hands on copies of the Grimoire NieR novels and other translated materials. A year that meant a lot for me and a series that is very NieR and DieR to my heart. Though then again, Accord’s Library being shut down by Square in October was a kick in the nuts… Sidenote, I think only a very small percentage of viewers were actually new to NieR considering how much steam it lost after the season 1 delays

[@natpron13]

Completely agree on not recommending the adaptation to newcomers. I see the anime as not trying to be a 1:1 adaptation(it's impossible), but as a thank you note from Taro for enjoying the game and it's lore, hence the small changes and references. And since the anime is for those who have played the game the serious moments don't need to be that long, introspective and reflective, because those who have played the game and enjoyed it have reflected on these same moments more than enough

[@daimons7261]

The 2nd season really saved the anime, A2 really shined in this one and the relationship with Lily and Pascals village were more fleshed out. Absolutely love Nier. I purchased the 1st season on Crunchyrolls store planning to get the 2nd season also ❤

[@suffering5203]

I know. No anime can capture the feel and go through of a game, the difference in medium just makes it so. Anime adaptations serve only as a bait to bring more audience...... *And then there is Cyberpunk Edgerunners*

[@aspekt7631]

I think a Drakengard anime would be sick, the story about the sisters feels more grounded

[@asdfwerty3391]

Yes!!!

[@rhael42]

Anime just don't get proper episode counts these days. They arguably haven't since the early '10s. The NieR: Automata anime is yet another example of a show that was hurt due to not being allowed to be the length its story needed it to be.

[@KingOfhearts72]

This. At most two to four extra eps could’ve helped a lot. Could not believe when they got to the tower I realized “holy hell they’re gona rush the SHITE of it”. And MAN what the hell were they thinking with the Adam fight? Emil showing up and it going NOWHERE. The anime also being canon(cuz of course)and the phone game that we can’t play anymore ALSO being canon(and incredibly important story wise)doesn’t make me hopeful for the franchise anymore. I feel the success of the game went to taro’s head tbh,and he’s also going full nomura and putting all the important lore in straight up FOMO content.

[@AC-dk4fp]

Name 3 pre-2010 video game adaptations that aren't Pokemon, Digimon or Sonic with more than 24 episodes lol.

[@chrisdiokno5600]

I mean, 12-24 episodes IMO works. Like, especially if its adapating a manga. Making it seasonal means you allow the source to make more to adapt

[@rhael42]

@@AC-dk4fp As per my original post, I did not specify game adaptations, as I was talking in general about anime.

[@zeroskaterz92]

@@rhael42 Sounds like you don't know wtf you're talking about here. Pre-2010s anime had more unfinished products than post-2010s with the 12/24 episode format. lmao

[@crash-ew6hw]

3:09 Woah she got impaled on the Tokyo tower? that's metal as fuck.

[@kikono8901]

i'm anime fan and i don't play story games so I don't really understand complain with pacing. i understand that it's different, but not how exactly. I watched anime in ongoing every week(or with break when first half were delayed due to production issues) and I liked it very much, especially second part. even though it felt like it's more to it. anime is not just shorter overall but splitted into 20 minutes episodes(without op/ed/post credits) and it's released every week, so it's the most different from games you can ever get. but for some casual like me who had a bit interest in nier but didn't have passion to play game it was great, at least better than youtube video retelling main plot points

[@GreatestGames777]

I'm not going to lie to you Max, I completed Drakengard,2,3, Nier, automata, but I didn't even know this had an anime. I have 100% completed automata and I had no idea this even happened. Simple question though, if I can go on KZbin and look up an entire playthrough of automata with no commentary why would I ever want to watch an anime of something I know everything about? That kind of makes no sense when I think about it

[@DoukNoukum]

It has new lore and changed story it is like the eva rebuilds

[@GreatestGames777]

@DoukNoukum bro why. It was fine. I get Eva but that's weird

[@DoukNoukum]

@@GreatestGames777 it had a lot of new goodies for people who already played the game, nobody who played the whole story of the game would want to watch a 1:1 adaption, like just replay the game lol

[@GreatestGames777]

@@DoukNoukum Fair enough

[@stilldravona]

I had the ico effect with the Companion Cube from Portal.

[@CrowXIII]

One thing i gotta say is that... yeah, many anime do "the first half is the first quarter twice with new information" lots of Visual Novel adaptations do that. Higurashi being the most prominent maybe. I would love an analysis of all the Accord stuff because i'm a little lost on it

[@killersands5116]

My main issue is with emils absent screen presence one scene with a large emil clone and the main automata Emil gets one scene to then never show up again,

[@steambub]

I wanted the Nier Automate stage plays to adapted as an anime instead of adapting the game.

[@Davlavi]

Informative as always.

[@lightkaiser3159]

Adaptations of games will never work, the gameplay is a connective tissue between all the story beats but the devs sprinkle little moments between characters, some beautiful vistas or just give the player some breathing room for the next event, removing the gameplay makes the pacing go much faster, it forces characters to develop quicker and be less subtle about it, it kills any side content because the screentime is limited and they can't afford to animate or show it, but all that time is part of the journey for the player and for the main characters. Compared to something like the TWEWY anime that had like 6 fights, blazed through the story in 12 episodes and barely had any music from the game, Automata 1.1a was good, especially the original sections, not really an upgrade, not really a replacement for the game, just an abridged version with some neat extra content.

[@wahtari03765]

i mean video games are interconnected with the player. meaning its not singular storytelling like a book or movie. for the most part at least. many videogames can kinda create the story you wanna see (role playing games)

[@AL-lh2ht]

Arcane is literally one of the greatest western animated shows ever made. You have bad takes.

[@Alecs250]

​@@AL-lh2ht Arcane is akin to the bladerunner anime, in the sense that its a side story made for more people to get to know the game and its universe. LoL doesn't even have a story mode with cutscenes i believe, it cant be called an "adaptation" when its not adapting anything. So yeah, his opinion still stands correct.

[@lightkaiser3159]

@@AL-lh2ht Arcane is not adapting any plot from League, it's an original story and LoL has to bend over to fit whatever they came up with. Just like how the first Mortal Kombat movie basically made up each of the fighter's personalities and the games just adopted them. They are not the same.

[@Herr_Gamer]

Edgerunners would be the go to exception. That series was good enough to revive a dead game

[@satyasyasatyasya5746]

i didn't even know there was an anime of Nier Automata. But I don't see how they couldn't just basically, copy paste some of the cutscenes and dialogue. its like, perfectly fine. its mostly fights and people standing around talking anyway. how hard is it? ugh

[@jacksypher3403]

15:06 blaming the pacing when they have limited time is a little unfair. But I understand the frustration. However, life is absurd and pointless, many times in real life a devastating moment will happen next to a inapropriate moment because life is chaotic in nature. Starship troopers is a good example of this. Sometimes soldiers who are friends die and in the next scene everyone is joking and moving on. Time waits for no man and wars have to be fought no matter who dies.

[@winder2412]

1:00 really? not even top 10?😢

[@RifetOkic]

Top 3 minimum

[@kirigherkins]

I'm sorry Max I must defend my king 9S's honor as the best character in the game, we will now duel

[@TheBeird]

Not seen it so I can't comment, but Nier Automata being anything other than a video game kinda defeats the purpose doesn't it? The story's impact depends on it being an interactive experience.

[@maximilianoelschlegel4714]

Absolutely do a video on the codes!

[@Ed_man_talking9]

the OG Mario movie is just one of those things that it's so bad it's good. like watching some riff tracks.

[@wahtari03765]

you mean the old movie nintendo wants to make sure gets mentioned again. it was bad. but it was also a product of its time.

[@drago1uk2000]

Just be glad you got SOMETHING that was actually consistent somewhat with the game, look what they did in the netflix dragons dogma...

[@dutchielander2478]

Wait, wasn't DD anime just the backstory of the dragon you as a player fight?

[@drago1uk2000]

@@dutchielander2478 No, it completely destroys all the already established lore in the game.

[@ReneAensland]

"Long ago...a dragon and a giant fell from the skies...."

[@webbrowser6454]

They did our boy Emil dirty. 😢 Please do the Accord breakdown video! I remember deciphering some codes while watching but I'm sure I didnt catch them all.

[@Noctivagus47]

Nier Automata is in my top 5 favorite games of all time and I was absurdly excited when I heard it was getting an anime adaptation. It all turned to disappointment in the very first 3 minutes of the first episode, when it was clear that they were ignoring all the subtle elements and references from Yoko Taro's direction/writing. This whole show felt like a soulless cash grab

[@Morindacil]

Yeah, adapting video games into animated series or TV shows or movies do not work unless you're telling an original story in the world or making an original story with the existing characters. It's what they did with the first Castlevania animated TV series and it works in its three seasons. I have not watched the one with Richter Belmont but I really liked the first one with Trevor Belmont, Alucard, and Sypha Belnades/Fernandes.

[@erichzackenstein7113]

Hey man, it seems your video "Apocalypse Now - Story Explanation and Analysis Part 2" ain't watchable no more and isn't on the Wayback Machine. Are you going to reupload it?

[@an3582]

the problem is trying to find meaning in thirst traps. there is none.

[@jackgerambo]

17:11 A Non-gamer fan said to me, A2 questioning herself, " What I have been fighting for " was weird cause just before fighting 9S she said, " I fight & live for my friend's sake " A2 doing 9S ending roll was little incorrect. Also, Adam & Eve didn't met A2, so they asking her is also weird.

[@jnites0284]

I was pretty underwhelmed by the anime. I would love to see you break down some of the hidden codes and Easter eggs. Anything to help me see it in another light 😅

[@mroblige1018]

What was the point of skipping the best parts like the grunn fight? All that effort to skip and see Jackass in a bikini and they didn't even give her a body worth looking at...

[@Lillymu961]

For me, the first half of the anime felt really well done. I loved it. Wouldn't change a thing. The second half covering Route C is where I felt the pacing issues and the majority of the flaws you discussed here. Very little hit emotionally for me there, and I think part of it is because the Route C portion of the game is where my emotions get gutted every time I experience it, so I expected the same emotional resonance and was disappointed from 9S's side of things. However, A2 feels like a much more fleshed out character in the anime. In the game proper, unless you read through Anemone's memories, it's difficult to gleam what her character is all about. The anime did a much better job showing not only why A2 is the way she is but why she kept fighting. For me, getting that full glimpse at her character was the highlight of the anime. As you said, it ends on a strong note. Just wished it had slowed down a little. Even two more episodes to better separate 9S and A2's campaigns would have helped with the pacing a lot. But otherwise, I liked the anime. It's a solid adaptation of source material. Elements could have been better, but it stands on its own pretty well despite the issues. Nice video! God bless you!

[@helloScuffed]

Anime is a good way to show someone who is not interested in games what makes you go through the same game 16 times. A2 is the best character in the game, but as far as I can see, most people just repeated it without understanding why and they need the anime to see the exact reason. The anime does a much better job of ‘showing’ why A2 is the way she is because her past is not a genuine mystery in the anime, whereas the game does nothing to show it, which doesn't change the fact that her story is there to be found, games are interactive medium.

[@shadowsofvalentia]

hesitated on watching this vid because as an automata fan the anime surpassed my initial expectations and became my favorite anime of all time. but i see your point! i wouldn’t want it to be someone’s first exposure. because its narrative is best as a video game and the reason i enjoy it as much as i did is that it takes advantage of being a separate timeline to do some fresh things… even if i do still have some issues with the anime, probably my biggest being that despite the strong setup adam’s death is still kind of whatever, pascal felt a little too gung ho about ditching his pacifism before the big engels fight, the chain of events that led to the resistance camp being overrun felt kind of flimsy, 6O never got to thank 2B for the flowers, and they probably could have had a better setpiece for 21O’s death (i didn’t mind the pacing too much but these are where i felt it hurt the most) and that while the ending is good for what medium it is the game’s is just one of a kind ❤️ and i would love to recommend the anime to my friends with no prior exposure but i’d need them to at least experience the game after. You miss so much just by not having room to do the sidequests and yet adapting all the sidequests would just kill the pacing because the reader’s not in control of the wheel and thus has no choice to just leave it for later. explore at their own pace. And also you get to meet emil. I like emil. My point is though i disagree that the anime was a disappointment because all my disappointments were vastly outweighed by the things that amazed me and reminded me why i love this universe so much. But maybe that was an exaggerated title for clickbait anyway. Cheers! good video. hoping all the people who havent seen the anime and yet are complaining about it give it a shot because *i* had my mind changed and maybe you will too. Or not but you’ll at least experience the anime yourself and make your own judgment calls

[@RevenantPoet]

I'd definitely be interested in a lore video exploring everything introduced in the anime!

[@KingOfhearts72]

Glad someone says this. Tired of the glazing of it being the “best adaptation ever”. It had MASSIVE problems.

[@Jdjdjdujakzgsha]

It really didn’t bro, beyond the CGI of the first few episodes, hot take it was overall better then the game

[@KingOfhearts72]

@ this is such bait. It was so downright mid for the most of it. Try again.

[@Jdjdjdujakzgsha]

@@KingOfhearts72 nah it was genuinely better. Also for future reference if you think something bait and you still answer, you took it

[@KingOfhearts72]

@ >reddit spacing. >Saying this mid anime was better than one of the genuinely best games ever made. Yeah. This is bait.

[@KingOfhearts72]

@ >admits it’s bait. Nah. I’m just calling you out so everyone else here sees the utter clown and immature mong you are.

[@arnoclaesen8105]

I forgot i didnt finish it because the release schedule is so crazy

[@alexinwonderland992]

As someone who didn't know it was a game first , the anime is solid enough to get new players to want to buy there game .

[@USMC49er]

I'm a Nier Automata fan, so there is some bias in my words. But I enjoyed the anime as a supplement to the game and not a recreation or retelling of the story. There are somethings they did better, like the ending is way more tense with the pods fighting than just getting a top-down shooter. The complete destruction of the resistance base makes more sense, but the game couldn't do it because it is the only place to get supplies, weapons, and chips during the end game. Actually animating the text-based parts of the story instead of just staring at a wall-o-text. Accord making her first on-screen appearance since Drakengard 3 was cool. The AI motivations at the end felt rushed, in fact the entire final act felt kind of rushed. Overall, I liked it as a Nier fan, but there are somethings that anime can do that video games can't and vice versa.

[@zillauniverse7208]

While I still like the Anime the one thing that I didn’t like from it was the handling of Pascal fate, in the game it was far more tragic and heartbreaking to see Pascal find out that he failed to protect the children and has nothing else to live for in life, compared that to the anime were he just gets a rushed death scene thanks to him getting infected.

[@chemergency]

The Super Mario Bros. movie from 1993 was such a bizarre and tonally-radical transgression from the source material that it becomes a memorable thing all its own... That doesn't make it good, but it's at the very least entertaining and interesting which is more than can be said for the vast majority of video game adaptations.

[@furynotes]

I like how you argue that it’s Hollywoods fault. At least with the intro and title. Yet really it’s an adaptation issue in general. Even when it’s a different country involved. Not Hollywood really.

[@loli-knightxardej]

I don't look at it as an actual adaptation, but rather an animation of a new route. The anime is STRICTLY for people already overly familiar with the story. The only parts of it that actually matter are the brand new tidbits sprinkled throughout it. Otherwise it's just a nice looking vehicle to transports prior fans from new bit to new bit. Jackass was also the best side character.

[@JHogan8327]

I don't even know there was an anime

[@iwyt3995]

So whilst I've never played a Yoko Taro game...I am most certainly familiar with the storylines of the first two NieR games thus far, and I think the anime is awesome. Definitely agree with some of the comments in here in that it is absolutely a supplement to Automata and not a replacement. P.S - Please make that Accord video Max! *_The secrets of the Yokoverse MUST be uncovered!_*

[@phantxsmagxria]

First to all, great video as always Max! Second, I'm partially disagree, because I did like the anime and, as any yokotaro work, the anime presents its own, let's say in Accord's words: " new branch of the story ", a divergence and certified singularities. Because that's what it is, a new branch that complements the story deep lore. ( Loops and other things ). As you say - I, too, wouldn't recommend the anime as a way to introduce the Drakenier franchise to a newcomer, but i would to those who want to dive into the lore AFTER playing the game. That's all, and as I said before: your content is great as always. 🤗

[@johndoe3307]

I enjoyed the anime however I did find the rushed pacing to be my main complaint. There are plenty of other works in the NieR series such as the manga and several books that I enjoyed seeing ties to in the anime. Please do more explorations on Yoko Taro works.

[@jeffmofo5013]

Yeah, It was more of a summary as to an engrossing story. If you hadn't played the game. I think most of it would be lost on you. I did a longer rant on your Neir Replicant video, or maybe it was dragon guard, it was a month or so ago.

[@Fenrisson]

0:15 - That one was interesting. I was quite spooked. I had to have my dog sleep in my room.

[@STARSVeteran]

Happy new year, Max! Glad to see you’re back, stay yellow! 😊

[@rekhakrishnan6947]

please make a seprate video about all the secrets pretty please!!!!

[@elka2389]

I love the anime as i love the games. I think the best contrast delivered for the anime is how 9s and A2 portrays their different perspective Just how route A portraits different perspectives of B, Also i agree, to first play the game before watching the anime. Anime is 9/10 Game is 11/10

[@imthethriller]

It suffers the same problem as the Bayonetta Anime the art is drop dead gorgeous everything else about us meh

[@jmpjose1]

9s/10 for me. My wife is not interested in playing the game so this is the closest she will know the Nier universe.

[@cwill14]

Accord lore and implications is always great.

[@izaacidlartist164]

it's true that Accord is the G-man of the drakenier universe

[@croodludc]

i don't think i got the appeal of this nier game, i'm gonna replay it and still not know what's supposedly so good about it

[@rustygear447]

Neir Gestalt/Replican: I love the story but disappointed at the gameplay Neir Automata: I love the gameplay but disappointed at the story I was never interested in the anime because I knew without the gameplay "endings" magic trick, it doesn't really have an interesting story to begin with. It just has a vague theme/vibe of melancholy and existential philosophy that might make you think a bit but not go deep into anything meaningful. Edit extra thought: It just can't compete with other anime of similar vibe that were written for the medium. I think the Ep2 about the robot and flower is the way they should have done for the whole series instead of following the game almost beat by beat.

[@ned993]

This anime is an utter travesty and I genuinely don't get how some of the game's fans blindly praise it, S1 was alright but S2 had precisely one good thing and that was the OP, everything else was hot garbage and an insult to the game. I wouldn't recommend this even to the game's fans.

[@thalljoben3551]

Everything Ive seen about it seems to indicate its primary purpose was to renew interest in Neir Fanservice

[@elwinxiao]

Hey, nice to meet you. I know it's out of context to asking this here, but seeing you have so many video talking about fate. I wanna ask how you take on this character. There is a character named Storius in Kamen Rider Saber who is a poet, but one day he found out all of his poetry is no more than already written in a book called Almighty Book, a book that can be said contain knowledge of universe, and he just merely put it on paper. Seeing how his work until now is not a product by his own thinking, he despaired, and want to destroy the world. Sorry I can't leave the link, but if you search "Storius Kamen Rider Saber" the article should come out The episode he talk about this is in episode 46. If this comment deemed inappropriate, please delete it Thank you.

[@returnedtomonkey8886]

11:31 where os this scene from? I don't remember it.

[@cricker1998]

I'm about 5 minutes in and the gripes you have in these few minutes are exactly the gripes I have with Drakengard 3, especially the humor. I dont mind humor in a serious setting but Drakengard 3 is just such an offputting game in the series to me. The humor is a bit jarring and the very anime aesthetic/characterization of the intoners (specifically in-game, the prerender videos look good) does not fit Drakengard, as a series, to me.

[@Meloncolliepoet]

I'm still having issues finding part 2 myself...

[@jordanmatthew6315]

Deepest lore with code, please do that.

[@CosmicPotato]

The anime was OK, but totally agree this show is for existing fans. If someone hasn't played the game, this would not be a good introduction. You forgot to mention the best part of the anime: all the fan service shots of 2B and A2🥵

[@elwinxiao]

Hey, nice to meet you. I know it's out of context to asking this here, but seeing you have so many video talking about fate. I wanna ask how you take on this character. There is a character named Storius in Kamen Rider Saber who is a poet, but one day he found out all of his poetry is no more than already written in a book called Almighty Book, a book that can be said contain knowledge of universe, and he just merely put it on paper. Seeing how his work until now is not a product by his own thinking, he despaired, and want to destroy the world. The episode he talk about this is in episode 46. If this comment deemed inappropriate, please delete it Thank you.

[@Xhappybara]

Nier is one of those games I wish I could wipe my memory of like pascal and experience for the first time all over again. So I’m torn with the anime, it isn’t as great as the game is but I’m glad I got to experience the story in a new way again.

[@SpectreMkTwo]

As a fan of nier Replicant and Automata and the Drakenguard/NieR universe. Im glad i avoided the anime. I knew it could either disappoint or be as good as the game which makes the adaptation redundant. The games are a perfect vessel for this story. The anime adds nothing but risk that hurts first impressions and fans

[@Afbuster]

I prefer anime over the game, but maybe I'm just immune to interactive storytelling in general.

[@dutchielander2478]

The classic anime trope of the annoying, yelling, foul mouthed character used for Jackass (who i completely forgot about was in the game) was really annoying for me, personaly. I also have to say i'm a bit older and more mature than back when the game was released and almost all anime tropes annoy me to hell and back these days, so. I did like the action scenes, the voice acting was pretty good, the nods to Replicant and the newly added parts, but the best experience will always be the original in my opinion. Nothing can beat the feeling of beating the final boss, then playing the 2nd time around and realise these robots are kinda human, but also they aren't, which made me think a lot about the phylosophy what makes someone human and finding out about the truth and building a 'bond' with the NPC and actively being interested in 'what would they be doing right now' after destroying half a city block, then finding out the final boss isn;t the final boss but just a guy. Always had the feeling of dread about Pascal's village and if the bots would turn out alright in the end or if there would come a time for me to disturb the peace, yknow. Go play (experience) the game and after that watch the show....or don't.

[@jackgerambo]

8:06 Jackass in the anime is more or less a direct copy of Gerbera & Lotus.

[@magicmushroom3874]

Love the background OST for this video, good work. NieR (both games) has the best game soundtrack ever made in my opinion

[@Spider_Gooch]

I’m not gonna lie as a huge Nier fan I watched a bit of the anime and then dropped it. The writing and pacing felt so mediocre that I honestly didn’t want to continue. That being said I always had a feeling that maybe I was having the wool pulled over my eyes again. Maybe I missed something so I’m receptive to giving it another try. I’ll watch a bit into your review to see if that might be the case.

[@dmagik8]

i want a video that talks about the future of automata.