Unexpected Violence + 3-Legged Crows = Anime Hidden Gem

If you like a complex anime with plenty of twists and deadly schemes, then Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master is for you. You need to watch this strange anime where human-sized three-legged ravens are plotting and backstabbing each other to gain control of the kingdom. This video will explain the folklore behind the Yatagarasu anime and break down the kingdom and its characters so you can focus on all the plot twists that this hidden gem has in store. Because if there's one thing crows love, it's a good murder. (Because they're crows. Get it?)
Note: I often use "raven" and "crow" interchangeably in the video and the description, because that's a distinction in English that refers mainly to size rather than species. Any large corvid is a raven, and smaller ones are called crows. Japanese uses the same word for both (karasu).
(4:50) Here's a link to a great source on Japanese naming conventions if you want more information. Search "yomyo" if you want to skip to the part about child names and adult names: sengokudaimyo.com/japanese-names
Streaming Links:
YATAGARASU: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master
www.crunchyroll.com/series/G5PHNM92J/yatagarasu-the-raven-does-not-choose-its-master
Chapters:
00:00 Why You Should Watch
01:04 8-span Crow
02:14 Kin'u
03:23 Source Material and Adaptation
04:24 Asebi
05:54 Yukiya
06:26 2 Princes
08:04 Four Houses
10:27 Servants and Other Characters
Copyright Stuff:
ANIME
YATAGARASU: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master
© C,A/R/N,EP,P
© 阿部智里／文藝春秋／NHK・NEP・ぴえろ
Kinmoza! (Kiniro Mosaic)
© Yui Hara, HOUBUNSHA / kin-iro mosaic Project
Kino's Journey
© KEIICHI SIGSAWA - MEDIA WORKS / "KINO'S JOURNEY" PRODUCTION COMMITTEE
VIDEO
Jason Antony, "A chatty Australian Raven.webm"
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
IMAGES
Eugenio Hansen, "Yatagarasu A"
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en
AFEG64, "Yatagarasu"
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en
m-louis, "Yatagarasu, Kumano Nachi Taisha"
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en
Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, "Portrait-Emperor-Jimmu-by-Tsukioka-Yoshitoshi-1880"
www.chiculture.net, "Threeleggedbird han dynasty"
Cakoko23, "新熊野神社 - 八咫烏 提灯"
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en
Steve Karg, "A stick of western pack butter."
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/deed.en
Stan Shebs, "Photo of Pieris japonica at the University of California Botanical Garden"
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
MUSIC
Borgar (2019, 135 BPM) by Alexander Nakarada | www.serpentsoundstudios.com
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Sakura 2020 by Roa Music | soundcloud.com/roa_music1031
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en_US
Flash Games by Patchworker f.k.a. [friendzoned] | soundcloud.com/patchworker
Music promoted by www.free-stock-music.com
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en_US
#yatagarasu

[@716_ハディくん]

episode 13 reveals really blow my mind not because it caught me off guard but rather because i love "that" character and really wish the reveal never happened i felt so betrayed after wasting 13 episode

[@716_ハディくん]

if you are really focused then you'll realize they already hinted everything from episode 1 and opening itself if i can trust japanese fans, they said "that" character gonna become worse in the future after this arc shame tho, the author really wants to subversive the usual cliche trope so hard that it cost my favourite character 😭 why must be "that" character ... why 😭

[@716_ハディくん]

why can't the crown prince just have harem with all of them isn't that much better 😂

[@littleorphananimeYT]

The reveal surprised me because they played it so straight up until that point. I was glad that at least they didn't have that character become some cartoony villain and start shouting their master plan while laughing maniacally, but I can see how it would still be a hard blow if that was your favorite character.

[@716_ハディくん]

​@@littleorphananimeYTyeah i can agree with you for that after the crown prince openly announced he despised "that" character "that" character is still calm and barely any reaction on it face I didn't lie though that I already foresaw the reveal, in the opening song there was 1 character that's smiling for no reason .. that sounds weird but believe me it makes sense

[@oindrilasasmal5019]

True

[@charlotte_roselei]

Underrated anime. This is good though! Love how the Crown Prince thinks and works! Love how the questioning went for the Consorts! (and his choice)

[@littleorphananimeYT]

I also like seeing how the Crown Prince handles things, because it's usually something that is 1) surprising and 2) bad for Yukiya 😆

[@asshrimpleasthat799]

This is a stellar series, so happy to see you mention it here!

[@littleorphananimeYT]

I can't believe I missed it earlier, but it's really good.

[@716_ハディくん]

​@@littleorphananimeYT3 week hiatus because of the Olympics really tortured me i want to see that demon monkey fight 😂

[@oindrilasasmal5019]

Its so underappreciated. No one is watching this gem. Its probably the best show atleast plotwise from both spring & summer. Winter had two strong contenders freiren & kusuriya

[@littleorphananimeYT]

Agreed. I'm hoping people rediscover it when it shows up on those year-end best anime lists, because more people need to see it.

[@oindrilasasmal5019]

@@littleorphananimeYTit wont show up there cz people who makes those lists are also mainstream & hype watchers. They will also not have watched it

[@73TripleL]

I love to see that I'm not all alone, loving this show 🙂 I think, I'm gonna rewatch it before it - finally - continues this weekend.

[@littleorphananimeYT]

I can't wait for it to finally start back up again!

[@yutakeda9979]

I love me some crow drama!

[@littleorphananimeYT]

Crow drama is the best drama 😆

[@CatTang-cz3zv]

I saw your review and totally agreed, the way they built taht Game of Thrones like twists keep blowing my mind especially episode 13, but lately the newer arc is refreshing for me especially the intrigue. It helps that the characters are so fleshed out and interesting:

[@littleorphananimeYT]

Yes, I'm glad they took the time to develop those characters so that the reveals had even more impact.

[@c.2531]

I have watched the first half of the anime in the last season relative lately, but when i did it i immediately bingewatched the anime until the mid-season final, who was so damn crazy good Plot Twist of another level than the most animes! I can only recommend everyone who's interested in japanese/chinese mythology/history/culture and intrigues, strategies, plot twists and so one very much.

[@littleorphananimeYT]

I agree: the plot twists in this show are really fun.

[@716_ハディくん]

​@@littleorphananimeYT tbf they already hinted the twist from episode 1 and also in opening but obviously we are too oblivious to the hints at the beginning

[@bridgetlynnx]

Anime is so underrated. I genuinely enjoyed the story line at first but wow. It really had me shook around episode 12-13 🫢

[@littleorphananimeYT]

Me, too. I enjoyed the first episodes, but it really ramps up about midway through.

[@higanbanamarie669]

This seems like a great fit for me! Thanks!

[@littleorphananimeYT]

The animators are taking time off for the Olympics, so you've got time to catch up before the end. I hope you enjoy it!

[@miemie007]

取り上げて下さってありがとうございます🙇 私はフリーレンより良かったです！ あまり話題になってないのが残念です(>_

[@littleorphananimeYT]

I am surprised that it hasn't been talked about more.

[@1313fina]

Didn't know about it before, but now I'm definitely gonna give it a go!

[@littleorphananimeYT]

I only found out about it from someone in my comments section. 😆 Hope you like it.

[@716_ハディくん]

​@@littleorphananimeYTi swear to god there's barely any English speakers watching this anime even on Crunchyroll there's like 5k people that watch this anime idk about pirate one but based on search alone, yeah this is the BIGGEST SLEEPER ANIME FROM LAST SEASON

[@sunstrikersunchild233]

Hope there's a season 2

[@littleorphananimeYT]

Me, too. There's plenty of material, and it's been so good so far.

[@NaBa.O3O]