TurtleMe addresses critique around THE BEGINNING AFTER THE END anime

Touted as the next Solo Leveling, the anime adaptation of The Beginning After the End has left fans demanding answers from its creator—who offered a lengthy and somewhat roundabout explanation.

The teaser trailers and the first episode—briefly streamed by the official account—sparked concern about the adaptation. With four episodes now out, fan confidence has only dropped further. Many viewers have criticized the animation quality of Studio A-Cat, especially the lack of fluidity, which makes the anime feel more like a slideshow of panels than a fully animated series.

News reports have listed TurtleMe, the creator of The Beginning After the End, along with Tapas Entertainment staff members Mike Zhu and Kevin Nicklaus, and TurtleMe LLC’s Gabrielle Luu, as being directly involved in the adaptation. However, the final product seems to contradict that involvement, prompting fans to ask TurtleMe for an explanation regarding the subpar quality.

On April 14, TurtleMe addressed the situation in a Reddit post. He began by thanking fans and acknowledged that the series’ rising popularity meant he was “no longer just responsible for myself but for my team members, the partners associated with my work, as well as my readers.”

He admitted he was “used to having control over everything,” but explained that anime production was different—he had very little influence despite being credited as the story supervisor and executive producer. “At the end of the day, there will always be creative differences [with Tapas, Studio A-Cat, and Crunchyroll] in the room,” he wrote, “but I really do believe that everyone is coming at it with their best effort and intentions.”

Comparing the situation to caring for something you love—like a pet or child—he urged fans of the original story to support the adaptation “through difficult times and push it up so that it can become something that you can cherish because of all of the trials and tribulations you’ve overcome together.”

TurtleMe remained firm in his stance that he wanted “nothing but the best for this story.” He continued:

“Whatever feelings you have for the anime, I am thankful for all of the people behind the scenes who have given me this opportunity, and I’m thankful for all of you for helping make this happen in the first place. You’ve stuck through TBATE at its highs and lows, and so I ask for your support now. Please continue being the rock that gave TBATE the time and chance to be where it is today. I’m not asking you to like something you don’t, but please be respectful and set an example in the vast ocean that is the internet. Many creators think of their fanbase as a double-edged sword, but as the one who is fortunate to be wielding this “sword,” I know that it all starts with acknowledging and respecting both blades. Every decision I make regarding TBATE, I make with the intention of respecting myself and all of the time and tears I spent writing it, respecting those supporting me in an unfamiliar industry, and respecting you all in the hopes that whatever is made could be something you like. I’m only human and not every one of my decisions may play out perfectly but believe me when I say that I respect you, my fans, for your dedication and support for TBATE.”

While some fans appreciated his transparency, many said the post did little to ease their frustration. Others pointed out that TurtleMe had personally vouched for director Keitaro Motonaga due to his passion for the source material, but seemed to overlook Studio A-Cat’s reputation for lackluster animation.

The Beginning After the End is slated for 24 episodes and has already been confirmed as the series’ first season. The anime is currently streaming on Crunchyroll.

Source: Reddit