ANetflix original, 2018’sB: The Beginningtells the story of a mysterious serial killer on the run known as, “Killer B” by the law enforcement. But this case proves to be too difficult for just them to handle, and so the RIS (the series' equivalent to the FBI) enlists retired detective, Keith Flick.
However, this isn’t the only case he’s tackling - yet the two are somehow intertwined. Perhaps the RIS are unknowingly taking on more than they can handle - and they’ll rightfully need all the help they can get. This is far from the ordinary world we’re all used to, though. This one has artificial humans walking among us.
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Trailing The Evidence
B: The Beginningis definitely a crime dramafirst and foremost, it takes its time developing its characters and does an exemplary job at laying down the basics to help the viewer follow the case. Keith Flick is a genius, and the show displays his thought process through imagery, rather than just words alone.
This helps fans read between the lines, which is a vital point to understanding the plot. In traditional crime drama fashion, every character is a suspect. There is more than meets the eye.
The Enforcers
Thecharacters are arguably the strongest partofB: The Beginning, aside from Keith, the ones who stand out the most are Lily, Koku, and Boris. Lily is passionate about her job and is essentially the knot that ties everyone together. She is the one who serves as the primary motivation for Keith’s case(s). Koku, the source of the inhuman phenomena is but a young man, whose motive for his actions is bent on revenge - yet he makes effort to stay true to his morals. He tries to avoid putting the innocent in danger and still goes out of his way to help those close to him - bringing food to Lily at one point when she forgets to eat something.
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Then there’s Boris, a breath of fresh hair for anime veterans who are used to (and may be tired of) the “dirty old man” trope. This one acts his age and manages to capture your heart with the “nice old grandpa” quirks he has. This includes the lack of understanding technology (especially his cellphone) or flat-out just misunderstanding situations the “young folk” get into. Just edging away from common tropes can make a difference in character development and storytelling.
Supernaturally Excellent
Production IG, thepartner studio of WITwas responsible for the animation talents put intoB: The Beginning’s production. One of the things thatProduction IGexcels at is incorporating CG with 2D animation, in such a way that the former is barely noticeable. It does it so well, that the environment manages tophysicallybring the viewer in. During a scene in which Koku is flying through the sky, it almost feels like the wind is blowing directly in your face.
This was a large project, needless to say, and what made it even more experimental was the decision to includeMegadeath’s Marty Friedman to do the instrumentals ofB: The Beginning’s main theme, “The Perfect World”. Together withMan With A Mission’s Jean-Ken Johnny as the vocalist, it carries a solid tune. Unlike most other anime, the song is entirely in English and can be enjoyed as a stand-alone song. What’s more, it even combines genres, alternative, and rock respectively.
