I'm really excited to see where this goes next. I can assume just due to genre awareness - thirty-seven is way too many characters to handle all surviving, for instance - but I'm really charmed by the characters.
I especially want to see more of Ray, since he was kind of out of focus this episode and feels like the weakest of the three leads so far because of it.
It's been fun.All right, this is a good thread to have. The show seems amazing. If they keep up the quality of this first episode, it could go far.
Also, I have to call for more appreciation for that moment at the end with the children resolving to run and that beautiful song, followed by an absolutely brutal cut to Mom holding the bunny, and the sound design making the crack like the show itself snapped. That was beautiful.
A very good first episode, even for me who was unfortunately spoiled on the twist long ago. I haven't checked out the manga on account of finding the art I have seen to be fairly lackluster, but this made me want to like I thought might happen. So to follow the anime or to follow the manga, that is the question...
Paging my friend because he truly likes this series
~Lightysnake
Also, haven't watch the anime but seeing the great reception it has... It would be nice if future Shonen Jump manga would get a great treatment in the future but I'm scared at the same time.
"Making screw-ups and mistakes was I ever really good at. Because everything I touch went to hell."Posted this on the main thread, might as well post it here.
Well, I finished the episode. I think my main issue with the art is that it feels like an anime trying to mimic a cartoon.
Neither the OP nor the ED made a strong impression on me musically. The OP imo, sounded like the words were mashed together, and I feel lacked some sort of chorus or rhythm to get me hooked. I also had to turn up volume to hear the ED's lyrics, which was weird since the actual episode was fine. Both were fine visually though.
Was a bit bored near the beginning, though I did spoil myself before hand. I did like the ending though for how well they were able to convey the characters' emotions through their body language.
Overall, I'll watch a few more episodes, but I only watched in the first place because everyone else was hyped for it. From it's pages here, it sounds like a good story, but it's not really catching my attention for some reason.
A rose by any other name would smell as sweet Unless I grew it. In that case, throw it in the trash.I have a rough guess of where the anime might conclude, though I don't know how many episodes it's gonna have.
I already knew about the twist going in but it was still incredibly fucked up, they have absolutely nailed the atmosphere of the sweet set-up and turning it on its head.
also it isn't gross with its underage protagonists thank god
like the one weak thing just from the first episode is that the music (including opening and ending) is pretty meh for me
Episode 2… the first third or so was exposition-heavy so it wasn't the most exciting, but from the point where Izabella pops up out of nowhere before Emma the tension is amazing. I just love how subdued this anime's effects are; it notably knows how to use its musics, but also how to not use them. The night scenes are especially effective in that regard.
And now Ray enters the scene like a boss. Except he didn't account for having a Stock Shōnen Hero in the group.
Speaking of that scene, I love the directing just prior to it with the camera "observing" Norman and Emma from inside the woods, before it's revealed that the shot was from Ray's point of view.
So yeah, it's still a very cool adaptation. My only issue in this ep was… the voice mixing? The acting was fine, but the mixing sounded a bit off… maybe it was my headphones…
Another really good episode, Emma's declaration of everyone living as the ride or die commitment and the other two's reaction is the standout moment.
Though I do question how obvious the trio (well really just Emma and Norman) are making their scheme to Mama because even without the conceit of the tracking device, the ending shot makes the tension feel farcical.
Yeah, the kids aren't super subtle about it, and it makes me wonder how much is convention for the medium and how much is them actually having conversations about tracking devices and security measures in what appears to be the central staircase of the orphanage at normal speaking volume, the way panicking children might actually do.
Either way, it looks like they won't be getting out of the orphanage just yet.
It's been fun.That scene in the woods is also good because it is obvious due to the tracking device that they know about, they should spend as little time in suspicious places as possible. The longer they talk there, the more we should worry about them.
It may seem weird since they are otherwise smart kids, but then some people can be smart but not practical, and they don't have any experience with that kind of stuff.
They went to the wall, then found out about the tracking device, then went to the wall again.
In my view they should do all the talking and thinking while in not suspicious places. Because they don't know when they will be randomly searched for; and as the more time passes, the more likely such searches would happen.
This doesn't matter because due to Rule of Drama, at some point they will make some mistake (I predict, while having not read the manga). As RedSavant phrased it, they are just not being subtle.
Edited by gropcbf on Jan 20th 2019 at 9:37:30 PM

This is a spoiler-free thread for anime-only followers of the series. Probably necessary considering the twist-heavy nature of TPN.
A summary for those who have lived under a rock these past few months. X)
"Life is peaceful for Emma, Norman and Ray, three children of Grace Field House, a special orphanage directed by Izabella, a sweet caretaker they all call "Mom". In this house surrounded by a large playground and a forest, children of all origins are raised with love and care, the only constraints being the regular tests of knowledge that establish a ranking by score, and being forbidden to go near the main gate or beyond the forest. Every child is eventually sent away to a foster family, sooner or later, but always before their twelfth birthday.
Being 11 and the top-ranked children of the orphanage, our protagonists know they will be the next to leave after the little Connie. But while they thought they would see her off, they witness something they shouldn't have…"
Regarding this first episode… Absolutely brilliant direction, soundtrack and sound design, and a lot of clever foreshadowing. Some clunky of exposition here and there (regarding the ages and number of children notably) and a slightly weird gimmick in one of the scenes (where there's a split second shot of each character's faces before they talk), but not bad to take me out of it. And that jump scare at the end, yikes.
Otherwise, not a big fan of the opening song honestly, but I seem to be in the minority. =[
PS: It feels so weird and satisfying to see a series that I've followed from the very beginning thrive and get an anime. It's the first time I've experience that, now that I think of it.