Beastars Season 2 aired its first episode this past Thursday which, understandably, flew under the radar. Since there's no OP for it I figured I'd start one
Beastars
Beastars is a manga series by Itagaki Paru set in a world of anthropomorphic animals. The story follows a handful of teenagers attending Cherryton Academy as they navigate the complexities of the world they live and their own bodies.
More than an aesthetic, the series explores the ways in which a society like this, where animals may have human intelligence and social structures but are still very much animals too, would function. Foremost among them the at times touchy relationship between carnivores and herbivores, the series opening with the criminal devouring of the alpaca student Tem by an as-yet-unidentified assailant. While some viewers expect this relationship to be an allegory for real world racism, both herbivores and carnivores are victims of the structure of society of in different ways. Which isn't to say there is no racism present in this world, though the first season didn't deal much with it.
Season one originally aired in the fall of 2019 before being picked up for a dub release by Netflix at the start of the following year. Season two aired its first episode January 7th, 2021 and will be dubbed and aired on Netflix later in the year.
From this point on, there will be spoilers for season 1.
Characters
Legoshi
Legoshi is a soft spoken, introverted grey wolf who finds himself either in love with or wanting to eat Haru. The first season primarily deals with his trying to figure out his emotions and his instincts and to accept himself as a wolf and a man. He ended the season deciding to persue a relationship with Haru after rescuing her from, effectively, the lion mafia.
Louis
Louis the Red Deer is the star of the Cherryton School and the most likely candidate for the school's next Beastar. The adopted son of Oguma, head of the Horns Conglomerate, before he was chosen he was a prisoner to be sold as meat in the darker parts of the dark market. He ended the series assisting Haru's rescue from the shadows, killing the lions' boss before being found. Current whereabouts unknown.
Haru
Haru is a white dwarf rabbit with a strong will, a sharp tongue, and a complicated love life. The sole member of the gardening club, Haru has faced ostricization and bullying for her perceived promiscuity. A life lived with the constant reminder of just how small and weak a prey animal she is has given her a rather fatalistic view and lead her to seek her pleasures in the moments where no one perceives her as weak. She ended the season with a promise to wait for Legoshi.
Juno
Another grey wolf, Juno is outgoing, ambitious, and more cunning than anyone gives her credit for. In the face of the persecution wolves in particular receive even from other carnivores for their perception as dangerous predators, Juno seeks to attain the title of Beastar and show the world just how wonderful wolves are. She's also head-over-heels for Legoshi after he rescued her from bullies. She ended the season in a failed bid for his heart.
Tem
A member of the drama club and the alpaca whose murder opens the series.
Tem's Killer
Places
Cherryton Academy
The school's emblem, while looking like a triangle, is actually a paw print. Reptilian students don't particularly care for it.
The Dark Market
Beastars
Beastars is a manga series by Itagaki Paru set in a world of anthropomorphic animals. The story follows a handful of teenagers attending Cherryton Academy as they navigate the complexities of the world they live and their own bodies.
More than an aesthetic, the series explores the ways in which a society like this, where animals may have human intelligence and social structures but are still very much animals too, would function. Foremost among them the at times touchy relationship between carnivores and herbivores, the series opening with the criminal devouring of the alpaca student Tem by an as-yet-unidentified assailant. While some viewers expect this relationship to be an allegory for real world racism, both herbivores and carnivores are victims of the structure of society of in different ways. Which isn't to say there is no racism present in this world, though the first season didn't deal much with it.
Season one originally aired in the fall of 2019 before being picked up for a dub release by Netflix at the start of the following year. Season two aired its first episode January 7th, 2021 and will be dubbed and aired on Netflix later in the year.
From this point on, there will be spoilers for season 1.
Characters
Legoshi
Voice: Chikahiro Kobayashi/Jonah Scott
Legoshi is a soft spoken, introverted grey wolf who finds himself either in love with or wanting to eat Haru. The first season primarily deals with his trying to figure out his emotions and his instincts and to accept himself as a wolf and a man. He ended the season deciding to persue a relationship with Haru after rescuing her from, effectively, the lion mafia.
Louis
Voice: Yūki Ono/Griffin Puatu
Louis the Red Deer is the star of the Cherryton School and the most likely candidate for the school's next Beastar. The adopted son of Oguma, head of the Horns Conglomerate, before he was chosen he was a prisoner to be sold as meat in the darker parts of the dark market. He ended the series assisting Haru's rescue from the shadows, killing the lions' boss before being found. Current whereabouts unknown.
Haru
Voice: Ayaka Senbongi/Lara Jill Miller
Haru is a white dwarf rabbit with a strong will, a sharp tongue, and a complicated love life. The sole member of the gardening club, Haru has faced ostricization and bullying for her perceived promiscuity. A life lived with the constant reminder of just how small and weak a prey animal she is has given her a rather fatalistic view and lead her to seek her pleasures in the moments where no one perceives her as weak. She ended the season with a promise to wait for Legoshi.
Juno
Voice: Atsumi Tanezaki/Loren Landa
Another grey wolf, Juno is outgoing, ambitious, and more cunning than anyone gives her credit for. In the face of the persecution wolves in particular receive even from other carnivores for their perception as dangerous predators, Juno seeks to attain the title of Beastar and show the world just how wonderful wolves are. She's also head-over-heels for Legoshi after he rescued her from bullies. She ended the season in a failed bid for his heart.
Tem
Voice: Takeo Ōtsuka/Kyle McCarley
A member of the drama club and the alpaca whose murder opens the series.
Tem's Killer
Still at large
Places
Cherryton Academy
A boarding school for, at least, middle school aged students up, Cherryton is a prestigious academy attended by the primary cast of the series. Known for, amongst other things, its talented drama club with its star performer, Louis the Red Deer. Every member of which has a secret in their background that sets them apart from the other students.
The school's emblem, while looking like a triangle, is actually a paw print. Reptilian students don't particularly care for it.
The Dark Market
An open secret, the dark market is where carnivores can go to satisfy their hunger for meat. For the most part, its wares are procured from hospitals and funeral homes. The bodies of the dead put to use. There are also those living, selling of their own body parts for some quick cash. And of course, less well known, are the places where the meat is particularly fresh...
