When World War I comes to mind in entertainment and media, there’s very little that comes to mind outside of 1917 and Battlefield 1, both of which I really enjoyed. Despite it’s incredible significance, this era isn’t explore all that often, and it’s certainly not adapted into anime as much as I would have thought by now. As a result, I was extremely surprised by the announcement of Leviathan, an anime series that adapts Scott Westerfeld and Keith Thompson’s novels to screens around the world on Netflix. With the talent involved on this project also being responsible for some of my favorite game series and anime, I knew I had to dive right in to see what Leviathan.
Right away, the premise of Leviathan immediately caught my attention. The novels, and the anime series, are both set in an steampunk-infused alternate universe set in 1914, as the flames of war ignite throughout Europe. The Great War is upon us, but it’s most different in this universe. There’s a clear divide in beliefs, with Austrians and Germans often been regarded as Clankers, or those who believe militaristic might can only be proven through the use of heavy machinery, such as the large walkers that are prevalent in the first episode. On the other hand, the Darwinists of the United Kingdom, or those who believe the might of biological evolution is superior, have the impressive HMS Leviathan to show for their beliefs. As the name suggests, the Leviathan is a massive whale, and it’s one that is man-made to serve the United Kingdom in the war.
Leviathan Isn’t Perfect, But It’s Certainly Amazing
This intriguing take on World War 1 gives way to an even more interesting plot that drives Leviathan toward greatness. The story focuses on Prince Aleksandar, the sole heir of the Austro-Hungarian Empire after the infamous assassination that started it all, and Deryn Sharp, a young Scottish girl who disguises herself as “Dylan” and enlists in the British Air Service. Although they are on opposite sides of the Clanker and Darwinist divide, the two end up meeting as Aleksandar, or Alek for short, escapes Austria with his loyal compatriots and life-long friends Klopp and Volger. In fact, Alek and Deryn are opposites with their beliefs, but the ones they do share, such as the desire to end the war as soon as possible, is really what brings them together, and it’s not a typical romance story, either.
I won’t delve into spoilers or any story specifics, but I seriously enjoyed the plot elements that Leviathan’s World War 1 brings, especially with the steampunk elements and themes of pursuing an identity. It’s both fantastical and realistic, as the war is not fought on massive battlefields all the time like we’re often taught. The conflict of the Clankers and the Darwinists presents a fascinating dichotomy. Moreover, there are skirmishes, covert operations, reconnaissance, and more scenarios that make Alek and Deryn’s struggles together feel more believable, including Deryn’s secret of being a girl. There are a lot of characters that feel important to Alek and Deryn’s development too, such as Dr. Barlow and Lilit, and the Leviathan itself feels larger than life.
As a 12-episode series, I think the Leviathan team made each episode really count, but it definitely felt a little rushed toward the end. Many plot points were resolved by the end, but I believe there could have been more episodes to flesh some things out, such as Alek and Deryn’s relationship and the geopolitical tension of this time period. In short, I was left wanting more of Leviathan, because I thought it was that good, from the story to its setting.
Behind the Netflix Animation
Directed by Christophe Ferreira, the Leviathan anime adapts Westerfeld’s story with animation and production by studio Orange and Qubic Pictures. Immediately, I can recognize the CG style that Orange and Qubic Pictures’ previous works are known for, as I did watch Star Wars: Visions, BEASTARS, and Trigun Stampede before. Although the CG style can be a little rough around the edges in a few occasions, I think it works very well for Leviathan for several reasons. The animation style reminds me of Ni no Kuni and Valkyria Chronicles, and that’s certainly high praise considering how great those games still look to this day.
Moreover, I absolutely enjoy the Ni no Kuni games, thanks in part to the incredible music by composer Joe Hisaishi, whose work is synonymous with the legendary Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli. I was delighted to know that Hisashi contributed to Leviathan’s score with the opening and ending theme songs, but I was also thrilled Nobuko Toda and Kazuma Jinnouchi, the composers for incredible works like Suzume and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, were also behind the music. I certainly enjoyed Leviathan’s soundtrack, as it fully immersed me in this unique period of time. When I envision what 1914 “sounds” like, I’d say those three composers delivered precisely on that.
For the most part, I really enjoyed the English voice acting, especially for Deryn. She sounds great in her natural tomboyish and Scottish voice. In general, the English cast does sound really good to represent the people of the nations they’re from. However, there was one moment where Deryn sings in Japanese, despite whichever voice-overs you select, which does take some of that immersion out, but it’s certainly understandable in this case. The Japanese voice acting is great too, but for the sake of immersion, I definitely prefer English voice acting.
Leviathan is Another Great Series in the Books for Netflix
It’s not perfect, but Leviathan is a great series that I thoroughly enjoyed watching to the end, and again, I wish it didn’t end as soon as it did. Leviathan’s characters and story are so intriguing, the music is incredible, and the visuals look great. Overall, the series is a really good package, and it’s certainly worth binging this summer. Leviathan is a story of identity and loyalty at its core, and I think this one will be a timeless series on Netflix. I just wish there was just a little more content to really bring it all together in a comprehensive series.
Leviathan premieres on July 10, exclusively on Netflix.
