The children of Grace Field House live a comfortable life in an orphanage within a vast forest, all under the protection of their hospitable “Mama” Isabella. Little do they know that they are actually living on a farm on which the children are the livestock.

 

 

Synopsis

 

Another day begins at Grace Field House, as the orphans wake up to eat breakfast. One of the older kids, Emma, helps Isabella get the children ready for school.

 

Emma, along with the other 11-year-olds, Norman and Ray, are the top students. The three score almost perfectly on their exams, which makes Isabella very proud.

 

Once the children reach a certain age or are adopted, they are sent to live with a new family. This is the case for Conny, a 6-year-old girl, who is just getting ready to leave.

 

 

After the orphans say their final goodbyes, Isabella and Conny depart for her new home. Emma and Norman wonder what the outside world looks like, but they don’t bother asking, as they are told not to question Mama.

 

Unfortunately, Emma realizes that Conny forgot to bring her favorite toy, “Little Bunny.” She and Norman leave the house to find Isabella and return the stuffed animal.

 

They search near a mysterious gate in the middle of the forest, a place that Isabella told them never to go. There, they find a truck, assuming it will take Conny to her new family, so they open the back door to leave her bunny with her other belongings.

 

Instead of seeing her suitcase, Emma and Norman witness a horrifying sight: Conny, lying dead on the floor, with the color drained out of her skin. (CW – death)

 

 

Suddenly, they hear footsteps, so they scramble to hide under the truck. Isabella emerges from around the corner, along with two monstrous figures.

 

The monsters have a conversation with Isabella about “high-quality goods,” mentioning how the children are being raised as meat for the monsters that rule the world.

 

At this point, the children’s lives have been completely torn apart. As their 12th birthdays approach, they only have two options: escape or be eaten.

 

 

Review (contains spoilers)

 

While seemingly controversial, I absolutely love the premise of this story. I have never before seen a situation in which children are in such imminent danger, and this makes for a unique and refreshing story.

 

As someone who isn’t the biggest fan of kids, The Promised Neverland is actually one of my favorite animes. The way that these children have to adapt to their circumstances and become actual leaders erases the childish qualities that make kids so annoying.

 

I also find the mechanics of this universe quite humorous. The fact that the freshly slaughtered kids are picked up in a truck and delivered to the monsters reminds me of something we have in our world: doordash.

 

 

All jokes aside, I love the suspense of this show. It manages to make the loving mother, Isabella, into the scariest villain imaginable. There are moments in the show when I find myself as fearful as the children running from her, yet this is contrasted with her soothing and eerie lullaby.

 

This is also done with Isabella’s assistant, Sister Krone. Krone is probably one of my favorite characters, as her tragic backstory makes me feel extremely sympathetic toward her. I also like Sister Krone because she scares the children.

 

 

All in all, if you like (or hate) children, enjoy suspenseful, dystopian thrillers, or appreciate the cottagecore lifestyle, The Promised Neverland is the anime for you!

 

 

Ranking

1.  Spy x Family
2. Jujutsu Kaisen
3. Given
4. The Promised Neverland
5. Demon Slayer
6. Your Lie in April

 

Although I would never rank a story about children above a story that embodies my relationship goals, I do prefer The Promised Neverland over Demon Slayer, as it is more interesting and unique.

 

Come back next week for a futuristic anime about cowboys and space!