The Yatagarasu (八咫烏), which translates to “eight-span crow” or “large crow,” is a mythical creature in Japanese folklore and Shinto belief. It is depicted as a giant three-legged crow, often associated with divine intervention and guidance. Yatagarasu is primarily known as a messenger of the gods, sent to guide and assist mortals. In Japanese mythology, it is famously linked to the story of Emperor Jimmu, the legendary first emperor of Japan. According to the Nihon Shoki (Chronicles of Japan), the crow was sent by the sun goddess Amaterasu to guide Emperor Jimmu and his forces to victory during his campaign to unify Japan.
Based on the novel series by Chisato Abe, which was later adapted into a manga, “Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master” takes inspiration from the aforementioned concept in order to present one of the most intricate stories we have seen lately in an anime, particularly in the first part of the 20-episode series.
Watch This Title on Crunchyroll
by clicking on the image below
In a world of yatagarasu, Yukiya is the lackluster second son of a regional lord in the Northern House’s territory. His younger brother has overtaken him in academics, and he is no good at sword battle, either, not that this ever bothers him. So it comes as a shock to all when this boy, who claims to have no ambition whatsoever, is the one chosen to attend the Crown Prince, Wakamiya, in Court. The Prince, however, leaves secluded, avoiding to make a choice for his wife to be among the women of the four great families, annoying the whole court and causing a number of problems in the government of the country.
The stakes are quite high, as the pick will shift power towards the family that ‘wins’, but this is not the only reason Nazukihiki is avoiding the palace. There is also a faction that believes his brother, the older Natsuka, should be the actual heir, adding even more fuel to the fire. On the other front, the ‘battle’ among the four potential brides and their ladies in waiting is not less fierce at all, creating a rather explosive mixture within and outside the palace.
Check also this article
The aforementioned three axes are the ones that give “Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master” its contextual intricacy. The first one is essentially the titular one, with the relationship between Yukiya and Nadesico forming one of the main elements of the narrative, which actually continues until the last episode. The shifting of dynamics, as initially it is Yukiya who wants to prove himself to the Prince, but later on, it is the latter who wants to keep a servant who has earned his trust. At the same time, Wakamiya’s position looms over their relationship, complicating the dynamics even more, in the most captivating way.
The second element concerns the power struggle within the court, where treacheries, machinations, power plays and murders are essentially part of everyday life, with the fact that the poles of authority are numerous, complicating things even more. As such, apart from the opposing factions of the two brothers, there is also the one of the reigning king, while the fact that Wakamiya is a Golden, a real kin’u, actually complicates things even more. As the upper hand changes at least as much as loyalties, the story in that regard is truly captivating to watch.
Lastly, and probably in the most intricate and intriguing axis, the feud among the four suitors, which also involves their respective families, is a true wonder to watch, with the way the revelations come one after the other, and the true nature of everyone involved is revealed creating a truly captivating labyrinth. The hypocrisy of all the protagonists and the mundanity of how people who have only lived in court are to distinguish themselves from each other emerges as another crucial element here, highlighting a life so distanced from reality, that it would be laughable if it wasn’t so significant and so dangerous. The scene where the Prince finally visits them all in order to make a decision is the most captivating and shocking in the whole series, not only for the revelations that come to the fore, but also due to sheer pragmatism of Wakamiya, who demands from them something that could only be deemed as preposterous out of the particular setting, as if it is the most natural thing in the world.
The truth is, however, that as soon as this part finishes and the action moves away from the palace, the quality, along with the intricacy, definitely deteriorates. The revelations about the world of human crows and others that include similar entities, as human monkeys and the humans themselves, and most of all, the appearance of Koume, a mysterious young woman who also provides something of a romantic notion for Yukiya, carry this part to a point. The same applies to the mystery about the murders and the attacks, but none of the aforementioned allow the series to continue on the same level, something that definitely hampers its overall quality.
The second issue that essentially prevents “Yatagarasu” form being on the top 5 of the series of the years is the character design by Takumo Norita, with the faces in particular lacking detail, and a number of characters looking particularly similar, especially the men. On the other hand, the coloring and the intricacy of the women’s dresses, ornaments, hair and makeup, and a ‘concerto’ scene of sorts compensate to a large degree, with the anime finding its best audiovisual moments among the four suitors.
The animation by Studio Pierrot has its moments, with the transformations from crows to human being rather smooth and some of the battles being well presented, but compared to what we are seeing from more action-oriented anime, “Yatagarasu” emerges as just passable.
Despite some technical shortcomings, if the season ended in the tenth episode, it wοuld definitely be among the top of the year. The second part however, brings the whole thing down significantly, although not to a point to strip “Yatagarasu: The Raven Does Not Choose Its Master” from a place on the best of the year.
