EXCLUSIVE: Crunchyroll‘s next original series will be an anime series adaptation of the Tapas Entertainment-published webcomic The Beginning After the End.
Set to drop next year, the series will follow the journey of King Grey, a once-powerful ruler reborn into a world of magic, mythical creatures and epic battles as Arthur Leywin, a bay with untapped potential. As he discovers his new life is filled with danger and adventure, he is forced to master powerful spells and face fierce enemies to protect those he cares about and uncover secrets of his mysterious reincarnation.
Notably, this Crunchyroll and the producers say this marks the first time an American webcomic has been adapted as an anime series.
Official announcement of The Beginning After the End is coming today at a New York Comic-Con panel, where the webcomic’s actor, TurtleMe, presented it alongside Crunchyroll. Slow Curve is producing, with animation from A-CAT. Crunchyroll will stream the series worldwide (including India but excluding the rest of Asia). You can watch a trailer here.
Keitaro Motonaga (Date A Live, Katanagatari is director, with Takamitsu Kouno (Utawarerumono, Revue Starlight) overseeing the series composition. Masami Sueoka, known for their work on Fate/Grand Order: Camelot and Black Clover, leads character design, while Keiji Inai (Is It Wrong to Try to Pick Up Girls in a Dungeon?, The Rising of the Shield Hero) composes the series’ musical score.
TurtleMe, the original author, will be closely involved in the adaptation as story supervisor and as an executive producer. Tapas’s Mike Zhu, Kevin Nicklaus, and TurtleMe LLC’s Gabrielle Luu are also executive producers.
The Beginning After the End books have been published in seven languages to date, with five volumes released by Yen Press. Another is one the way in 2025.
“I’m excited to share that The Beginning After the End is becoming an anime on Crunchyroll,” said TurtleM. “When I first started writing TBATE as a web novel years ago, I never imagined it would one day reach this point. This milestone wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support from every fan along the way. I can’t wait to celebrate the premiere next year with all of you, whether you’re a long-time reader or a new viewer.”
“We are incredibly excited to introduce The Beginning After the End as an anime, marking an exciting new chapter for both Tapas and this beloved series,” said Zhu, Head of Comic and Film & TV at Tapas. “This is a wonderful opportunity that allows us to share TBATE’s epic story with fans around the world in a whole new way. This collaboration represents a major milestone for us and US created webcomics, and we can’t wait to see the excitement it sparks among our community and beyond.”