Eden, Netflix’s latest original Japanese anime, doesn’t exactly try to reinvent the wheel. Adapted by the manga of the same name written by Tsuyoshi Isumoto, it tells a last-human-on-earth tale in a world populated by robots. The environmental aspect is hardly subtle, but the beautiful background visuals and the soundtrack by Kevin Penkin makes this a pleasant sensory experience.
In a world populated by robots where the humans disappeared 1000 years ago, Sara Grace (Ruby Rose Turner) is discovered by two kind robots (played by David Tennant and Rosario Dawson) and raised in a sanctuary for dissident robots who believe that humans will come back to save them. An almost adult Sara discovers a cry for help coming from Eden 03, which is ruled by the anti-human robot Zero (Neil Patrick Harris). She sets out on a quest that will decide the fate of the world, and also humanity.
The most charitable way to describe Eden would be to call it a barebones Miyazaki film.
It starts out pretty optimistic, despite its apocalyptic setting. The core theme is present throughout the series, raising questions about whether the world even needs humans. But what forms the heart of the series is the bond Sara shares with her adoptive parents. They discover a new purpose in raising her, and over time, they also have to come to terms with the fact that Sara is growing up now and they need to let her make her own decisions. A traumatic scene later in the series tugs on the audience’s heartstrings, leading into a dark third act.
The short length of the anime doesn’t give it much room to explore its world or develop its characters. There’s a mystery around Zero that reveals a poignant backstory, but this is resolved too quickly in the climax. Eden doesn’t quite answer the questions it raises, but it sticks the landing due to its emotional heft.
As good as Eden is, it also has plenty of flaws. Beyond the emotions, the series offers nothing new.
It squanders the opportunity to explore its themes beyond a surface level examination. Some critics have noted that this works better as a series geared towards children and teenagers, but even then, there are shows like Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Dragon Prince that deal with complex themes despite being aimed at a younger audience. The world also doesn’t feel as lived in as it should, partly due to the 3D animation.
If you are in for a visually interesting anime with a healthy dose of emotions, then Eden might be the fix for you. If you have high expectations, however, you will probably end up disappointed. Still, this could be a good entry point for young children into the world of anime, a marker on the road to more enriched stories such as Miyazaki’s works.