NieR: Automata Ver1.1a Season 1 – A Hauntingly Faithful Yet Distinctly Unique Anime Adaptation

NieR: Automata Ver1.1a Season 1, the anime adaptation of the critically acclaimed 2017 action RPG by PlatinumGames and Square Enix, is a bold and ambitious venture that seeks to translate the existential weight, frenetic combat, and philosophical depth of Yoko Taro’s masterpiece into a new medium. Spanning 12 episodes in its first cour (with a second cour concluding in September 2024), this A-1 Pictures production navigates the delicate balance of staying true to its source while carving out its own identity in an alternate timeline. The result is a visually striking, narratively compelling, and emotionally resonant experience that both honors the game and offers fresh perspectives for fans and newcomers alike. Below, we dive into what makes NieR: Automata Ver1.1a Season 1 a unique and noteworthy addition to the anime landscape.

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A Post-Apocalyptic Symphony of Androids and Machines

Set in the year 11945, NieR: Automata Ver1.1a unfolds in a desolate, post-apocalyptic Earth ravaged by an alien invasion and their army of Machine Lifeforms. Humanity, driven to near extinction, has fled to the Moon, entrusting their fight to reclaim the planet to a group of elite android soldiers known as YoRHa. The story centers on YoRHa units 2B (voiced by Yui Ishikawa) and 9S (voiced by Natsuki Hanae), who undertake missions to suppress hostile machines while grappling with questions of purpose, identity, and the nature of existence. Supporting characters like the rogue YoRHa unit A2, Resistance leader Lily, and the pacifist machine Pascal add layers of complexity to the narrative.

The anime’s premise mirrors the game’s, but its designation as “Ver1.1a” signals its intent to diverge from the source material. While the core story—androids battling machines in a proxy war—remains intact, the anime introduces original scenes, altered character arcs, and expanded lore that enrich the world while occasionally stumbling in execution. This delicate dance between fidelity and innovation is what sets Ver1.1a apart from typical video game adaptations.

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A Faithful Yet Fresh Narrative

One of the anime’s greatest strengths is its ability to capture the essence of NieR: Automata’s storytelling while adapting it for a passive medium. The game’s narrative thrives on player agency, with its multiple playthroughs and 26 endings revealing new perspectives and emotional gut-punches. Translating this interactive experience into a linear anime is no small feat, and director Ryoji Masuyama, alongside Yoko Taro himself, tackles this challenge with creativity.

The first episode, “or not to [B]e,” is a near shot-for-shot recreation of the game’s opening, introducing 2B’s stoic resolve and 9S’s curious nature as they infiltrate an abandoned factory to confront a Goliath-class machine. This faithful adaptation sets the tone, reassuring fans that the anime respects its roots. However, the series quickly branches into anime-original content, particularly in its exploration of the Resistance and characters like Lily, who replaces the game’s Anemone as the Resistance leader. This change, drawn from supplementary materials like the YoRHa: Pearl Harbor Descent stage play, adds depth to the Resistance’s struggles and introduces a tragic backstory tied to A2.

Episodes like “[L]one Wolf” and “bad [J]udgement” delve into this expanded lore, adapting the Pearl Harbor Descent narrative to flesh out A2 and Lily’s pasts. These additions are a double-edged sword: they provide newcomers with context and enrich the world for veterans, but they can feel like detours for those expecting a direct retelling. The anime also incorporates clever nods to the game’s multiple endings, such as a post-credit puppet show in Episode 2 that parodies the game’s joke ending T, where 2B removes her OS chip. These moments inject Yoko Taro’s signature meta-humor, making the anime feel like a love letter to fans while remaining accessible to newcomers.

However, the narrative isn’t without flaws. The anime’s pacing occasionally falters, particularly in early episodes, where the game’s exploration-based storytelling translates into a barrage of exposition that can overwhelm anime-only viewers. The series assumes some familiarity with the NieR universe, which may leave newcomers feeling like they’ve been “dropped into the middle of a story.” Despite this, the anime excels in its quieter moments, where characters like 9S question the morality of their war or Pascal’s machine village grapples with sentience, delivering the philosophical depth that defines NieR.

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Visuals and Animation: A Mixed Bag with Moments of Brilliance

A-1 Pictures delivers a visually striking adaptation, but it’s not without its controversies. The anime’s art direction faithfully recreates the game’s desolate, washed-out aesthetic, with crumbling cityscapes and overgrown ruins that evoke a haunting sense of loss. Character designs by Jun Nakai stay true to Tetsuya Nomura’s iconic style, with 2B’s gothic dress and 9S’s boyish charm rendered beautifully. However, the use of CGI for Machine Lifeforms and large-scale battles has drawn criticism. Some viewers have called the CGI “low quality” and jarring compared to the hand-drawn character animation, likening it to the infamous third season of Seven Deadly Sins.

Despite these critiques, the anime shines in its action sequences. 2B’s fluid swordplay and 9S’s hacking abilities are animated with precision, particularly in Episode 1’s factory battle, which mirrors the game’s frenetic pace. The anime also experiments with unique visual flourishes, such as a live-action storybook sequence in “just y[O]u and me” that ties NieR: Automata to its Drakengard and NieR: Replicant predecessors. These creative risks elevate the adaptation, even if the CGI occasionally undercuts the polish.

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A Soundtrack That Elevates the Soul

If there’s one aspect of NieR: Automata Ver1.1a that universally garners praise, it’s the soundtrack. Composed by Keiichi Okabe and his studio Monaca, the music is lifted directly from the game, with rearrangements that enhance the anime’s emotional weight. Tracks like “City Ruins” and “Amusement Park” are as haunting and evocative as ever, perfectly complementing the anime’s tone. The opening theme, “Escalate” by Aimer, captures the tragedy of the androids’ existence, while Amazarashi’s ending theme adds a melancholic resonance. Fans on X have lauded the soundtrack for its nostalgia and emotional depth, with one user noting it “brings the game to life” even more vividly.

The voice acting is equally stellar, with the Japanese cast—Yui Ishikawa as 2B, Natsuki Hanae as 9S, and Atsumi Tanezaki as Lily—reprising their roles from the game. Their performances convey the subtle nuances of androids discovering their humanity, from 2B’s restrained stoicism to 9S’s growing curiosity and vulnerability. The English dub, featuring Kira Buckland and Kyle McCarley, is also well-regarded for its fidelity to the original performances.

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Philosophical Depth and Emotional Impact

At its core, NieR: Automata Ver1.1a is a meditation on existence, identity, and the futility of war. The anime explores these themes through its non-human characters, allowing for a detached yet poignant examination of human concepts like community, truth, and self-worth. The series’ rejection of blind obedience is a recurring motif, as characters uncover unsettling truths about their world, such as the revelation that the Council of Humanity may not be what it seems. These philosophical underpinnings resonate deeply, particularly in scenes where machines like Pascal question their purpose or 2B grapples with her duty to 9S.

The anime’s emotional impact is amplified by its character dynamics. The relationship between 2B and 9S—marked by 9S’s unspoken affection and 2B’s guarded demeanor—is portrayed with subtlety, leaving room for interpretation. Lily’s arc as a Resistance leader haunted by her past adds a grounded, human element to the story, while A2’s rogue status hints at future conflicts that will challenge the status quo. For fans of the game, these moments evoke nostalgia; for newcomers, they offer a compelling entry point into the NieR universe.

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Challenges and Production Hiccups

NieR: Automata Ver1.1a faced significant production challenges, including multiple delays due to staff health issues, which stretched the first cour’s release from January to July 2023. These stopgaps frustrated some fans, as noted in X posts describing the production as a “tragedy” for the anime industry. The delays, coupled with the inconsistent CGI, occasionally disrupted the viewing experience. However, the final episodes of the first cour delivered a “storytelling spectacle” that mitigated these issues, setting the stage for a stronger second cour.

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Who Is This For?

NieR: Automata Ver1.1a Season 1 is a must-watch for fans of the game, offering a nostalgic yet fresh take on a beloved story. The anime’s nods to the game’s endings, expanded lore, and faithful soundtrack make it a rewarding experience for veterans. Newcomers may find the narrative dense and the pacing uneven, but the philosophical themes, strong character work, and atmospheric world-building make it accessible to those who enjoy sci-fi anime with existential undertones, such as Ergo Proxy or Psycho-Pass. The series’ PG rating and moderate fantasy violence make it suitable for teens and adults, though some partial nudity and mature themes may require parental guidance for younger viewers.

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Final Verdict: A Worthy Companion to a Masterpiece

NieR: Automata Ver1.1a Season 1 is a triumph of adaptation, capturing the soul of its source material while daring to forge its own path. Despite production challenges and divisive CGI, the anime shines through its philosophical depth, emotional resonance, and stunning soundtrack. It’s not a perfect replacement for the game’s interactive storytelling, but it’s a compelling substitute that stands on its own merits. As one Rotten Tomatoes reviewer aptly put it, “Ver1.1a’s best quirks shine through when it’s clearly thinking about how to make itself different from its source material.”

Rating: 8.5/10 – A must-watch for NieR fans and a thought-provoking sci-fi anime for newcomers, with enough originality to keep both groups engaged.

For those eager to dive deeper, NieR: Automata Ver1.1a is available on Crunchyroll, with the Blu-ray Disc Box Vol.1 offering additional content like short stories and production materials. Whether you’re a veteran of the 14th Machine War or a newcomer to Yoko Taro’s world, this anime is a journey worth taking—one that asks, as 2B does, “How long must we keep fighting?”