Made in Abyss: Is It Worth Watching? (And Is It Really as Dark as People Say?)

What's the actual premise?

Riko, a young girl living in a town built around the Abyss, a massive, seemingly bottomless chasm filled with ancient ruins and monstrous creatures, dreams of becoming a Cave Raider like her missing mother. After discovering a mysterious robot boy named Reg at the edge of the Abyss, the two descend together, searching for Riko's mother and the secrets buried deep within.

Why do people specifically warn newcomers about this show?

Because the visual style is genuinely misleading in a way that catches a lot of first-time viewers off guard. Made in Abyss looks, on the surface, like a whimsical, colorful children's fantasy adventure, cute character designs, a storybook aesthetic, an adorable robot companion. The actual content, once the story gets moving, includes genuinely disturbing body horror, real psychological trauma, and consequences for its child characters that are significantly darker than the art style prepares you for. This mismatch between tone and content is intentional, and widely considered one of the show's most effective and most upsetting qualities.

Is the horror mostly implied, or does the show actually show disturbing content directly?

Directly shown, and this is important to know rather than assume otherwise based on the cute art style. Without spoiling specifics, certain arcs in the story depict body horror and psychological trauma with real, unflinching directness rather than keeping things implied or off-screen. If you're specifically sensitive to body horror or content involving children in genuinely dangerous, disturbing situations, this is worth taking seriously as a real warning rather than genre hyperbole.

Is the show actually good, or is the shock value the whole point?

Genuinely good, and this is worth emphasizing because the shock value alone wouldn't sustain the show's reputation. Made in Abyss pairs its disturbing content with genuinely gorgeous world-building, a well-constructed mystery about the nature of the Abyss itself, and real emotional depth in its central relationships, particularly between Riko and Reg. The horror elements land specifically because the show has built real investment in its characters and world beforehand, not as shock for its own sake.

How many seasons and films are there, and how do they fit together?

Two TV seasons exist, plus two films. The first film, Journey's Dawn, largely recaps the first season with some additional footage, while the second film, Dawn of the Deep Soul, is a genuine continuation between Season 1 and Season 2, containing story content you'd otherwise miss if you skip straight from the first season to the second.

Do I need to watch the films, or can I go straight from Season 1 to Season 2?

I'd recommend watching Dawn of the Deep Soul specifically, since it contains real, necessary story content bridging the two seasons rather than being a purely optional side story. Journey's Dawn is more skippable if you've already watched Season 1, since it's largely a recap with minimal new material.

Is this a good anime for someone who wants something visually gorgeous but doesn't want extreme content?

Honestly, no, and I'd say this clearly rather than soften it. The disturbing content here is a genuine, significant part of the show's identity, not an occasional dark moment in an otherwise light series. If extreme content involving children in real physical and psychological danger is something you specifically want to avoid, this isn't the right pick regardless of how beautiful the animation is.

Frequently asked questions

Is Made in Abyss really as dark as people say? Yes, genuinely. Its cute art style is intentionally deceptive, hiding real body horror and psychological trauma shown directly rather than implied.

Should I watch the Made in Abyss films? Dawn of the Deep Soul contains real, necessary story content between Season 1 and 2. Journey's Dawn is more skippable since it's largely a recap.

Is Made in Abyss good beyond its shock value? Yes, it pairs its disturbing content with genuinely strong world-building and emotional depth, which is why the horror actually lands rather than feeling gratuitous.

Is this a good anime for someone sensitive to disturbing content? No, this genuinely isn't the right pick if extreme content involving children in danger is something you want to avoid.

Want something else with this level of atmospheric world-building, minus the extreme content?

If you want the sense of wonder without the disturbing elements, our anime recommendation quiz can help point you toward something gentler.