The first episode of The Promised Neverland has finally been released! It was honestly so fun! I love the original manga, but the anime production is also amazing! I had high expectations from the trailer, and it exceeded my expectations! Anyway, I've read the original manga, so I have a general idea of the plot, but I'm sure there are many people who have been watching the anime since then, so I'll try to avoid spoilers as much as possible and provide some additional explanations of things that probably won't be covered in the anime, as well as some points that you should remember!
Episode 1 Impressions and Supplementary Explanation Video
I've also created a supplementary explanation video, so please check it out!
Episode 1 Impressions and Supplementary Explanation: What is Gupna?
What is Gupna, mentioned in the conversation?
Source: The Promised Neverland © Kaiu Shirai / Posuka Demizu / Shueisha / CloverWorks
I'm sorry for suddenly picking out this scene, but as some mysterious monsters are having a conversation, a slightly bossy monster appears and asks another monster, "Where's Gupna?" The Gupna probably won't be explained in the anime, so I'll give a brief explanation without spoiling anything. Gupna is a monster ritual in which a blood-sucking plant called Vida is stuck into meat, and once the flower blooms, it is safe to eat. This also serves to drain the blood from the meat, and since the flower is blooming on the slain Connie, the monsters believe that the meat is now ready to eat.
Is Vida an important plant?
Source: The Promised Neverland © Kaiu Shirai / Posuka Demizu / Shueisha / CloverWorks
The plant Vida may actually play a very important role in The Promised Neverland. In fact, the Vida plant appears in the opening theme song. If you watch it from next time, you might find something special. Also, the character for "bundle" in The Promised Neverland looks like a plant is piercing it! It's also said that this represents Vida for the Gupna.
Episode 1 Impressions: Supplementary Explanation: The Shipping List Carried by the Demons
Source: The Promised Neverland © Kaiu Shirai / Posuka Demizu / Shueisha / CloverWorks
This is the scene where Connie was killed by a mysterious monster. In this scene, we see that the children are prime prey. As we can see from their conversation, the list depicted here is a shipping list that also serves as the children's test report cards. On the left are the numbers on the children's necks. From top to bottom, they match the numbers of Norman, Ray, Emma, Gilda, Don, and Runyon. The smart ones are considered premium. Connie was average, and even said after the test that she was terrible at it.
Episode 1 Impressions: Supplementary Explanation: The Difference in Emma and Norman's Intentions
Source: The Promised Neverland © Kaiu Shirai / Posuka Demizu / Shueisha / CloverWorks
The two realize they're being raised as food. They decide to escape. Here's what they say: Let's run, Emma. The three of us can escape. Norman first suggests that Emma, Ray, and the others escape together. Emma responds, "Maybe we can all escape together?" Norman, seemingly accepting Emma's suggestion, agrees to the idea. It's important to understand the difference in their intentions!
Episode 1 Review, Supplementary Explanation, Title: 121045
Title
The title was 121045. Did you know what it meant? The answer was actually revealed in the story.
The correct answer is the date
Source: The Promised Neverland © Kaiu Shirai / Posuka Demizu / Shueisha / CloverWorks
Today is the day Connie leaves to go live with her foster parents. October 12, 2045. So, the title "121045" refers to today's date. That's quite an elaborate story!
Episode 1 Impressions, Supplementary Explanation, Summary
- People with perfect scores are premium meat.
- Connie wasn't premium meat, she was average. (Connie said her grades weren't very good.)
- Children are supposed to leave the orphanage by the age of 12.
- Ray's dream after leaving the orphanage is to survive.
It's simple, but that's all for now! I'm already looking forward to the second episode of The Promised Neverland!
