Learn Japanese Through Anime Titles – Made in Abyss – メイドインアビス

by | Sep 16, 2022 | Entertainment, Linguistics | 143 comments

For this installment of learning Japanese through anime titles I’d thought I’d mix it up and use an anime with a simple and English derived title, but with anime I’d actually recommend.

An orphaned girl named Riko lives in the Belchero Orphanage in the town of Orth. The town surrounds a strange, giant hole descending deep into the earth, which is known as the Abyss. The Abyss harbors artifacts and remnants of civilizations long gone, and is, therefore, a popular hunting spot for so-called Cave Raiders, who undertake arduous and dangerous descents into the mist-filled pit to recover whatever relics they can find. Returning from the Abyss can be dangerous as “the Curse of the Abyss,” a mysterious and potentially fatal malady, manifests upon ascension. The deeper one goes, the more acute the effects of the curse; few who have descended into the lower regions have returned to tell of their experiences. Some legendary Cave Raiders earn the title of White Whistles, one of them being Riko’s mother, Lyza, who is presumed dead after taking a “last descent” into the Abyss.

Riko’s longing in life is to follow in her mother’s footsteps and become a White Whistle. One day, she discovers a robot resembling a human boy in the first layer of the Abyss and names him Reg. Riko and her friends sneak Reg into Belchero and quickly welcome him into their close-knit group. Sometime later, a number of findings are made from the depths of the Abyss, including Lyza’s White Whistle and pages of discoveries and observations she had made, as well as a message presumably for Riko, stating she is waiting at the bottom of the Abyss. Riko, determined to find her mother, bids farewell to her friends and secretly departs into the Abyss with Reg as her companion.

Source: Wikipedia

メイドインアビス

メイド – MEIDO

イン  – IN

アビス – ABISU

MEIDO IN ABISU

In this case the Japanese title is simply English adapted to Japanese pronunciation. Many Japanese are unlikely to actually know the English word “abyss” so it will actually make the title more mysterious. Commonly when the katakana syllabary is romanized capital letters are used as I’ve done above.  The Japanese spelling here makes no distinction between “maid” and “made” as they sound identical.

I was initially very reluctant to watch this anime.  Fantasy isn’t my favorite and genre and I thought this particular story was going to be going to be the typical shōnen manga which are typically very much fighting the “monster of the week” kind of story.  I couldn’t have been more wrong.  However, if you only watch roughly the first half of the first season you could definitely be deceived into believing this is just a typical juvenile quest type story.  The reason I continued to watch was both the number of good reviews and the high quality of the Japanese voice talent.  Since I’m learning the language good voice talent and dialogue is just as important to me as the story.

However, if you push on past the first half of the first season you will well understand just how dark this anime is going to become.  It’s animated in a bright and cheerful character style similar to Disney films.  The main protagonist is outgoing and does her best to cheerfully overcome any obstacles in her way without getting depressed.  However as she descends into the Abyss the story become a true mix of the Divina Commedia and H.P. Lovecraft horror. The juxtaposition of the cheerful animation and the horror makes the horror all the stronger. It’s an example of playing to the strength of the animated format instead of just presenting a story that happens to be animated.

Given the interest in Lovecraftian horror here at Glibs this seemed like a good anime to recommend with a few caveats.  The manga (comic) continues so there is no finale to the anime yet.  The anime and films based on the manga basically assume the viewer remembers what happened in prior seasons so the plot can be a bit confusing when you start a new season.  However, it’s still worth the investment.  The current season would have to be blackest story yet.

About The Author

Sensei

Sensei

人代名詞は吾輩である。

143 Comments

  1. Sean

    Anime tiddies!

    • Count Potato

      Who has two thumbs and likes tiddies?

      • DrOtto

        Q?

    • DEG

      I always read the title of these articles as “Learn Japanese Through Anime Tiddies”.

  2. straffinrun

    You identify as Soseki?

    • Sensei

      + 1 猫

    • Ted S.

      I thought Sensei identified as レズビアン.

  3. straffinrun

    I prefer メイドインヱビス

    • Ted S.

      The god of fishermen?

  4. Count Potato

    I’m not a big anime fan, but I’ve seen plenty non-anime Japanese movies. I’ve noticed that the English and Japanese titles often have no relationship to each other. Which isn’t that odd. Movies distributed in other countries often have completely different titles.

  5. rhywun

    OT: Today in mental illness.

    The standard operation adds about three inches of height, but patients can add up to six inches if they are willing to have the same surgical nails implanted in their tibias. Cash-strapped customers are allowed to cover the costs in installments.

    • Grumbletarian

      I know it’s only three inches (that’s what she said), but I wonder how noticeable the longer femurs are after it’s done. It wouldn’t show much wearing pants, but with shorts?

      • Count Potato

        Some people have long legs.

    • Pine_Tree

      OK, since you posted that – full disclosure: I think my thighs are too short. I’m 6’0, but I think the vertical elements are oddly proportioned. Torso (everything from the, um, confluence of my anatomy up to my collarbone is probably too long. And I’d really go for thighs that were basically 2″ longer. I could keep my overhall height and just trade some torso for thigh length.

      Anyway, I’m not spending any money on it, but I’d trade some pain for it if offered.

      • Count Potato

        Don’t worry about it, Burt Reynolds had an oddly long torso and got mad pussy.

      • rhywun

        I’m 5’7″ and there’s no fracking way I’d put myself through this.

        Not even with three older brothers who tower over me.

      • Sensei

        You and me on both points.

      • slumbrew

        Only 5’7”, but I’m also mostly torso.

        Buying pants sucks but you’d have to pay me to go through that lengthening procedure. WTF decides to do that in their 40s?

      • rhywun

        I have no idea if my torso is too long or short.

        I can’t buy pants because I turned into a fat fuck in my forties.

      • Zwak. who's suit is as ragged as his nerves.

        At 45 I decided to not give a fuck, and went back to baggy cords with rolled cuffs. Lovin’ it!

      • MikeS

        About the same age I also stopped giving any fucks and went to Wrangler carpenter jeans. Very comfy and have a few extra pockets. Winning!

      • Seguin

        I’m the opposite. 6′ 2″ and mostly leg. Even 34x36s are tough to find, but I used to wear 32x36s. Almost impossible.

      • rhywun

        My God when I was 30×30 it was like everything was made for me. An endless variety of everything.

      • slumbrew

        We’re the same height, yet my inseam is 3” shorter.

        You’re not in the long torso club 🙂

    • Chafed

      It’s straight out of Gattaca.

      • Zwak. who's suit is as ragged as his nerves.

        That, by the way, is a great movie. One of the best of the 90s.

      • rhywun

        ‘Tis.

    • Threedoor

      I’m 6’5”. Fairly normal proportioned. My dad is more torso than I am. His inseam
      Is an inch shorter and he likes to slam seats to the floor of his rigs. I raise them. He could use this.

  6. Penguin

    ペンギンです。

  7. Don escaped Texas

    straffinrun on September 16, 2022 at 6:43 pm I don’t see how size of government has any effect on economic freedom.

    is there context?

    • straffinrun

      Yes. I was fight a temporary case of hydrophilia.

  8. Don escaped Texas

    I’ve worked for two Japanese firms and a French firm that owned a Japanese factory, but I learned almost none of the language.

    I don’t hear well, so when they come over the intercom it sounds like mush mushi, a sort of “now hear this” and “man” and “three” sound the same to me

    good morning, good day, thank you, after you….those sorts of phrases I can pull off, and nothing more

    • Ted S.

      So you learned a skosh?

    • Seguin

      When I lived in Italy I went to a school for expats. Half the students were American or English, and the other half Japanese. At the end of my first year I knew more Japanese than Italian. Forgot almost all of it except for watashi wa, anata wa, baka, and atama (we played a lot of soccer)

    • Sensei

      I learned just enough Italian for a trip to get around and promptly forgot it all. Although with grazie and prego you’ve got a good head start.

      • Sensei

        And because the server choked here is pt2.

        Still remember speaking with a waitress in a small town and asked if English or French was better and she much preferred English…

  9. Seguin

    Gonna pass. For one I got enough weird looks from LadyZ when I tried to watch Akira at the house last time, and for two I can’t stand the chibi art style.

    oh yeah

    *ahem*

    WEEEEEB!

    • Sensei

      The art style is why I really wasn’t initially interested in it. It actually works.

      • Seguin

        Maybe I’ll check it out when she’s gone then.

        While you’re here, did you see the johanssen Ghost in the Shell and was it any good? LZ won’t watch anime, but I always hear good things about GITS.

      • Sensei

        I actually didn’t hate the live action.

        GITS the anime has truly mediocre storylines set in an amazing universe. I’m hard pressed to recommend it to anyone but diehard anime people.

        Although I love the voice actress who does the protagonist. She has a voice that is a wonderful contrast to all the squeaky young women now voicing anime.

      • Count Potato

        I thought the anime was way better.

      • Sensei

        The movie had the advantage of being a more complete story.

        I agree the anime is better however.

      • LCDR_Fish

        The movie was decent – some very bad casting though (ie. Takeshi Kitano as Aramaki).

        Now…the anime flick is pretty mediocre plot-wise (recently read the first vol of manga that includes elements of the movie and GITS: SAC season 1) – although there weren’t as many early-mid-90s feature films that were really solid other than Ghibli (willing to get more suggestions).

        GITS: SAC though – both seasons and the SSS movie are truly solid – some of the best stuff in the 00’s decade without a doubt.

      • Sensei

        Looking through my personal video catalog from that period

        Chie the Brat 1981. Good but not great.

        Vampire Hunter D 1985 and Vampire Hunter D Bloodlust 2000.

        Pretty much everything else I have movie anime is Ghibli in that period.

        Also highly recommend this. Pretty sure Crunchy has US rights and is streaming

        https://heike-anime.asmik-ace.co.jp/

      • Seguin

        I do love Vampire Hunter D, but probably that’s colored by nostalgia.

        (I have a particular like for the odd Franco-Japanese cartoons like Ulysses 31 and Lost Cities of Gold)

      • Count Potato

        Perfect Blue is very good.

      • Zwak. who's suit is as ragged as his nerves.

        Can’t tell of serious… Beat Takeshi is the one Japanese actor I know, and I think he is usually worth checking out.

  10. Gustave Lytton

    Happened to be watching a drama the other day and noticed that one of the supporting cast is formerly of Takarazuka Revue. Wouldn’t have caught my eye except for the discussion a couple of weeks ago.

  11. Don escaped Texas

    @seguin

    finally read the car article: intriguing

    didja know that Marmon built the Garland plant (and they had one in Denton, too)

    • Don escaped Texas

      Marmon Truck was still a thing when I was a kid: epic frame rails that would make a Mack blush. I saw one rolling ten years ago, but they’re all on the ashheap of history now.

      The plant passed to Navistar (post-bankruptcy International Harvester) at some point, and they made custom vocational trucks…or rather the chassis…and so-called severe duty. There was a neighborhood of mom and pop shops that fitted them out: a shop for right-hand drive, a shop for tow-trucks, garbage, etc. During my time there was an MRAP section that you had to have a US passport to walk pass/through.

      Navistar wanted super cheap parts from me and I told them to GFY. I was raising prices and making bank even into 2009; then I got canned to make room for someone’s water polo buddy from Michigan State. Ha ha: the plant closed anyway in 2013….not that I’m not sympathetic to the 1,000 heads that rolled. Some NY firm bought the 50 acre site in May.

      Later, a few years ago, I wanted this job selling engineering services, interviewed on New Year’s Eve (lost an alternator in AL and barely got home from ATL), …..and waited. Meanwhile, Berkshire Hathaway called about a job I had interviewed for: they had acquired firms with a heritage going back to, you guessed it, Marmon, and this plant was in that portfolio. Didn’t want the job, asked too much money, they balked, I then insisted they give me control of half the plant operations to justify the salary…ridiculous….and……..they hired me. Grudgingly, I show up, settle in, get my photo ID, fill out the forms, park my brief case, and………..my cell buzzes. In the latrine I read: offer letter from engineering firm in ATL!!!!!! So I slipped Savannah (I only saw her that once, but oh my) my new ID on the way out to “lunch” and ran like the coward I am. Six months later I’m making great inroads with huge architectural, engineering, construction, and contractor firms…relationships bubbly, high-level meetings, and suddenly the holding parent firm decided the numbers weren’t any good so they shitcanned a third of the staff. So I drove home, snagged a job sizing pumps making half as much and it was a year before I got another real job.

      • Seguin

        No, I didn’t! Marmon and Marmon Herrington were odd ducks. I didn’t realize the Navistar plant was originally them. If it’s the building I’m thinking of there’s now a company called Massimo there. I’m fairly sure they assemble CKD kits from China for things like UTVs and such. Pretty sure Peterbilt runs the Denton plant now.

        That is a crazy story – Savannah must’ve been quite a looker if you still remember her name from one meeting. I remember seeing the chassis and cabs rolling back and forth on Kingsley pretty often, stacked in their weird way without an actual trailer – if I can trust my memory that is. I didn’t know they were going to be outfitted locally. Garland must’ve taken a hit after they closed up. That might be why we got our building cheap – we were located on Oakland Avenue off Shiloh, big, ramshackle building built in the 60s that had continually expanded. It was rented or owned by Keystone – you know, the wheel guys.

      • Don escaped Texas

        Peterbilt built in green field….was still cotton on both sides last time I was there

        That plant was pretty solid, so solid that when the Tennessee plant went on strike, Paccar forgot to attend the negotiations….it’s a Uhaul center now.

  12. Count Potato

    What does “Uma to onna to inu” mean?

    • Sensei

      horse and women (female) and dog.

      Google says… I was correct and porno.

      • Zwak. who's suit is as ragged as his nerves.

        So, horse dog lesbian porn?

    • Ted S.

      My first thought was this.

  13. Grummun

    I enjoyed the first season. Unfortunately, Netflix has a habit of buying one season of a show and then dropping it.

    • Sensei

      They are currently running Isekai Ojisan which ran into production issues in Japan.

      I’m rather sad because it’s one my favorites this season. So I’d expect if it continues in second season they won’t pick it up.

  14. Gustave Lytton

    The lying in state continues to fascinate me. Just such a wide range of people filing past. Saw tonight that Charles and his siblings were holding vigil in the middle of it. Quite a contrast between this very public venue and essentially kids holding a silent vigil for their mother, and yet it works.

    https://youtu.be/kVb1Xys9OmQ

    • rhywun

      Chuck looks weird all gussied up like that.

      Is that what kings look like?!

    • one true athena

      Anne has the best outfit. Hat and sword. Though I see Charles let Andrew get a uniform back for this.

      There’s a great photo I saw from yesterday when William and Kate were at the viewing of the tributes outside – just the two of them very small in front of a great sea of flowers (and plush corgis – aw), laid in front of the gate.

      • Gustave Lytton

        I think it’s more about honoring her than him. Edward was long supposed to get Edinburgh after Phillip died, yet allegedly Charles isn’t going to do it. If that’s true, I doubt he’s sticking Andrew in a uniform for his own benefit. Note that for the accompaniment from Buckingham, Andrew was in civies.

  15. UnCivilServant

    Evening, Glibs.

    Just got back from the scenic railroad. I picked the longest run they had available tickets for. That ended up being the ‘Pizza and Music’ run. The ‘Pizza’ was Dominos. While no longer a brick of burnt grease, but a block of meh with a strong afterstaste of garlic powder. They are still ‘avoid’ rated. The musician they employed was annoying and I’d rather not have had to listen to him. The ride itself was okay.

    • MikeS

      Sorry it was meh. How’d you like the museum?

      • UnCivilServant

        The ride would have been better with fewer children.

        The museum has some interesting items.

      • MikeS

        Will you be in the HH area tomorrow?

      • UnCivilServant

        Tomorrow I will be doing laundry. After that, I donno.

      • MikeS

        I emailed you

    • Lackadaisical

      That is as good as pizza gets in some areas, sadly.

    • The Hyperbole

      Another dude I would have bet was dead already, 95’s a pretty damn good run.

    • MikeS

      Great “bad guy”. Had a great Resting Asshole Face

    • Ted S.

      I just watched Green Mansions a few weeks back. Hilariously bad movie: just try imagining Audrey Hepburn as the Beastmaster.

  16. MikeS

    I’m pre gaming Honey Harvest at a nearby campground. Sitting in front of a fire ring of wood that won’t burn. But, my cigar is burning properly and the whiskey tastes good. Glibing on a phone sucks.

    • UnCivilServant

      I’m guessing the rain is what impeded the campfire.

      • MikeS

        It hasn’t rained since I got here. I bought wood that appeared to be dry on the way here, but I guess it had absorbed enough moisture to be problematic. And it feels like the humidity is about 110%

  17. Brochettaward

    Firsting is the universal language.

    • MikeS

      わかりません

      • Brochettaward

        MikeS proving he can second in any language.

      • MikeS

        あなたのお母さんは文句を言わない

      • straffinrun

        That’ll work.

  18. Brochettaward

    A former NCO I knew in the Army posted a tik tok where he said says that, “Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.”

    Yea…there’s a reason I hated the Army, starting with the reality of, just like any branch of government, too many of the wrong sorts of people end up with authority.

    • slumbrew

      That sounds positively psychotic.

    • Trigger Hippie

      RAAAAAAAAAANT!!!!!!!?…!!!!

      Where was I?

      Nevermind.

      *beats chest*

      Inflation!

      Basically a projected loss of around 25K a year reduction in total income this year due to the cost of living plus the fact that the old job finally died out over the last few months.

      • Sean

        Sorry, dude. 😧

  19. Brochettaward

    Rings Of Power episode 4 introduces xenophobic right wing populism to Middle Earth.

    • Stinky Wizzleteats

      Make Mordor Great Again

  20. Festus

    Good night and good morning, fellow Glibbies! The leech is sleeping in my my shed again. The 600 lb black bear continues her wrestling match with the garbage bin. Tomorrow the younglings come over to build a set of steps that I have no control over except for the cost of the materials. I’ll get what I pay for no matter what. They’re contractors, it’ll be fine. Judi finally might have found some supportive housing for him (fingers crossed) but in the meantime I’d as soon see that bear eat him.

    • Stinky Wizzleteats

      It’s just a desperate bid for relevance but I’m sure xir will be unfunny enough for the show.

      • Lackadaisical

        Probably fits right in with all the other freaks they already employ(ed).

    • rhywun

      One wonders – but not enough to tune in or anything- how they will tiptoe around it because to even try to milk humor out of it is now hurtful and triggering. And to completely ignore it kind of flies in the face of all the “look at me!” there is going to be.

      • Lackadaisical

        Maybe a 5-minute long monologue of the virtues of hermaphrodism. It’ll be hi-larious.

  21. Stinky Wizzleteats

    “US Army’s Recruiting Crisis Worsens As Test Scores Drop, Disqualifications Rates Surge”
    https://www.zerohedge.com/military/us-armys-recruiting-crisis-worsens-test-scores-drop-disqualifications-rates-surge

    I guess fit midwestern and southern young men don’t wanna get jabbed up before they suck the female penis and the ones that actually do want to join tend to primarily subsist on Krispy Kreme. It’s a damn good thing that the Chinese and the Russian militaries seem to be largely paper tigers.

    • Lackadaisical

      ‘suck the female penis ‘

      Strangely, Navy recruitment bucked the trends and is way up.

      • Sean

        😆

    • Grumbletarian

      So unfortunate they’re not finding enough purple-haired tri-spirit flormosexuals to replace all the experienced volunteers they booted for not wanting the clot shot. Such a shame indeed…

    • Sean

      Oh, there was a cucumber too. Not pictured.

    • Grummun

      That is a pretty sad “major criminal arrest diorama”.

      • Sean

        Am I being detained?

  22. Gender Traitor

    Good morning, Sean, Lack, Stinky, rhy, and TH! Another pleasant morning so far here at Tranq Base. With any luck, it won’t get too hot out here before noon. I’m going to try to get as much time out here as I can before the weather turns and I have to bundle up in flannel jammies, a hoodie, and fuzzy socks and slippers.

    • Sean

      Mornin.

    • Gender Traitor

      ***SIGH!!!*** SiriusXM gets points off for promoting “Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month Music.” I suppose it could be worse – it could have been “Hispanx.” 🙄

      • Grosspatzer

        No love for Creatinx?

      • Gender Traitor

        It just occurred to me that “Hispanx” sounds like control-top “shapewear” for guys.

      • Ted S.

        it could have been “Hispanx.”

        You don’t like their pantyhose?

    • Lackadaisical

      Mornin’ miss.

  23. Grosspatzer

    Mornin’, reprobates. I have the ER all to myself, Saturday mornings are slow. Waiting for the IV pain meds, then. CT scan to confirm what I already know: kidney stone.

    • DEG

      Ouch. Sorry. I hope you get the pain meds and pass the stone soon.

    • Gender Traitor

      Owwwwwww!!!! 😧😟 I gather you’ve had them before?

    • Lackadaisical

      Nice, I mean, sounds as nice as a kidney stone can be. Have fun. 😀

    • Sean

      Oof. That sucks, GP. Sorry to hear.

    • Sensei

      Feel better!

    • mindyourbusiness

      Hopefully they can hammer the beast into smaller pieces with sound. If not, there are other nonsurgical treatments that will work. Been there, done that.

  24. DEG

    However as she descends into the Abyss the story become a true mix of the Divina Commedia and H.P. Lovecraft horror. The juxtaposition of the cheerful animation and the horror makes the horror all the stronger.

    Oh… nice.