Sand Land The Series Part One Review: “An Adventure Toriyama Fans Don’t Want To Miss”

This Review of Sand Land Anime Episodes #1 – 6 Contains No Spoilers

Dragon Ball might be Akira Toriyama‘s most popular franchise, but the new Sand Land anime from the legendary creator is a vibrant tale of adventure that his fans won’t want to miss. Nearly five years after the final chapter of Dragon Ball was released, Toriyama published an entirely new manga series with a post-apocalyptic setting filled with dangerous bandits, a corrupt government, and a collection of charming demons. Now, its anime tells the tale of the Demon King’s son, Beelzebub, and his story that goes beyond the manga.

Although Dragon Ball is one of the most popular anime in the world, Sand Land is a very different story that proves that Toriyama was a master narrative craftsman. It takes little to no time for Sand Land to feel like a living, breathing place where humans, demons, and the beasts of the desert co-exist. While the series doesn’t contain the same type or amount of action as Goku’s adventure, the anime quickly encourages the viewer’s attention with excitement and humor.

Akira Toriyama’s Sand Land manga was a short story of 14 chapters centered around a mysterious old sheriff who teams up with the reluctant Prince of Demons, Beelzebub, and his wise companion, Thief. Their quest to find a fabled water spring is met with exciting confrontations against several forces, all with their own agendas. The first six episodes of the anime adapt the manga’s storyline with vibrant and smooth animation that successfully captures Toriyama’s iconic style.

There Is More To Sand Land Than Dragon Ball Fans May Expect

Sand Land Manga by Akira Toriyama, Anime Series Directed by Toshihisa Yokoshima ​​​

Belezebub’s design and personality are a far cry from the intimidating mythical figure his character is based on, which serves as one of the main themes of Sand Land: to not judge a book by its cover. The lesson also speaks to Toriyama fans going into this series with expectations that Sand Land is like Dragon Ball, which is an assumption that may leave some disappointed. However, viewers looking for a fun adventure with layered characters in a world that feels like Toriyama’s own take on Mad Max will find much to like with the Sand Land anime.

As Beelzebub, Thief, and the mysterious old Sheriff Rao embark on their quest, details about Rao’s past and the dastardly deeds of General Zeu ignite the first arc’s deadly game of cat and mouse. While dramatic beam struggles between large muscle-bound fighters are not included in this story, the Sand Land anime contains more action than the manga, with extended tank battles and well-directed fight scenes against colorful bandits and formidable creatures alike.

Several animation studios (Sunrise, Kamikaze Douga, and Anima) helped bring Toriyama’s Sand Land to life with an effective mix of CGI and 2D animation. Like the superb Dragon Ball Super: Super Hero film and Trigun Stampede anime, the Sand Land anime proves that CGI animation is no longer something to scoff at. Moments of dramatic lighting and character animations look charming and fantastic, with a level of depth that is only matched by Sand Land‘s character writing.

Character’s Deeper Than A Desert’s Dunes

Each character’s introduction in Sand Land will give first-time viewers a clear idea of who the main cast is and their spirited personalities. However, all assumptions are quickly turned upside down once the characters become more familiar with each other and effectively the audience. Beelzebub’s words and appearance would turn most humans away, but his actions paint the demon in a completely different light. On the other hand, Sheriff Rao seems like a trustworthy elder who, when push comes to shove, turns out to be an excellent fighter with a dark past filled with regret.

The character writing in Sand Land cleverly flips many common assumptions that viewers would expect in an adventure series. No single character fits the role of a clueless newbie learning the ropes. Instead, each cast member feels alive with a past informing their actions and actively learns and grows as new information presents itself. Rao and Beelzebub’s growing bond throughout the first six episodes of the Sand Land anime defies the previous expectations each had towards one another’s races and may also help audiences think twice before judging another at first glance.

Extra Scenes Add More Heart To Sand Land’s Characters

Nearly every bit of information presented in Sand Land adds to the plot and world-building, proving that Akira Toriyama’s skills only improved after Dragon Ball‘s manga concluded. The anime adds a few emotional scenes that dramatically add more to tragic characters like Rao and General Are. Additional scenes highlighting those they’ve lost helped paint a more complex picture of Toriyama’s characters, who each have their own ambitions that are thankfully not consistently regurgitated to audiences.

Sand Land‘s first half of the anime’s 13-episode season adapts Toriyama’s original manga almost to a tee but with a few differences and extended scenes. While battles go on a bit longer, the anime makes those experiences a joy with dynamic angles and an enjoyable music score constructed by Yugo Kanno to prop the mood up consistently. However, the anime’s additional scenes were so effective that it built a desire for more in order to further establish cast members that received a limited amount of backstory, such as Thief and the vile General Zeu.

A Great First Act That Should Excite Viewers For What’s To Come

The studios behind the Sand Land anime have faithfully and effectively captured the charm and adventure that each page of Akira Toriyama’s manga was brimming with. The biggest issue with the anime’s first half is that there isn’t more expanded lore or time with its cast beyond what was provided in the manga. While delivering a nearly one-to-one adaptation of the source material is what some readers want, the few extended scenes with Rao’s wife and General Are’s father were a highlight. The new anime scenes provided more depth to its characters, and more would have been a welcome addition.

Sand Land‘s first six episodes are a compelling retelling of Toriyama’s manga. However, its story beyond the original 14 chapters will be explored in the anime’s second half: the Forest Land arc. The problem with the first half of the season should be fixed in the last seven episodes. More time with the cast, expanded lore, and exciting perils await Toriyama fans in the first new part of the story since it was published in 2000. It’s an adventure that viewers will likely be more than willing to explore after watching the fantastic first half of Sand Land‘s anime.

Source: サンライズ (1,2)/YouTube

Watch the Sand Land The Series on Hulu and Disney+

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