Why MAPPA's Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul Failed to Live Up to Genesis (2024)

Sequels in any medium are difficult to make; this is doubly true when you're tasked with following up on a popular show, as fans go in with high expectations. As a result, it is far too easy to create something that doesn't quite live up to the original. Perhaps no series better encapsulates this than Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul, an anime that tried and failed to live up to its predecessor, Rage of Bahamut: Genesis.

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Inspired by the Rage of Bahamut game released on mobile phones, both installments of the anime adaptation were brought to life by MAPPA, the acclaimed studio most known for its work on series like Attack on Titan: The Final Season and Zombie Land Saga. The first installment, Rage of Bahamut: Genesis, hit screens in 2014 and was followed by Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul in 2017.

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The Plot of Rage of Bahamut

Why MAPPA's Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul Failed to Live Up to Genesis (1)

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Both Rage of Bahamut series are set in the magical world of Mistarcia, a place where monsters, gods and humans all live side by side. The demon Bahamut had been sealed away years previously, with the key split into two parts. In the first series, Genesis, an amnesiac girl gets one half of the key; this causes old tensions to flare once more and forces a bounty hunter, Favaro Leone, to protect the girl and help her complete her strange quest. Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul is set ten years after the original series' conclusion; bounty hunter Nina Drango must deal with the devious Rag Demon, who wishes to punish humans for their mistreatment of demons.

While Rage of Bahamut: Genesis was praised and reviewed well, Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul was criticized by fans and critics alike. At first glance, this is surprising as both series were animated by MAPPA, a studio known for its high quality. Likewise, many of the cast and characters from Genesis return for Virgin Soul, including Favaro Leone, Kaisar Lidfard and Rita. Both series are fantasy pieces set in the same world, so it seems logical that they would have a similar amount of popularity and acclaim.

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Why Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul Failed to Live Up to Genesis

Why MAPPA's Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul Failed to Live Up to Genesis (2)

One of the biggest differences between Rage of Bahamut: Genesis and Virgin Soul is in their tone. Virgin Soul takes the story in a darker direction than the original, a change that put off many fans. Its darker tone makes the series feel disconnected from Genesis and sucks a lot of fun out of the premise. It also makes Virgin Soul feel a little full of itself, which becomes apparent in the show's handling of the demons early on.

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It's clear that the sequel is trying to make a grander point and that the oppressed creatures are a metaphor for real-world oppressed groups. Unfortunately, Virgin Soul's writing lacks the subtlety needed to make it all feel cohesive, leading to a show that feels superficially darker without knowing exactly how to follow through with it -- while also being so obvious with its point that it feels like the writing team is patronizing viewers.

The general storyline is also an issue. While Rage of Bahamut: Genesis had an enjoyable and focused fantasy narrative, Virgin Soul feels less focused and features a more wayward plot. While the first few episodes impress, the sequel quickly goes off the rails with several characters changing personalities and doing things that make no logical sense -- the plot simply demands it. This reaches its nadir in the anime's final third, with a series of rapid-fire plot twists that make little sense and undermine the story's good parts. In fact, these twists are so jarring that viewers are often left questioning what even happened.

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This links to one of Virgin Soul's most significant issues: the new protagonist and the genre change they bring. While Nina Drango is an interesting character with potential for fascinating stories, the show often treats her like a fool, having her make strange decisions that don't fit the setting. This includes a romance subplot that is handled amazingly poorly. It overshadows other elements of the plot and often forces Nina to purposely make dumb decisions to keep it going. As a result, she often feels like a rom-com character who has somehow slipped into a fantasy drama.

Making a sequel is never easy, and Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul is the perfect case study. While it should be praised for attempting something new rather than simply rehashing the plot beats found in Genesis, the sequel's changes harmed the overall product while feeling unfocused and fractured. It led to an anime that, despite its potential, failed to live up to its predecessor and thus became a mostly forgotten series.

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Why MAPPA's Rage of Bahamut: Virgin Soul Failed to Live Up to Genesis (2024)

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