I'm going to start off by saying I have no knowledge of the series outside of the anime, so for those of you let down by this webtoon adaptation, I apologize. To me a show is all about how invested it is able to get you in the characters, and the story. Every episode we learn more and more about our many characters, without too much spoon fed back story. The dynamic of the characters give me major Hunter x Hunter vibes which is a great thing in my book. At the end of each episode I always find myself wishing I could hit the "next episode" button, and with the current global situation, a binge worthy show is worth its weight in (insert something you value here).
52 Reviews
Give it more time
nimaalighardashi6 April 2020
I really enjoyed series and I think it's gonna get even better in further episodes. Like many other fans I also believe in the first half of ep1 story was going too slow but I think we can just get over that.
I see a lot of people didn't like the series cuz they didn't explain a bunch of stuff but I think that problem will be solved in next episodes.
I see a lot of people didn't like the series cuz they didn't explain a bunch of stuff but I think that problem will be solved in next episodes.
Tower of god is finally here.
ffardin8 April 2020
I'm a big fan of the manwha and i know what will happen in the next few episodes so i assure you that it is gonna be Epic. You have to give every tv show a chance to start the story and build the world if you gonna judge by the first few episodes and stop watching the show you would miss a lot of top tier shows.
Now about the Adaptation. as a manwha reader i loved it till now (episode 2). the voices are perfect for the characters.the art style is similar to manwha and it is knida unique it suits the world of TOG but it could be better.***another note the studio is using the same art as the manwha. the manwha was released in the 2010 and it didn't have good art style quality but the studio is trying to respect the manwha so all i can say it is going to be a lot better when the first arc is finished because the manwha improve a lot in the quality so just a little patience here*** The Ost and the opening and the ending were all satisfying. the only thing that concerns me is the pacing of the story till now (episode 2) they cut out some things in the anime so i hope they do not rush it overall i'm more than satisfied and if they do things right this anime will be one of the bests.
Edit: I am on episode 6 and i can say the studio is doing a really good job on the adaptation so now i can recommend this to everyone. watch it you wont be disappointed.
Now about the Adaptation. as a manwha reader i loved it till now (episode 2). the voices are perfect for the characters.the art style is similar to manwha and it is knida unique it suits the world of TOG but it could be better.***another note the studio is using the same art as the manwha. the manwha was released in the 2010 and it didn't have good art style quality but the studio is trying to respect the manwha so all i can say it is going to be a lot better when the first arc is finished because the manwha improve a lot in the quality so just a little patience here*** The Ost and the opening and the ending were all satisfying. the only thing that concerns me is the pacing of the story till now (episode 2) they cut out some things in the anime so i hope they do not rush it overall i'm more than satisfied and if they do things right this anime will be one of the bests.
Edit: I am on episode 6 and i can say the studio is doing a really good job on the adaptation so now i can recommend this to everyone. watch it you wont be disappointed.
Has potential
marjavier8 April 2020
Impatient people will always look away from an anime that starts all mystery and no explanation. I personally enjoy these animes because I get surprised at every turn. Tower of god, despite only having one episode is already intriguing and mysterious. Let's hope it keeps the hype till the very end.
Pretty Darn Good
ace3nigma7 May 2020
Tower of God starts out pretty simple, slowly expanding and dropping little bits of lore, character development, and world-building as it goes. It's a more traditional approach that imitates shows like Naruto, One Piece or Hunter X Hunter, and one that maybe isn't always as appealing in modern fast paced (impatient...) culture. The difference with stories like this though is that the payoffs tend to be greater, the world more immersive, and the story threads complex and intriguing.
The artstyle is hit or miss it seems (and I mean REALLY hit or miss. Most either absolutely love it or flat out despise it). I love it: it feels old school and almost hand-drawn (imitating the style of the webcomic). Strangely, when I saw stills of the series it didn't look very appealing, but somehow seeing it in motion is a whole different story.
Then there's the music. The OST is made by Kevin Penkin whose done some other famous series and it's on a level of quality I rarely see in anime. The OP is done by kpop band Stray Kids. Not having really listened to kpop before, I can say that I absolutely LOVE the OP. The visuals are a little lackluster to be fair, but the song is incredible.
Now I will say this is the sort of series you can get lost in if you're not paying attention. Pacing wise so far it's felt pretty good (although episode 6 felt pretty fast in comparison to the first 5 not that's necessarily bad). I know they're fitting in a lot from the original webcomic into a short period of time but so far most of the time it feels like it avoids some of the pitfalls the longer stretched out shonen anime of the past tend to fall into.
Overall the series thus far has been pretty spectacular and, to be honest, a refreshing breath of fresh air. Anime as of late has really started to feel a bit stagnant, with the same sort of stories being made over and over. It is true that not everything here is completely original, and it's not without a fee flaws, but I believe it really manages to capture the immersion and massiveness of a different world (or universe) and do it well. I'd say definitely give it a try and if you enjoy it, consider catching up to the webcomic afterward (on webtoon). That's what ended up happening for me and I can tell you I don't regret it.
One final note: the characters are pretty great in this series, although the main character Bam does appear a bit overly simple at first. There's good reason for that but I've noticed it turns some viewers off the show a bit. If there's one thing I can say about Bam after having read ahead (not a spoiler) it's that there's a significant amount of effort put into his development as a character, far more than many series I've seen, but it doesn't happen over night. It builds up over time and in pretty surprising ways, but you will have to stick through it to get there.
The artstyle is hit or miss it seems (and I mean REALLY hit or miss. Most either absolutely love it or flat out despise it). I love it: it feels old school and almost hand-drawn (imitating the style of the webcomic). Strangely, when I saw stills of the series it didn't look very appealing, but somehow seeing it in motion is a whole different story.
Then there's the music. The OST is made by Kevin Penkin whose done some other famous series and it's on a level of quality I rarely see in anime. The OP is done by kpop band Stray Kids. Not having really listened to kpop before, I can say that I absolutely LOVE the OP. The visuals are a little lackluster to be fair, but the song is incredible.
Now I will say this is the sort of series you can get lost in if you're not paying attention. Pacing wise so far it's felt pretty good (although episode 6 felt pretty fast in comparison to the first 5 not that's necessarily bad). I know they're fitting in a lot from the original webcomic into a short period of time but so far most of the time it feels like it avoids some of the pitfalls the longer stretched out shonen anime of the past tend to fall into.
Overall the series thus far has been pretty spectacular and, to be honest, a refreshing breath of fresh air. Anime as of late has really started to feel a bit stagnant, with the same sort of stories being made over and over. It is true that not everything here is completely original, and it's not without a fee flaws, but I believe it really manages to capture the immersion and massiveness of a different world (or universe) and do it well. I'd say definitely give it a try and if you enjoy it, consider catching up to the webcomic afterward (on webtoon). That's what ended up happening for me and I can tell you I don't regret it.
One final note: the characters are pretty great in this series, although the main character Bam does appear a bit overly simple at first. There's good reason for that but I've noticed it turns some viewers off the show a bit. If there's one thing I can say about Bam after having read ahead (not a spoiler) it's that there's a significant amount of effort put into his development as a character, far more than many series I've seen, but it doesn't happen over night. It builds up over time and in pretty surprising ways, but you will have to stick through it to get there.
The myth, the master and the meme will finally meet animated
Sin1ster6 May 2020
After seeing first episode i must say i was so impressed that i went and read all webtoon in few days and i'm not a reader
So regarding this, the story line and characters are something really unbelievable, it's impossible not to be fascinated by tower and our characters, if all story gets animated this will be by far my favorite anime ever, 10/10 without any doubt
I also love the webtoon, but the rating it too high for this piece
TVpotatoCat19 May 2020
If we judge the Anime as a series by itself, without leaning on our love to the Webtoon, it clearly doesn't deserve the many 10 stars reviews it was getting.
I'm very glad that other artists beside mangakas are getting recognition, but it's important to stay truthful.
The comics has a complex plot, but the execution is also very important when converting it into an Anime.
The animation of the anime was horrible in the first episode. This, by itself, is enough to discourage many people from continuing to watch. The claim of some people that it's original to the comics is ridiculous, since it's a fault the artist made due to low drawing skills, not something that was done intentionally. Completely okay when it's an online comics, completely not forgiven when it's an anime. The animation improved slightly later but it's still not good, especially the drawings of the eyes. But I suppose it's the best the studio could do with a low budget.
The story itself was rushed in the speed of light compared to the comics. Now I might agree that some things might feel like they were dragged too much in the comics, but they certainly over did it when converting to an Anime. And of course when this happens things get lost in the middle.
The relationship between the characters felt very rushed. Instead of the viewer getting to know the characters over time and the characters getting to know each other and building a friendship everything just happened over two-three episodes. I understand that they were probably on major budget restrictions but doing so took so much of the story's depth and soul.
Also fight scenes were simply cut down. It was presented as if a fight was over with one swing, which made the characters look over powered.
In the comics Rak had from time to time comical scenes, but here they seem to make his whole character comical. One of the things that make him funny in the comics is that most of the time he behaved very seriously, but here most of the time he behaved goofy.
In the end, it has a lot of potential since the plot the Anime is based on is very good, I can only hope that if the series gets more popular, their budget will grow and they'll be able to put more into improving the faults.
The comics has a complex plot, but the execution is also very important when converting it into an Anime.
The animation of the anime was horrible in the first episode. This, by itself, is enough to discourage many people from continuing to watch. The claim of some people that it's original to the comics is ridiculous, since it's a fault the artist made due to low drawing skills, not something that was done intentionally. Completely okay when it's an online comics, completely not forgiven when it's an anime. The animation improved slightly later but it's still not good, especially the drawings of the eyes. But I suppose it's the best the studio could do with a low budget.
The story itself was rushed in the speed of light compared to the comics. Now I might agree that some things might feel like they were dragged too much in the comics, but they certainly over did it when converting to an Anime. And of course when this happens things get lost in the middle.
The relationship between the characters felt very rushed. Instead of the viewer getting to know the characters over time and the characters getting to know each other and building a friendship everything just happened over two-three episodes. I understand that they were probably on major budget restrictions but doing so took so much of the story's depth and soul.
Also fight scenes were simply cut down. It was presented as if a fight was over with one swing, which made the characters look over powered.
In the comics Rak had from time to time comical scenes, but here they seem to make his whole character comical. One of the things that make him funny in the comics is that most of the time he behaved very seriously, but here most of the time he behaved goofy.
In the end, it has a lot of potential since the plot the Anime is based on is very good, I can only hope that if the series gets more popular, their budget will grow and they'll be able to put more into improving the faults.
Give it more than 8.0
kwesib-321795 August 2020
Warning: Spoilers
The plot of Tower of God would have been an original anime if it came before Hunter x Hunter. A world set in middle ages where exams and trials are a priority have already been explored by many animes. But what does Tower of God get right? Is the mystery that it creates. The anticipation and cliffhangers.
First off the animation is decent and I don't know why some reviews are dead on against it. But the story is neat. That is why you must give the show a chance and watch to the very 13th episode. In the first episode, you will be tempted to hate the main character because he appears as "Gary Stu" type. But go on. The anime transitions from a simple plot where a number of competitors must surpass several tests to hidden secrets, mysteries and cliffhangers. The show gets gruesome henceforth.
Many still do not understand the last few episodes. Well you are in luck as I'll explain. Rachel is a girl who seeks attention. I believe she wants to go the tower top so she can gain power and authority from everyone. However, she was weak and couldn't progress on her own. Thus, she made a deal with a god to kill Bam in order for he to also help her progress to the tower. This was easier since she had grown jealous of Bam, a boy she considered inferior only to realize he has gained the power and authority she desires. Rachel is truly a monster. The other confusion is the fact that many are asking what happened to Bam and who did he join at the end of episode 13? We learn that he joined a certain navigator who works for the ranker often addressed as director throughout the show. I believe the navigator and director helped Rachel betray Bam so Bam can end up more matured and not carefree. Someone like Khun for example all so they can train him and use his power. For now we will have to wait for the second season for all the mysteries to be solved. However, I believe Tower of god is a 2020 classic that has done well to show the beauty of Korean manwhas.
Had Potential. Go read the source material.
Culture171116 May 2021
Season 1 review:
Tower of God is a good anime but honestly could've been better if it weren't for the bad pacing. 70 chapters of the source material was condensed into 13 episodes which dropped a 9/10 or 10/10 story to a 7 or 8. A lot of important things were either rushed or skipped entirely.
It has a really likeable and interesting set of main characters but there wasn't enough screentime for the side cast. There even was a death of a side character in one of the episodes which looked pretty emotional but I honestly wasn't invested enough to care.
Despite these flaws, I think Tower of God does have an interesting story, unique cast of characters, amazing worldbuilding and really great OP, ED and OST you can vibe to. I feel like this is only the prologue of a much larger story and is going to get better from here.
If you liked it, you should definitely check out the Webtoon or wait for Season 2 in hopes that it is not produced by Crunchyroll.
Tower of God is a good anime but honestly could've been better if it weren't for the bad pacing. 70 chapters of the source material was condensed into 13 episodes which dropped a 9/10 or 10/10 story to a 7 or 8. A lot of important things were either rushed or skipped entirely.
It has a really likeable and interesting set of main characters but there wasn't enough screentime for the side cast. There even was a death of a side character in one of the episodes which looked pretty emotional but I honestly wasn't invested enough to care.
Despite these flaws, I think Tower of God does have an interesting story, unique cast of characters, amazing worldbuilding and really great OP, ED and OST you can vibe to. I feel like this is only the prologue of a much larger story and is going to get better from here.
If you liked it, you should definitely check out the Webtoon or wait for Season 2 in hopes that it is not produced by Crunchyroll.
It was average but good enough!
ranchet132 April 2020
The series ends without any conclusion to the story...
sirfrode-8387218 December 2021
Unpolished
mr-altex29 August 2020
A Genuinely Great anime based on a genuinely amazing Webcomic
bencarterxd3 April 2020
The Tower of God anime, in my opinion, has hit off with a great start. Within just a few days, it has reached near the top of the Crunchyroll app's Popular section; and with good reason. The original manhwa (Korean comic) written by S.I.U (Slave in Utero) has received over 4.5 Billion total reads worldwide in the last 10 years of creation, with its extravagant worldbuilding and lore, and the anime has so far represented this well. With some of the anime's scenes almost identical to their non-animated counterparts, the Character's designs, backstories and voice actors are the best of the best. To top it all off, Kevin Penkin's exhilarating soundtrack really whisks you away, when paired with the loud, pop opening and ending songs brought to the stage by the hit Korean band 'Stray Kids'.
There are currently very few cons circulating this newborn anime; a handful of scenes in the webcomic have been removed to make space for time, and the main character, 25th Bam, has currently displayed little development towards the story. But after reading some of the original manhwa, we can confirm that this show may be the start of a new era of Anime.
There are currently very few cons circulating this newborn anime; a handful of scenes in the webcomic have been removed to make space for time, and the main character, 25th Bam, has currently displayed little development towards the story. But after reading some of the original manhwa, we can confirm that this show may be the start of a new era of Anime.
"Decent enough given its episode count"
ceejay_bordas25 June 2020
I rarely do watch seasonal anime, but for once in my life, since I have all this free time during quarantine, I decided to try watching some anime that aired this season. One of those anime series is Kami no Tou (Tower of God).
Before the anime even got announced, a lot of my friends were talking about this thing called "Webtoon", which has a vast selection of comics to choose from. One of their most talked about Webtoon series is Tower of God. Back then, I really didn't care about the Webtoon at all. That is, until it was officially announced that this title would be the first-ever manhua to get an anime adaptation.
Needless to say, I was curious how a Japanese studio would handle a Korean manhua. Seeing the first few episodes, I thought they were kind of good, but not that special. Curiosity got to me and I decided to binge-read the manhua from start to finish in 4 days, and it got me hooked after a while.
Now, there are two viewpoints I have with this show. If we look at this series as an anime, it has the potential to be one of the standouts of this season. The plot is interesting, some of the characters have unique traits and the soundtrack is good. The animation itself can be a hit or miss for me personally, but the rest seem to be pretty solid. Overall, these factors are an ok start to a new anime series.
However, if we look at this series as an adaptation of the manhua, there were a lot of things the anime missed out on due to the fact that it was only limited to 13 episodes. Some of the world building was ignored, some of the characters and their relationships were underdeveloped, and some plot points felt a little rushed, lacking a good explanation that is usually seen in the manhua.
Nevertheless, the anime adaptation was surprisingly good for just 13 episodes. Sure, it had to sacrifice some factors in the manhua, but with how the season built up to its first major turning point and how it ended, I would say that the studio did their best to do justice to the original manhua, considering the episode count. Although this first season may not be the greatest among first seasons of other anime, I pray that this will only be the start of a stellar continuation of this series, along with many more anime adaptations of other Korean manhuas to come in the near future.
7.5/10
Before the anime even got announced, a lot of my friends were talking about this thing called "Webtoon", which has a vast selection of comics to choose from. One of their most talked about Webtoon series is Tower of God. Back then, I really didn't care about the Webtoon at all. That is, until it was officially announced that this title would be the first-ever manhua to get an anime adaptation.
Needless to say, I was curious how a Japanese studio would handle a Korean manhua. Seeing the first few episodes, I thought they were kind of good, but not that special. Curiosity got to me and I decided to binge-read the manhua from start to finish in 4 days, and it got me hooked after a while.
Now, there are two viewpoints I have with this show. If we look at this series as an anime, it has the potential to be one of the standouts of this season. The plot is interesting, some of the characters have unique traits and the soundtrack is good. The animation itself can be a hit or miss for me personally, but the rest seem to be pretty solid. Overall, these factors are an ok start to a new anime series.
However, if we look at this series as an adaptation of the manhua, there were a lot of things the anime missed out on due to the fact that it was only limited to 13 episodes. Some of the world building was ignored, some of the characters and their relationships were underdeveloped, and some plot points felt a little rushed, lacking a good explanation that is usually seen in the manhua.
Nevertheless, the anime adaptation was surprisingly good for just 13 episodes. Sure, it had to sacrifice some factors in the manhua, but with how the season built up to its first major turning point and how it ended, I would say that the studio did their best to do justice to the original manhua, considering the episode count. Although this first season may not be the greatest among first seasons of other anime, I pray that this will only be the start of a stellar continuation of this series, along with many more anime adaptations of other Korean manhuas to come in the near future.
7.5/10
Amazing and it'll only get better.
warmluft16 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Tower of God is the best manhwa I have ever read, and this adaptation seems almost too good to be true. The artstyle really reflects SIU's early art, but in an improved way. The music composition and placement gives one chills down their spine in all the hype moments, but also conveys every emotion, both sad and happy, in a beautiful way that really fits.
The characters are likeable and mysterious, and almost every character that gets more than a single chapter/episode of screentime is fleshed out with a backstory or reason to climb the tower, making them feel more alive and part of the world rather than obstacles or spectators watching Baam climb the tower.
There is a lot of mystery, things that don't make sense in the beginning but later on gets explained and every time you're like "this was in front of my eyes the entire time???" and really gets you hooked and excited for what's next to come.
Not even power escalation is a problem in this show. Early on we are shown some of the strongest characters in the tower, giving a proper sense of just how strong some people are compared to tiny Baam. Every powerup feels legitimate, there's no "power of friendship" BS or sheer willpower making you the winner.
SIU is an amazing author and I am very excited to see what will come in the future of Tower of God, both the manhwa and the anime. Don't screw this up now, Telecom and Crunchyroll.
The characters are likeable and mysterious, and almost every character that gets more than a single chapter/episode of screentime is fleshed out with a backstory or reason to climb the tower, making them feel more alive and part of the world rather than obstacles or spectators watching Baam climb the tower.
There is a lot of mystery, things that don't make sense in the beginning but later on gets explained and every time you're like "this was in front of my eyes the entire time???" and really gets you hooked and excited for what's next to come.
Not even power escalation is a problem in this show. Early on we are shown some of the strongest characters in the tower, giving a proper sense of just how strong some people are compared to tiny Baam. Every powerup feels legitimate, there's no "power of friendship" BS or sheer willpower making you the winner.
SIU is an amazing author and I am very excited to see what will come in the future of Tower of God, both the manhwa and the anime. Don't screw this up now, Telecom and Crunchyroll.
Epics are significant stories
Mysterygeneration13 January 2024
Epics are significant stories that form the foundation of the cultures they represent. These long and complex narratives, filled with heroes, battles, and dramatic adventures, not only entertain but also explain the mysterious, mythic, and divine nature of the world. They also show how the world has changed over time, as the narrative takes place on a world historical scale, affecting the world's nature and permanently changing history. Ultimately, something is different at the end.
Like every single highly publicized series, it will draw critics who discredit it and label it as "overhyped," even though the majority of these critics don't often watch or favor shows in related genres to allow for an accurate comparison. Isn't it like a rom-com mob criticizing a high fantasy series for lacking humorous character interactions or being too "realistic" when those aren't the main plot points or the series' intended goals in the first place?
Like every single highly publicized series, it will draw critics who discredit it and label it as "overhyped," even though the majority of these critics don't often watch or favor shows in related genres to allow for an accurate comparison. Isn't it like a rom-com mob criticizing a high fantasy series for lacking humorous character interactions or being too "realistic" when those aren't the main plot points or the series' intended goals in the first place?
I love this anime
cjsaud20 May 2020
A New Series with Great Potential
BadgerStorm434521 September 2020
Tower of God is one of the few anime to come out this year. It has an interesting animation style that's very unique and fits its type of storytelling. The last 5 episodes of this show truly gave us some breathtaking moments and I'm very excited for the second Season. The characters and especially their motives are some of the best in any anime, because of how important it is to the overall story. With great music and visuals to back it up, Tower of God really does feel like it's leading up to something, only giving us a couple great episodes, while the rest of the show is good, it isn't quite great.
Amazing
k-71483-5760620 September 2020
Not my type
domesli2 April 2020
I was bored. I checked the running time over and over for how much video was left. I couldn't understand because of the lack of explanation, but I didn't have the attraction to see more. Also, The emotion line wasn't exposed enough, and it felt like watching Anime in the 90s. It seems that some webtoon fans overestimate this anime.
Excellent
Escaflowne0x029 April 2020
I have been looking for another Shonen as good as Kimetsu no Yaiba, with maybe not the same, but close enough on the graphics, draws, sounds, efects, etc. You need to see at least 2 episodes to get into it, then you will be complete inmerse in that tower. A lot of misterious characters, i love it. There's a web-Manga with the same name that is around the 450 chapters, so we have TV show for long.
Very good anime
steven-johnson-2504530 August 2021
Wait for it give it a chance
Zana2201930 December 2020
Ok in short this series has just begin.Absolutely deserves a chance.I think this series has a lot of potential this probably seemed a bit slow paced for a lot of people but I think that this is one of those series which will get build up slowly but beautifully.
The sequels probably will be awesome.This is a potentially good series.I have a lot of hope for this series.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
