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i used to think anime as a medium had already shown me all it had to offer. after having watched kemono friends anime has once again taken me by surprise and shown me something i've never seen before. this series marks a paradigm shift for me and the way i look at anime has changed for ever. series i used to think were excellent pale in comparison and i've found new meaning in series i never cared for before.

kemono friends is an example of high culture anime. it's the purest form of the medium. it doesn't need the visuals, narrative, or soundtrack that other anime ... might use as a crutch in order to distract from their shortcomings. some might fall for the misconception that these elements are the important building blocks for anime, or other audiovisual media for that matter. for a time i thought this way too.

in the case of kemono friends it comes to light that none of these are important in the expression of the medium. it is demonstrated that the difference between a great anime and a truly groundbreaking one is not found in the sum of its parts. in fact the wasted effort on these basic elements could even detract from the conveyed meaning of a series such as this. fortunately kemono friends wastes no effort on these trivialities and instead invests heavily where it really matters.

the series speaks to me on a level that can't truly be expressed with conventional communication. the best way i can put it is to say its message is conveyed directly to the human condition. the types of feelings we all share to some extent and experience in different ways throughout our lives regardless of background.

it is not first and foremost aiming to entertain you, it does not ask you to think hard, it does not appeal to your emotions. it does something else. it fulfills a need in me that i did not know i had up until this point. picture maslow's hierarchy of needs with another level on top of the hierarchy. a need that is on a level so highly elevated above the rest that the need for self-actualization through your physiological needs all become essentially the same in their insignificance.

it is truly difficult to put into words. calling kemono friends a contemporary masterpiece is a description that i would say falls short. more than that kemono friends is perhaps the crowning achievement of human civilization, only time will tell. for the time being at least it is unsurpassed by any other works throughout history.

would i recommend it? first consider that as a consequence of watching this show you might no longer be able to see other anime - or any media for that matter - in the same way you used to. you might start having dreams about visiting japari park to meet animal friends. perhaps this series is best suited for a seasoned audience, or a burnout at the end of their journey who wants one last thrill before moving on.