The internet once again finds itself in a fervent debate, triggered this time by the casual mention of the Made in Abyss manga and anime by several K-pop celebrities. However, the fervour appears to stem more from misunderstanding than genuine knowledge about the series.
The storm brewed when a controversy arose involving K-pop idol Soobin due to an alleged leaked conversation with RIIZE’s Seunghan. However, this was a mere misunderstanding, amplified by a mistranslation. Fans, intrigued by this, delved into Soobin’s past content and unearthed an old clip where he briefly mentioned the Made in Abyss anime, cautioning fans about its dark undertones.
Soobin talking about Made In Abyss
“It's not an anime that I want to recommend to you because it's kind of provocative.”#SOOBIN #수빈 #TOMORROW_X_TOGETHER pic.twitter.com/mP5WXe6cKU— kpop moments (@kpopinmind) November 19, 2023
The frenzy intensified as fans scoured social media for any hint of K-pop idols mentioning the series. An Instagram story shared by NCT’s Taeyong featuring the Made in Abyss manga and a livestream of Seventeen’s Woozi recommending it among other series further fuelled the discourse, with fans finding more such mentions of the anime and manga by other K-pop idols such as Le Sserafim's Sakura.
220827 woozi weverse live (made in abyss mention cut)
woozi is asked to recommend an anime he’s watched recently so he lists what he thought was fun/seen recently. made in abyss is among those and the one he recs from them is komi.
pic.twitter.com/CWMWmlmNGz— s. 💫 (@jieunkai) November 20, 2023
But what is Made in Abyss, and why the controversy?
Created by Akihito Tsukushi in 2012, Made in Abyss is about Riko, an orphaned girl, and her encounter with Reg, a half-human and half-robot boy, as they go together on a quest to find Riko’s missing mother in the perilous depths of the Abyss — a vast chasm brimming with ancient relics and dangers.
Despite its dark themes, Made in Abyss garnered critical acclaim for its layered and complex storytelling, well-written characters, as well as its visually stunning and immersive setting. The series received accolades, including the Excellence Award at the 52nd Japan Cartoonists Association Awards in 2023. It was also honoured in Crunchyroll’s top 100 anime of the 2010s list and claimed the Anime of the Year title at the 2nd Crunchyroll Anime Awards in 2018, alongside other prestigious recognitions. Made in Abyss also made it to IGN's best anime of the decade (2010-2019) list.
The dark themes in Made in Abyss
While Made in Abyss does indeed delve into taboo subjects like abuse and sensitive topics involving underage characters, the anime doesn't glorify or condone such behaviours. The recent discourse around the show reached far beyond K-pop circles, reaching anime fans who were surprised at the K-pop community's reaction. Unfortunately, much of the outcry stemmed from misinformation, reflecting the opinions of those who have never actually watched the show.
I'm sorry but let me get this straight. People are mad at this guy... because he watched Made In Abyss. That's it. One of the most popular and widely regarded anime of 2017. He didn't even mention his opinion on it, it was just part of a list of anime he watched recently. https://t.co/Z2IDhMlWVD— Brandon Riley (@BrandonRTalks) November 20, 2023
AINT NO WAY BRO A KPOP IDOL GETTING CANCELLED BECAUSE HE WATCHED MADE IN ABYSS LMFAOOOO https://t.co/zjSyAmeoHB— ハンス (@okinawa90s) November 20, 2023
lmao Hundreds of thousands of teenagers are freaking out because some K-Pop stars got caught reading…Made In Abyss https://t.co/Jmrp5P1qhA— Sprocketguy (@Sprocketguys) November 20, 2023
Kpop idols are being cancelled rn for watching/reading Made In Abyss. And non-anime fans think it's some child torture p*rn 💀💀
It's a dark adventure story about two kids exploring a deep abyss full of creatures and treasures. Like Monster Hunter sh*t.
pic.twitter.com/LlWrmY43Rp— 𒌐 𝐃𝐚𝐫𝐤, 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐢𝐠𝐦𝐚 𒌐 (@_DarkTheEnigma) November 20, 2023
a bunch of really famous kpop men mentioned that they like made in abyss and fans are trying to cancel them now and this is the funniest kpop scandal ever i can't breathe pic.twitter.com/b7ZQ35vcs5— rinre🎪🐾 (@rintubein) November 20, 2023
Some observers online also pointed out the irony. They found it amusing that K-pop fans, who are passionately critiquing Made in Abyss, are themselves supporters of an industry notorious for its exploitation of underage workers and subjecting them to rigorous work schedules. Given the intense scrutiny K-pop idols are subjected to in the industry, it wouldn't come as a surprise if they now face restrictions on discussing their favourite anime, manga, or any shows without prior approval from their management agencies.
Kpop fans freaking out over their faves watching a dark fantasy series that normies watch (Made In Abyss) is funny because girl, first of all, you are fans of an industry that is notorious for child abuse/underage workers— TOFU+BEAST🔞 (@KawaiiMess) November 20, 2023
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Rayan Sayyed is a staff writer for IGN India with a primary focus on Asian entertainment spanning from anime, manga, games to films and dramas from the East. You can reach out to him at rayan_sayyed@ign.com, or find him on Twitter @rayanaver and Instagram @rayansayyed.
