This interview has been edited for clarity and length and was conducted via email.
The fantasy genre has had a boom in recent years within the anime industry — at least, a subset of fantasy we know as isekai, or a person being transported to another world, either through means of teleportation or by reincarnation. The latter seems to be the more common choice, but sometimes these genre and narrative conventions blur each other’s lines and change the way people consume them.
The American web novel and webtoon series The Beginning After the End utilizes the concept of reincarnation to give a formerly great ruler in his past life a second chance at life to start from scratch. It also marks a significant milestone in the isekai boom — it will be the first American web novel to receive a TV anime adaptation this coming April from a Japanese studio.
Anime Trending interviewed the series’ original author TurtleMe (the pen name of American writer Brandon Lee) to discuss the upcoming anime adaptation, the themes and messages of his work, and the influences he drew from to guide his story.
Congratulations on the anime adaptation announcement. What were your initial thoughts when you found out the series would be getting an anime, and how would you describe your excitement?
TurtleMe: It’s still sinking in, but I’m honored that The Beginning After the End is the first English web novel and webcomic to be adapted into an anime. I’m incredibly grateful to the teams at Tapas and Crunchyroll for bringing this series to life in another media form.
This anime adaptation is a huge milestone, not only for me, but for English web novels and webcomics as a whole. I hope it opens the door for more creators for adaptation opportunities.
With the anime adaptation scheduled to premiere in 2025, how involved have you been in the production process, and what aspects of the adaptation are you most excited for fans to see?
TurtleMe: I’ve been actively involved in the production process, working closely with the creative team to provide feedback and insights that help preserve key themes like Art’s growth and emotional journey. I truly appreciate how receptive Studio A-Cat has been to my input, ensuring the tone and depth of the original story remain intact so that elements that readers love stay true, while also converting it into a different medium.
I’m most excited for fans to experience the story in a whole new way, especially with the voice acting behind the characters.
Do you have a favorite arc or scene from the novel that you’re excited to see animated?
TurtleMe: I’m excited to see Arthur begin his journey as an adventurer after earning his license, which allows him to go into dungeons with other adventurers. This is one of the turning points in the series where the stakes rise and battles become more intense.
Music always plays a significant role in setting the tone for an anime. Have there been discussions about the soundtrack or theme songs for the series? Do you have any personal preferences for the series’ musical direction?
TurtleMe: There have been some early discussions but choosing the soundtrack is not something the studio has the ability to give me. I’m not sure what will come out of their decision, but I’m hopeful that the director and the staff involved will deliver what they think is best!
What is your favorite part of the writing process for The Beginning After the End, and how has it shaped the story overall?
TurtleMe: My favorite parts of writing TBATE have to be character growth and world-building. I love exploring how experiences, adversities, and relationships can shape how a character can grow throughout a story. Arthur is a character who undergoes significant change, not only from who he was in his past life but also as the story progresses in his new life.
At its heart, The Beginning After the End is a reincarnation story about a former king trying to find purpose in his new life. In your opinion, what makes the story unique or different from other similar series that have come before?
TurtleMe: With The Beginning After the End, I wanted to subvert reader expectations of the isekai genre by building depth into familiar genre tropes. For example, while the trope of an adult being transported into a new world is common, the early years and family dynamics are often glossed over. I wanted to take a different approach to explore how those relationships can shape a protagonist and how even a fully matured individual could experience personal growth through these new experiences.
Were you influenced by isekai, reincarnation, or fantasy works? If so, which ones inspired or influenced the direction of your series?
TurtleMe: I drew inspiration from stories that challenge characters at a deeper level, like Fullmetal Alchemist and Hunter x Hunter, along with Western fantasy epics like Eragon and The Name of the Wind focusing on growth and choices over mere power (although growing in power is always something that is there).
Learning about how magic worked and operated as part of the worldbuilding was fascinating. How did you develop the magical system in the series? Are there any similarities or differences between mana and ki?
TurtleMe: The magical system evolved as I considered what felt both intuitive and unique for the world although it drew a lot of early inspirations from Chinese cultivation novels. Building off of that, I wanted mana to feel tangible and deeply connected to the environment while maintaining a sense of progression. While mana and ki share some similarities in being life energies, mana is more versatile and tied to the world’s ecosystem, while ki often feels more internal and spiritual.
It’s a bit uncommon to see an American web novel achieve so much success and eventually get an anime. Why do you think the story has resonated so much with your fans?
TurtleMe: As cliche as it sounds, I think that growing up a consumer and fan of both Western and Eastern media, I always just relied on my sense of “what do I want to see more of.” It’s what inspires me to create these new fantastical worlds and take the main characters on this journey. It’s an adventure that I find myself going through while incorporating aspects and themes of fantasy epics along with more modern-day mangas and manhwas that I feel have helped make The Beginning After the End strike a chord with people all around the world.
Writing is always a long process. How do you think you’ve grown as a writer from when you first started the web novel to becoming as established as you are now?
TurtleMe: Considering the fact that I first started writing TBATE over ten years ago, I can say I’ve grown immensely alongside this series. Not only have I developed my writing skills through experience and with the help of many talented editors, but I also gained valuable experience working closely in the production process for its adaptations into both the webcomic and anime.
Tapas has a variety of different web novels and webtoon stories that have gained significant followings on the Internet. How has the company helped you with navigating your fame and success with your work?
TurtleMe: Tapas, despite the growing pains we both went through along the way, has been a great partner for me. Starting from when Gabby Luu first reached out to me when I was posting on Royal Road, all the way to helping make the web novel not only a webcomic but also an anime, I couldn’t have achieved it without the support of many dedicated people over at Tapas. They’ve given me a platform to connect with fans and have helped me navigate the challenges of finding success not just in America, but in many other countries as well.
What should fans of The Beginning After the End look forward to with the upcoming anime adaptation?
TurtleMe: Fans can look forward to seeing their favorite moments come to life along with new elements that I hope will enhance the storytelling. The anime will bring the emotional depth, epic battles, and magical world of The Beginning After the End to another medium that I hope more people can enjoy!
The Beginning After the End web novel and webtoon series are available to read on the Tapas website. The anime adaptation will premiere in Japan in April 2025 and will stream on Crunchyroll.
Special thanks to Tapas for the interview opportunity. Interview questions were submitted by William Moo and Isabelle Lee.
