Akatsuki No Yona Review

Episodes: 24
Status: Complete
Genres: Historical, Fantasy, Romance, Shoujo, Adventure.
Rating: PG-13

Story – King Il of Kouka, a land said in legends to have been founded by four dragons, has only one remaining heir, a daughter named Yona. She lives a happy life in the palace with her cousin Soo-won, who she loves in spite of her father’s opposition to them marrying. Her life is turned upside down when Soo-won murders her father and steals the throne. Yona, with her childhood friend and bodyguard Hak, must retreat to gather allies and reclaim her place as ruler of the kingdom. *Source ANN

My Thoughts – Akatsuki No Yona is one of the most wonderful shoujo Anime I’ve watched recently. There were a lot of action, humor, emotional moments, adventure and romance in the show, literally everything that I’ve been looking for in an Anime these days.

The first episode was promising enough to make me watch the rest of the show. Yona was the main protagonist of the story. The wonderful portrayal of her character is one big reason to praise this Anime wholeheartedly. At the beginning of the story, she was just another typical dumb & delusional Shoujo princess. But by the end of the series she became a character to look upto. From a helpless princess who is always dependent on others to that of a heroine who is capable of taking action into her own hands to protect the people she loves, the character development of Yona indeed deserved a round of applause.

The complicated relationship between Yona & Hak is another reason to earnestly look forward to a 2nd season. DAMN I JUST LOOOVE HAK. He is called the thunder beast bcz of his awesome fighting skills. Protecting Yona is what captivated his minds all the time, which made him even stronger I think. His dedication and love towards Yona was soo heartwarming that it would make your heart skip a beat. :3

Yona’s undeniable feeling for Soo Won made my heart ache while watching the show. Yes there were times I could possibly feel how painful it was for her to hate the man she desperately loved, and moreover Soo Won made me feel bad for him as well. I didnt hate Soo Won, but Yona & Hak are just made for each other, there can be no other way.

The Anime was more interesting to watch thanx to the awesome supporting characters. The four dragons were one of the main attractions of the show. Starting from Kija to Zeno, every single character was different from each other, with their interesting background and unique personality. For me, having a good character build up with noticeable  characters is a must for an Anime. Otherwise the story seems plain boring & shallow. Yona of the Dawn left no space for complaining in this regard. Some episodes in the middle might seem kinda slow paced, but eventually it felt like the pace was necessary.

The only disappointment though is the unfinished ending. It leaves you with no other option but to desperately wait for a 2^nd season. (Who knows when that’s gonna happen). I’ve started reading the Manga though (It’s ongoing) and I’m loving it. 🙂

Final thoughts – Akatsuki No Yona is a wonderful Anime that’s well balanced in every aspects. Except for the incomplete ending, it has probably everything that anyone would look for in an Anime. Even though it’s a Shoujo Anime, I’d recommended this to everyone.

• Positive – Perfect execution of good story
  – Remarkable Characters
  – Well balanced Romance & Comedy
  – Satisfactory Character Development
  – Eye-catching graphics & animation
• Negative – Incomplete Ending
  – Soundtrack could have been better.

My ratings – 

Story/Plot – 9/10
Character Development – 9/10
Enjoyment – 9/10
Art/Graphics – 8.5/10
OST – 8/10

Overall – 9/10

I hope my short review on Akatsuki No Yona was helpful for you. 🙂 Don’t forget to check out my other articles on this Anime – Gallery | Quotes

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