This Underrated Anime Is 'Zootopia' For Adults (And It's On Netflix)
It’s no secret that Zootopia (2016) has become one of Disney’s most successful new franchises in recent years. Between two films, Disney earned nearly three billion dollars in box-office revenue and created a kid-friendly world that felt truly alive. Zootopia 2 (2025) expanded that world by not only fleshing out the city, but also the kinds of animals that live within it. There’s plenty of potential in the world of Zootopia, but sadly, Disney doesn’t seem keen on delving into the complexities that a world inhabited by animals brings.
Thankfully, Zootopia doesn’t need to because a series already exists that does. If you’ve been pining for a more adult-oriented take on Zootopia that doesn’t shy away from serious and mature themes, then you should definitely consider giving BEASTARS (2020) a shot. Not only has this series become one of the crown jewels of Netflix’s anime library in recent years, but it’s set to conclude its three-season run in just a few short weeks. If you’re ready to explore the darker and steamier side of a society of intermingling animals, here’s why you should watch BEASTARS.
What Is ‘BEASTARS’ About?
BEASTARS is a series that tackles a whole lot of ideas over the course of its 48-episode run. At first, it initially focuses on a white wolf named Legoshi and his exploits at Cherryton Academy, a boarding school with a variety of animals attending classes and taking part in after-school clubs like drama. Now, you may think that sounds like most slice-of-life anime, but BEASTARS makes it clear right from the get-go that its animistic world is much harsher than Disney’s
Within the first minute of the premiere, a member of the drama club is brutally murdered and devoured in the middle of the night, which creates a strong divide between the herbivores and carnivores on campus. Despite that, Legoshi begins to fall in love with the rabbit Haru, and given how interspecies romances are a big no-no in BEASTARS, as well as the recent murder, their love is absolutely forbidden.
But to call BEASTARS just a romance isn’t exactly right either. The first half of the series is also a murder mystery as Legoshi and the head of the drama club, Louis, engage in figuring out who the culprit is. Then again, it’s also a crime drama as we start to learn more about the world of BEASTARS and the seedy underbelly that underpins a lot of its cast of creatures’ carnal desires. It’s a series that wears many hats, and all of them look positively dapper.
Why ‘BEASTARS’ Is An Adult Anime
Some of BEASTARS’ themes are dark, but Zootopia 2 also explores heavy themes like discrimination, corruption, and the spread of misinformation. Yet, BEASTARS is way more overt and uncompromising in its representation of society, making its target audience adults, not kids.
While Zootopia gently touches upon the ideas of racism, BEASTARS goes all in on exploring it and the complicated social dynamics between herbivores, carnivores, and even reptiles. We see how society is structured to elevate the herbivores and denigrate the carnivores, which leads to the creation of black markets and organized crime in order for the carnivores to receive the things they innately need to survive. While Zootopia paints a picture of a utopic society where all animals can live together in harmony, BEASTARS takes the stance that such a world can only be possible through heavy conformity, either through laws or manufactured social norms.
But really, the biggest reason why BEASTARS is such a mature series is because of how sexual it is. BEASTARS puts its characters into sexual experiences that are all too real, and at times, taboo. It’s never tasteless, though. In fact, one of the show’s core themes explores the differences between love and lust while establishing what makes a healthy relationship. Still, in a world where even the mere thought of on-screen sex is enough to get people riled up, BEASTARS’ acute focus on sexuality places it firmly in adult territory.
Why To Watch ‘BEASTARS’?
In many ways, BEASTARS is a great series to recommend if you’ve ever wanted more from Zootopia. Both series feel at ease and are confident in exploring what a city of anthropomorphized animals would look like, yet BEASTARS consistently pushes the boundaries that other animated shows rarely touch.
Few anime, or animated shows for that matter, explore themes as bluntly as BEASTARS does. BNA (2020) comes close, offering a more chipper take on societal discrimination than what’s depicted in BEASTARS. That isn’t to say BEASTARS can’t be lighthearted or fun. It has plenty of little segments meant to break up the tension of the main plot. However, BEASTARS is at its best when waxing poetic about the inner struggles of its leads, whether they be internal or external.
The biggest hurdle that would probably prevent people from getting into BEASTARS is the animal-on-animal sexual relationships. I’m fully aware of the negative perceptions of those aspects of internet culture, but for those willing to put those stigmas aside, you’ll find a genuinely touching romance. Legoshi and Haru are well-developed characters with their own inherent wants and needs. You’ll come to like both of them well before they try to become a couple. Fans of With You, Our Love Will Make It Through (2025) will appreciate BEASTARS’ more mature take on romance, and even fans of steamy films like Saltburn (2023) may find something to bite their lip to in some of the more pulse-pounding moments. You certainly won’t find that in Zootopia.
