BNA: Brand New Animal
, or simply known as BNA by Netflix internationally, is an original Japanese anime television series produced by Studio Trigger and directed by Yoh Yoshinari. The series' first six episodes premiered on Netflix in Japan in March 2020; another six episodes premiered in May of the same year. The series also aired on Fuji TV's +Ultra anime programming block from April to June 2020. Plot. The series is set in a world where humans co-exist with a branch of humanity called Beastmen, who face persecution due to their ability to turn into humanoid animals  through a trait in DNA called "Beast Factor". The series centers on Michiru Kagemori, a young teenage girl who suddenly turned into a tanuki beastman after her best friend Nazuna Hiwatashi was abducted following a blood transfusion. Michiru ran away to seek refuge in Anima City, a haven made for the Beastmen, and meets the mysterious wolf beastman Shirou Ogami who works for the city's mayor Barballet Rosé. The two work to investigate the circumstances of Michiru's transformation while keeping the peace in Anima City, only to stumble into a conspiracy involving Sylvasta Pharmaceutics-a prestige medical research  center in Anima City-whose unsavory employees were responsible for accidentally providing the blood used in Michiru’s transformation along with Nazuna’s, who the company placed in a cult to claim herself as the Beastmens’ guardian deity known as the Silver Wolf. But Michiru learns the real Silver Wolf is Shirou, who forced to reveal his true power when dealing with the Sylvasta researcher Yata, who mutated into a berserk monster following his arrest. Michiru learns Shirou is an immortal who gained his powers as sole survivor of Nirvasyl, a city of Beastmen that was destroyed a millennia ago  by humans, and dedicated himself to protecting his kind. Alan Sylvasta, the owner of Sylvasta Pharmaceutics, reveals the Beastmen of Nirvasyl were actually victims of a stress-induced phenomenon called Nirvasyl Syndrome that caused them to kill each other before being finished off by the humans. Alan also explains that he is resolving the issue with Nazuna pretending to be the Silver Wolf to reduce stress while he developed a drug to render Beastmen human should they go berserk. But Alan’s actual plan is induce Nirvasyl Syndrome, having Nazuna exposed on stage while revealing himself to be a Beastman  from a pure bloodline. The pair also learn that the cure to Nirvasyl Syndrome is Michiru and Nazuna’s blood, averting the crisis with Michiru accepting her condition while remaining in Anima City to help Shirou protect it. Release. During Anime Expo 2019, Trigger revealed that they are producing a new original anime television series that is directed by Yoh Yoshinari and written by Kazuki Nakashima. Yusuke Yoshigaki is designing the characters, and mabanua is composing the series' music. The series premiered on Fuji TV's +Ultra anime programming block, BS Fuji, and other channels from April 8 to  June 24, 2020. Prior to its Japanese television debut, the show's first six episodes were streamed on Netflix in Japan on March 21, 2020. The other six were later available on May 6, 2020. Distributed by Toho, the series was released in three volumes on DVD and Blu-ray in Japan. The first volume was released on August 19, 2020, while the other two gets a September 16 and October 14 release respectively. The theme song, "Ready To", is performed by Sumire Morohoshi as Michiru Kagemori, while electronic musician AAAMYYY does the ending theme, "Night Running". "BNA: Brand New  Animal" was released worldwide on June 30, 2020 on Netflix. Other media. Manga. A manga adaptation illustrated by Asano began in Shueisha's "Tonari no Young Jump" web magazine on May 29, 2020. Novel. A prequel novel "BNA Zero: Massara ni Narenai Kemono-tachi" ("The Animals That Can't Be Brand New") written by Nekise Ise was released on April 23, 2020. Soundtrack. The show's soundtrack was released on June 24, 2020. Reception. Lisa De La Cruz of CBR praised the anime as "captivating," having an "original storyline, bright and flashy visuals, and anthropomorphic animals" and notes that since  anime fans are often disappointed in second seasons, she asks if BNA should have a second season. Awards. "BNA: Brand New Animal" was nominated for a Ursa Major Award in the Best Dramatic Series category. The Ursa Major awards are given in the field of furry fandom works and are the main awards in the field of anthropomorphism. BNA is nominated for an Annie Award for Best Character Design in TV/Media .