Tone
The tone of the series is gritty, dark and deeply pessimistic, rooted in an unsettling and often sinister atmosphere. It embraces mystery, tragedy and melancholy, while portraying that the characters truly live in a ruthless and relentless world. The series does not shy away from showing even the darkest sides of humanity.
Quiet scenes unfold slowly and atmospherically, allowing emotional weight and tension to linger, while fight sequences, on the other hand, are fast-paced and adrenaline-fueled. At certain times, these moments are thrilling and suspenseful and in other scenes, they morph into something truly disturbing and heart-wrenching, which reinforces the idea that this story is not for the faint of heart.
Themes
The series explores existential, philosophical, societal and biblical themes, questioning the fragile boundaries between good and evil, morality and corruption. It confronts the darkest depths of human nature through the portrayal of tyrannical regimes, dehumanizing and hateful ideologies, war, genocide, slavery, murder, manipulation, betrayal, revenge, as well as the pervasive corruption of media and truth in the modern era.
At its core, the narrative grapples with the paradox of absolute justice and divine morality, confronting the question of how injustice can exist in the presence of a god. Is god benevolent but not all-powerful or all-powerful and inherently cruel? Every character comes to their own conclusion to this question, some more radical than others. The series also examines whether true evil originates from demons and external supernatural forces or from humanity itself instead.
Alongside these large-scale conflicts, the series remains deeply personal and psychological. It delves into depression, apathy, emotional numbness, self-destructive behavior and the internal struggle against one’s own darker impulses. Themes of nihilism versus faith, grief, heartbreak, loss of loved ones, guilt, obsession with the past, redemption and the never-ending search for meaning, belonging and hope in a truly broken and unforgiving world form the emotional backbone of the story.
World & Characters
The main characters each represent one of the three worldviews, belief systems and life experiences, which all clash together to create the worldbuilding for the series. For instance, the high school student Jaden represents the modern era and how his deeply pessimistic and misanthropic worldview is a direct result of it.
Meanwhile, James, a boy of the same age who was once a concentration camp prisoner of the now long-fallen and tyrannical Nefarian Empire, brings his very own beliefs, moral compass and plot strands with him, which are mainly based on his experiences from living in an oppressive and totalitarian regime more than a hundred years ago.
Lastly, all the supernatural aspects of the story are mostly introduced through the fallen archangel of justice named Raguel, who blames humans for his banishment from heaven. He is the main antagonist and the puppet master behind this conspiracy of biblical proportions.
In the end, “Into The Red Sky” has three layers to its world and characters: the past, the present and the celestial.
Inspirations
The main inspirations for the plot of “Into The Red Sky” are well-known and legendary Japanese anime shows like “Death Note”, “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood”, “Berserk” and “Neon Genesis Evangelion”.