Made in Abyss Episode 01

The City of the Great Pit is the first episode of the Made in Abyss anime series.

Synopsis
It is Riko's first solo excavation to The Abyss. Each Red Whistle is assigned to a different area, though she travels with Nat; due to their areas being next to each other. Riko becomes lost in thought, after she sees a gondola transporting Delvers deep into The Abyss. She is interrupted by Nat, who remarks at the unusual quietness. This angers Riko, as she thinks that Nat is implying that she's annoying. Nat clarifies, noting the lack of Hammerbeaks. Riko notices this too, though Nat sees this as an opportunity to salvage Hammerbeak nests, which often contain Artifacts.

At a depth of around 100-220 meters, Riko excitedly discovers a trove of Artifacts. She begins collecting the Artifacts, but becomes startled after unearthing a Praying Skeleton. Diligently, she gives a quick prayer and apologizes before continuing. Some time later, Riko's bag is seen carrying her bag, overflowing with Artifacts. Because of the bag's weight, she calls out to Nat for help. He doesn't respond. She then hears a strange noise and moves to investigate. Riko is shocked to find a Crimson Splitjaw, a predator the 3rd Layer, about to prey upon an unconscious Nat. Riko blows her whistle, signaling for help, but the close distance allows the Splitjaw to close-in on her. With a whip of its tail, the creature sends her flying. Although in a lot of pain, she examines that she hasn't broken any bones. Before she can fully gather herself, she is forced to continue her retreat, with the Crimson Splitjaw in pursuit.

As Riko braces herself, a bright flash of light overwhelms her. After openenig her eyes, she sees the Splitjaw is now badly wounded, with a large hole burned into its body. The creature then plummets down into The Abyss. Riko, still shocked from the events, is called upon by Nat. Now conscious, he asks if she is okay. Riko tells Nat to head back while she rests. She instead searches for the source of the light and finds a strange, glimmering Blue Pendant in the grass, which she then puts on.

Riko then stumbles upon a strange child lying face-down in the grass. As Riko checks his condition, she is shocked to find that the boy isn't human, but is seemingly artificial.

Riko and Nat are then seen carrying the boy out of The Abyss and into Orth.

Their friend, Shiggy, appears and asks about the mysterious boy. They give him a brief explanation and continue to carrying him to Belchero Orphanage. With the help of another orphan, Kiyui, they are able to sneak the boy into the orphanage without the director, Belchero, noticing.

The next day Jiruo, an instructor employed by the orphanage, acknowledges the results of yesterday's expedition and encourages the young Delvers to keep working hard in the future. Belchero chimes in to warn them against keeping Artifacts found in The Abyss for their own possession. Riko attempts to maintain a facade of innocence as Belchero's sharp eyes glance over to her. Afterwards, Riko requests that Jiruo assign her a deeper delving area, but he refuses due to her lack of experience.

Nat, Shiggy, and Kiyui ask Riko about the boy they found and she enlists them to help wake him.

Later that night, the boy slowly wakes to the vague chatter of the four orphans. Using a makeshift electric chair, they jolt him back consciousness, screaming. Riko having mistakenly set the dial to 20 instead of 2.

The four cheer in astonishment and Riko bombards him with questions. The boy stares blankly, wondering where he is. Riko refers to the boy as "Robot-kun" and explains that he is in the city of Orth, at the top of The Abyss. The boy asks his hosts if they are torturers, but he is explained that they are apprentice Delvers from Belchero Orphanage. Riko interjects, asking "Robot-kun" to introduce himself. He explains that he is unaware of just what and who he is, having apparently lost his memories.

Shiggy quickly arrives to warn the others that their antics have caused an orphanage-wide blackout, and that Jiruo is on his way to Riko's room. The children hurriedly prepare for Leader's arrival, with Riko hiding "Robot-kun" under a sheet, asking him not to come out or Leader will punish them. The boy hides, as Jiruo admonishes Riko. She locates "Robot-kun" dangling from the ceiling from extendable arms before further retreating. Jiruo notices that Riko isn't paying attention and pulls her away, to receive her punishment. "Robot-kun" nervously watches from the ceiling bars.

The boy drops from the ceiling and contemplates to himself. He inspects himself to confirm whether he is a robot or not. He dons his helmet and a strange emblem appears. Riko returns to her room, after Jiruo catches the other orphans.

Riko and the boy leave the orphanage to escape punishment and she christens him with the name "Reg", the name of a dog that she once cared for.

From a vantage point, Riko shows Reg the City of Orth. As the sun rises, he witness the grandiosity of The Abyss.

Adapted From

 * Volume 1, Chapter 1: Orth: The City of the Great Pit
 * Volume 1, Chapter 2: The Abode of Trees and Fossils
 * Volume 1, Chapter 3: Riko's Room: Former Torture Chamber

Character Appearances

 * Riko
 * Nat
 * Reg /
 * Shiggy
 * Belchero
 * Kiyui
 * Jiruo

Bestiary Indexing

 * Crimson Splitjaw
 * Hammerbeak
 * Unknown Creatures

Quotes
"Narrator"

- Over the span of many years, with a spirit of adventure for the unknown and countless legends luring them in, the world's only remaining unexplored chasm has swallowed up a great many people. It is known as the Abyss

Background Music

 * To the Abyss!
 * Beni-Kuchi-Nawa
 * Those Everyday Feels
 * Underground River (opening version ft. Raj Ramayya)
 * Rafters
 * Reg Wakes
 * Indoor Voices
 * Hanezeve Caradhina (ft. Takeshi Saito)