This kick-ass series finally ended, so I thought I'd pay tribute to it by summing it up overall.
Animation: 7.0
Sound: 8.5
Story: 8(+-1)
Character: 9.0
Enjoyment: 8.0
AnimationLike all major series aired on Japan's tv this anime started out with great animation. Noted in the first episode, 3rd episode and if i remember correctly 6th or 7th episode. However the lulls in between generally experience a mega drop in animation quality, especially classroom scenes,where every1's face just becomes horrendously tilted. While not being put off by it, I'm certainly sure it could be better.
SoundNice music. Hissoku no Sora was a great OP and the first ED was pretty good also. KOTOKO's "being" was really nice and fitted the setting for the later half of the show. In the show itself, the OST used during big fights were pretty good, you'd almost never notice it, but it sure has it effects on increasing tension. And for funny scenes like the stupid swimming pool episode, the music helped quite a bit where animation lacked. Kinda reminds you of Suzuka.
StoryHMM. A bit far fetched i guess, with all the power of existence stuff going around. Thankfully it all got explained in the opening few episodes, but it was really a freaking drone. Gave it an 8 for overal plot coherence, but frankly i don't think the plot matters, cuz we're focusing on love rivalries and major flame haze vs Guze no tomogara action.
+ - 1 because at the start , especially the yuuji shana getting to know and accept each other part, it was knitted very well together, and probably allows the middle part of the show to hold water, as well as introduce new characters in a fluid fashion.
However a major setback was probably the final fight against the Ball Masque, where nothing is explained at all, just that er. they are trying to oversaturate the world with existence. No motive, no proper introduction, they just plunge you in with about 15 mins worth of intro to them. For a major arc in the story this does not help. Shana ended at episode 24, and the two extra episodes sure could slow down the pace of the story a lot.
Character
This could be better off explained by eesin -.-". Anyway, i think all the characters are very well fleshed out, especially yuuji, who i think is the main character not shana. As they introduce their friends they don't forget to present each and every1's ideals and how they resonate on each other's thoughts and goals. Pretty nice, especially the talk between the friends under the bridge.
Shana is there for the loli/schoolgirl/tsundere fanservice, as well as for the swimming pool, bathing scenes etc... eesin can elaborate. Apart from that it was quite nice to see her accept yuuji and start to love him, though seriously Kazumi should win.
Yuuji was nice to watch in the way he accepted his existence and how he made a difference despite what everyone said. Motviational? maybe.
Kazumi and Yuuji's best fren: Just there to make shana and yuuji have more trouble getting together, really. But Kazumi ftw.
Enjoyment
*ahem* As your typical shounen anime watcher it helps that there are plenty of fanservice scenes and well animated fight scenes. In fact fanservice appeal to EVERYONE. Margery, Shana, Kazumi, and the spunky girl who likes the henchman; her name slips me for a while. Yes it can't go wrong.
Fight scenes were good, especially Margery vs Shana and the Ningyo guy vs Shana. Pretty gosu.
Not too much thinking needed, so its a kind of relaxing enjoyment, unlike GITS SAC.
Overall Score: 7.5
A mixture off normal storyline and sub par animation dropped the score, but overall it makes for great watching. I'm sure the dvd version will be a lot better, i'll probably download and watch it. yeap. Now for a few pics to end off this post.
The first girl to lose in the battle for Yuuji. omfg wonder where she is now.
War.
Fanservice.
If I'm not wrong they were on the rooftop and something big transpired. Must recheck it.
Yuuji's mom teaching Shana how to impress Yuuji. Its almost like a forced marriage wth.
Anyway thats it for this post! New season is coming out with even better animation quality from trailers : ))
