Jan 4, 2011
Ah Katanagatari. What can I say about such a work of art? Yes, before going into this review I'm going to be honest and say i consider this I fine work of art. You can agree with me or not, but I'm going to list the reasons why I believe what I believe.
Story: Katanagatari's story starts out fairly slow, which may turn off a few viewers at the start. I must admit I was skeptical about what i was getting into throughout the entirety of episode one. But Katanagatari is a series that really ends up grabbing a hold of your attention and never letting
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go. It's a story filled with light hearted humor that eventually descends into a torrent of seriousness. While abrupt, this shift is handled masterfully and shows that such things can be executed well within any medium.
Art: The art itself is a work of art. Masterfully rendered backgrounds do not lose any sense of realism despite their stylization. The characters themselves all have varying styles to them that work well within the context of the universe. So much so that it really doesn't feel that out of place when a ninja dressed like a praying mantis shows up. The animation itself is incredibly smooth and leads to a very believable sense of realism, despite all the fantastical feats of martial arts being used.
Sound: I don't claim to be any expert on music but I don't believe a sound was out of place. Music was always appropriate to the situations it was used in, even the hip hop tracks did not seem to far detached from what was happening within the story. Sound effects were great as well with every strike and slash being given its own sense of power.
Characters: While all the characters were incredibly well developed I feel the need to talk about one character, Yasuri Shichika. Never before have I seen a character so obviously grow in any series. With each fight being a lesson Shichika discovers what it means to be a person, instead of just a weapon.
Enjoyment: Best series ever. That's all I can say.
Overall: Katanagatari is a massive achievement in animation as a whole. With a well executed story, perfect sound effects, well developed characters and a beautiful art and animation style this is really a show that you shouldn't miss. It may start slow but your attention will be rewarded with one of the finest series that has ever been offered.
Reviewer’s Rating: 10
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