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So, the first episode leaked in very, very, really bad quality. If THAT impresses enough to write a review, then it must be an anime worth closer attention.

This anime is good, just good, in each and every component - art, sound, characters, story. The story may be an exception, though. The first episode created lots of possible roads the story may travel - into the past, future, deep space, or even into a very earthly conspiracy.

Characters are always another suspect for an exception, what can prevent them from some fascinating developing, anyway? Maybe the anime just not being about characters, like this one? My impression ... is that this anime is neither about characters nor anything else. It is about the general mood of the show, and the mood looks light, playful, and vivid.

To make this mood happen, this anime quotes everything, mostly other anime, it is full of light humor and self irony, and, possibly above all, perfectly maintains the rhythm - image, sound, events, dialogs - all that goes in perfect match and timing. If after the first 90 seconds you are not in completely, it is just not your anime. But if you are, the enjoyment is guaranteed, and that enjoyment will be great.

Overall, this episode strongly reminds me of two things - the Tarot Trump 0, among other things the symbol of careless creativity, and James Bond movies, which are not very realistic, not philosophically deep, but amazingly enjoyable.

After the first 4 episodes I have seen enough to be sure it is too early to judge this anime. One thing is clear though - it is another story, not a sequel, prequel or anything to Blood+, so everything is possible and strange things may happen.

The first 3 episodes gave subtle hints. A bit strange phrase here, a look there, a slightly illogical act or a somewhat misplaced object. The 4-th episode adds more of that, but also makes some mysteries clear and evident. A great setting is ready, but it is yet unclear if this anime will perform to expectations.

Story: 7. Actually, n/a ... - it is too early to tell. Maybe 10. Maybe 4, no less.

Art: 9. The drawing is ordinary in style, possibly classical, but very well done. Colors match one another exceptionally well and the color style is not that common. The screen goes from colorful to almost monochrome or even black and white and back. We often see 2 layers, each in its own palette, separating objects into 2 groups and guiding our attention. The key protagonist colors are white, black, and red.

Sound: 7. It is good, well matched with video, effects are cleverly used and voices are very good, but this is that which must be expected from a year 2011 anime.

Character: 7. Actually, n/a again - too early to tell. Maybe 8, I guess they should be almost typical and thus not 9 or 10, maybe 6, if they stop developing. It is also well possible that some key characters are still unknown.

Enjoyment: 10. It is 10 for sure with my growing expectations and still 10 without them. Just a pleasure to view and listen.

Overall: 9. May I bet this one lives to expectations?

Did you ever wonder why if an anime does not include a trip to hot springs or a beach, then there is a scene in a bath in it? Why the best protection for a female fighter is provided by an outfit that disrupts the enemy thinking with the necessity to appreciate some naked skin? Why it is so necessary to make it clear that a heroine speaks while having her panties on? I guess the goals of all that and Hidan no Aria are the same.

This anime passes some tests for greatness. Do I want to skip the opening or the ending song ... after hearing that 10+ times? No. Do I wonder how 20+ minutes of an episode could pass by unnoticed? Yes. Have I remembered a moment from this anime all of a sudden next day? Yes. Is viewing of any episode a reliable way to change the weather? Yes, absolutely.

Can I expect everyone to share that with me? Well... there is a precondition.

Hidan no Aria may look like a high school story, or mystery, or fighting, or harem, or tsundare act, or comedy, or drama. I may, if you believe it is. The precondition is that you do not.

If you do, it will turn out to be a mediocre or even bad anything, from a harem to a fighting. Technical perfection going nowhere. If you do not, just relax and enjoy the show, the same technical perfection is worth it. This way the anime can stand on its own.

However, it should not. Hidan no Aria quotes, resembles, links to lots of other anime, from Claymore to Sizumiya, from Daphne in the Brilliant Blue to Shana, from Elfen Lied to Freezing. And all that appears to be some quite serious anime. Something that, when taken really seriously, may be painful to see. Aria, not being serious at all, takes that pain away.

It clears that which all the hot springs and panties have left behind. It makes the show lighter and easier. You do not need to pretend you do not see some things any more. The scenes in a bath are more efficient from this moment on.

For that purpose, it is enough to see Aria once. I will see it again, but this is optional. Maybe that is why DVDs are not selling well enough and there may be no second season.I would miss it, but Aria has already done its job well and we can leave without the next one for a while, say for another 10 years.