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SPOILER FREE REVIEW:

I suppose since I've been waiting to watch this for over a year now, it's only right that I give this movie its first review. In Aria the Crepuscolo, the world of Neo-Venezia remains as magical as ever. Although it has fresh new visuals provided by the studio JC Staff, not an milligram of its old charm has been lost in the update. For all of those who have stuck with Aria throughout all the seasons and OVAs, this latest installment will prove to be anything but a disappointment.

The story of Aria the Crepuscolo focuses heavily around Athena and Alice of Orange Planet. ... Unlike the original series (and more like Avvenire with Akari/Alicia) this film centers on two of the characters and wrapping up their story. This may be mildly disappointing if you were hoping for a film that gives the whole cast a balanced amount of screentime, but I feel that the Akari and Aika appearances were natural and enjoyable. To keep it spoiler free, if you liked the dynamic between Athena and Alice in the series, you'll likely love this movie.

Originally, I was skeptical about the overhaul on character designs and the fact that JC Staff had taken over production of the final two Aria movies. While I didn't think the character designs looked bad in the promotional material, I was concerned that the characters would lose some of their identity and past expressions. This uneasiness was quickly washed away once I watched the new movie, as the new designs and animation provided some of the most beautiful moments of the whole Aria series. JC Staff really delivered on all the impactful scenes, and I couldn't be more impressed with the consistent, stunning visuals.

As someone who really values good sound, Aria has always been able to achieve a very immersive effect with its audio. This continues over with Aria the Crepuscolo. A significant amount of the OST consists of songs previously used in Aria. This "if it ain't broke don't fix it" approach to the OST is greatly appreciated, because it gave me yet another chance to enjoy so many of my favorites from earlier in the series. The VA work remained amazing as well, with almost all of the original cast returning. The seiyuu who stepped into the role of Athena with Avvenire really had a chance to shine in this movie, and her Athena proved to be just as enjoyable as the original.

Overall my love and enjoyment for this movie was the same as my love for some of the best moments from the Aria series. Although I can't guarantee it, if you adored Aria like I did and craved an excellent movie that touches your heart, look no further than Aria the Crepuscolo.
Now... UNTO ARIA THE BENEDIZIONE DECEMBER 2021 AND THE FINAL INSTALLMENT OF THE BLUE CURTAIN CALL TRILOGY!

SPOILER FREE REVIEW

Story: Psychological thriller anime are so few and far between, that if you like the genre it is possible you have seen most of them to date. Babylon provides a twisted, dark, yet philosophical story that easily sucks its watcher in deeper with each passing episode. I can't recall ever seeing an anime quite like this one. The pacing for episodes 1-7 is flawless, but 8-12 can feel slow at times if you are only in it for suspense. Personally, I didn't mind the slower episodes since I found the topics of discussion interesting. The storyline's clarity (especially the ending) ... was what I struggled most with, since at points it's was very vague. Of course, I think it's highly possible that the level of uncertainty was intended by the writers, but it can leave viewers disappointed. Still, there is a lot of merit in the way they left the ending, especially if you enjoy shows without a concrete wrap-up (like 91 Days).

Story: 9/10

Art:. The animation for Babylon was absolutely incredible, and it always created the desired atmosphere. It reminded me of Alfred Hitchcock movies like Rear Window or Vertigo. Darkness with oozing from every scene in the first half of the show, and when things took a change around episode 10, so did the art. It lightened up a bit, which was a bit of a bummer, but it still looked gorgeous. The character designs were awfully pretty too. Especially that of the MC and the main antagonist.

Art: 9/10

The voice acting was superb and background music was really atmospheric. There isn't much else to say, since I have nothing but praise for both of these areas. Other sounds like rain, cars, guns - all were exceptional as well.

Sound: 9/10

Characters are the make it/break it feature of many shows, and Babylon is no exception. The way these characters acted was probably the best I've seen in any psychological thriller anime. The MC shows that each dark thing that happens is having an effect on him; while the main antagonist could perhaps be my top anime villain of 2019. Only a few of the side characters felt a bit weak (the US President and the MCs Assistant), but the main ones more than make up for that.

Characters: 9/10

My enjoyment for Babylon is considerably higher than other psychological thriller like Erased, since it also brings into question important philosophical problems that still plague the mind of ethicists today. As someone who studies Ethics/Philosophy in University, I think the topics were discussed well; however, I know they aren't for everyone. There is plenty of suspense (at least in the first half) for people just seeking thrills, but if you are looking for a brooding, dark rollercoaster that makes you question good/evil, look no further than Babylon.

Enjoyment/Overall: 9/10