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As one who had taken to Clannad with a passion that fizzled to a very, very flat note long before the first Season ended, it was understandable that I was more than a bit hesitant about Angel Beats! Why...? Both were done by the Key brand, as was Air, another series I am a bit on the wall about. Don't get me wrong, Clannad was okay...I am just not a huge fan of characters like Nagisa, and I had found myself willing certain episodes to just "get it over with already." Never-the-less, I decided to give Angel Beats a shot, thinking "What's the harm with ... watching only one episode anyway?"

Well, 13 episodes later, as the credits for the last episode rolls and I am here sniffing like a baby, I can truly and wholeheartedly say: to watch ONLY one episode of Angel Beats, would be doing yourself a great injustice.

Story: 7
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The storyline behind Angel Beats is actually a rather unique one--not something you see very often today with anime. It focuses on a "sort of" Purgatory after-life, for kids. As in, after children/teens die in the human world, should they have died with any regrets, instead of passing right along to Heaven they are taken to a boarding school for the after life.

At first glance, things at this school would seem to be no different from that of others in the human world...that is until one find themselves landing in the dead middle of some sort of long-ongoing feud: one that involves axes, knives, guns, and a rather stoic "Angel."

The overall premise is pretty interesting: Young people having the chance to live out their lives and fulfill their wishes, despite the fact that they had died so early (It's kind of something you would actually to hope exist in reality, too many young people die everyday without being able to fulfill their dreams--whether it be something like making new friends, or being able to play a sport--its good if they could have that at some point).

Art: 8
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Like all things done by Key, Angel Beats is pleasing to the eyes. The artwork is not over the top, nothing fancy, but still very detailed, very crisp, very clear, and very defined. There are really no faults to be found with it. The characters all had their own unique faces, even the NPC students who are really nothing more than Fodder for the most part.

While pleasing though, the art really is still average, there is nothing very special about it--just good, quality, solid work.

Sound: 7
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If you like whimsical pieces, tunes that make you reflect--but not too deeply--and an opening that makes you think of the anime long after you've even watched it, then you will like the music in Angel Beats! The Opening was by far my favorite, as it matches the series well and even stirred the same emotions I got from watching the actual episodes.

Sadly though, there are not that many pieces to be heard overall, which is disappointing because its the kind of series that could have done with some beautiful orchestra for the emotional bits, and some nice fight music to go along with the good moves displayed by the characters.

Music aside, the real winner here are the voices. The voice actors did a great job with their individual characters, as every voice found the perfect home. While the OST kept it simple yet fitting, the voices were excellent and top quality, matching each personality perfectly.

Character: 10
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Oh! Oh! My goodness. If I were to write how I really felt about the characters in Angel Beats, this would turn into a long wall of flowery text. I LOVED THEM. Every single one of them. This a very rare thing for me. Usually, I either hate them all, or can like only 1 and 2 characters, but not for this series. ALL of them are Great.

Each character has their own unique personality and back-story. No one just fades in the background like wallpaper, nor is any one of them unimportant. Each character adds their own spice to the series, not one of them could have been left out and still kept the series as good as it is.

Yuzuru Otonashi--the main male--is superb. His contradicting attitude opposite the other main characters, makes for one HILARIOUS series. When events unfold, Yuzuru says what you, the watcher, is thinking. He's the sane one of the bunch--being the newest school arrival--and often the voice of reason. His side remarks, comments, and the fact that he usually "says" instead of simply thinking, will have you rolling and enjoying every minute of every episode.

Angel--a stoic little one, who has a hard time conveying her emotions. She is the perfect balance opposite Yuzuru, who always says what's on his mind, and can easily convey his emotions. Angel is also the "little-girl-who-kicks-major-butt-in-a-cool-and-intimidating-way".

Then there is Noda--an over the top fan of his "leader", and an antagonist to everyone else. He's willing to fight anything and everything, at anytime..even a door...should the mood strike him.

There is Takeyama, the computer wizz who tries in very episode to get people to call him "Christ", a request that is always completely and totally ignored--in the most comical ways.

I could keep listing and going on and on, but then I would ruin the whole series. Point is: They are all great, and each and everyone brings something to the table.

Enjoyment: 8
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I enjoyed this series tremendously. The only real downside I have is that it is way too short. With 13 episodes it really was hard to reflect on each character the way it should have. With so many interesting characters, it would have been good to give them each quality screen time when it came to facing their regrets, tackling their fears, and fulfilling their dreams. I don't mind the material that was provided, but it all could have been built upon some more. Had that been done (along with some more powerful music) this would have been a master gem.


Overall: 8
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Angel Beats is no heavy brain buster. It doesn't have a complex plot, and a bunch of twists, turns, and surprise elements. But that makes it no less deep and no less emotional. And yes, I did say emotional as while I found myself laughing out of control for every episode, I was also bawling my eyes out in the next minute. It is touching, think of it...young people who died. Everyone's story touches the heart.

As for me saying deep...it is indeed that. Beneath all the laughs and sad stories, you will find another layer--one that surely made me think for a more than a minute. There is a moment when the laughter fades, the heavy heart gives in a bit more, and a new tone emerges. Watch it attentively and you will see it. If you do, I think you'll be able to appreciate the series even more.

Sometimes it really is good to just relax and accept a series as is. Like life, sometimes it is good to just roll with the punches and enjoy the simple things. It's okay to laugh, instead of trying to solve complex puzzles and deep plots. Gems do not always have to be the work-of-art that is the most elaborated, the most polished...

Angel Beats is not a series I would have picked to watch had I decided to remain in my box. I surely underestimated it, I enjoyed every episode, every moment, from beginning to end. I am glad that I picked it thinking: "What's the harm with watching only one episode anyway?"

When I decided to watch Gankutsuo, I didn't know what to expect. I've read Le Comte de Monte-Cristo (the novel it's loosely based on), but I wasn't going to presume that it would stick to the original material - after all, this series was done by Gonzo, the same studio that brought us Romeo X Juliet, which didn't turn out to be much like the actual Romeo and Juliet. Anyway, so I picked it up, hoping to at least be entertained....and man am I ever glad that I did.

Art
I can't review this series without first mentioning the art.
Firstly, I must admit that this didn't make ... a good first impression on me. Yup, I had read before about the unusual artistic style used for this series (which is a combination of 3D and photoshop textures) but I was still unprepared for what I saw, and totally thrown out of my comfort zone. Instead of focusing more details into character designs, more emphasis is placed on background and props. Everything is colorful, cheerful, and festive. The clothing especially is saturated with so much color and texture, that at times its hard to tell exactly what you're looking at. The patterns used seemingly jump right out at you, in some instances they don't even seem to be "in the show itself" but rather like something "on the surface" of your screen that you can reach out and touch.
Now while I said there was less attention paid to the character designs, this is definitely not so for the hair of the characters. The art used to illustrate their hair is just as texturized as the clothing and other backdrops, that it is easily the most impressive part of the characters physical characteristics. Apart from that, a majority of the characters have pretty bland physical attributes, such as faces and limbs. It's just not as sharp as everything else around them, but I get the impression that it was intentionally done so to draw you into the overall setting. I realized this after the first episode, and I think it was a good way to go about it.

So while this artistic style took some time to get used to, I did eventually come to appreciate it, and even got a kick out of it. It was a good "visual" experience.

Story
Gankutsuou is about revenge, revenge, and more revenge. It's a tale of lost love, unrequited love, friendships, and betrayals. It does a very good job of portraying the actual novel, even with a setting so vastly different from the original. The story takes place in the future, in a period where people take vacations on the moon and aliens may very well be your next door neighbor. However, it doesn't go too overboard as the cars don't really fly, the household is still run by maids and not computers, and life really doesn't look that much different from what we experience now. In keeping with the actual story, we are still in an era where nobility has the upper-hand, and this is determined by birth, power, and money - pretty much in that order.
We are taken through the series of events that unfold after the protagonist, the young and naive Vicomte Albert, is befriended by the mysterious, rich, and handsome (even though he's blue) Count Monte Cristo. Monte Cristo charms his way into Albert's life, and soon the two become close friends despite the warnings ushered in Albert's direction by his best friend the Baron, Franz. Unlike Albert, Franz becomes skeptical of the Count from their first encounter, but he is initially unable to find any evidence that will reveal the stranger's true intentions. It is not long before Albert and his friends get caught up in a series of unfortunate and dire circumstances.
Bit-by-bit, things are revealed, and as the lives of all characters involved are shaken up, as a mere onlooker I could only sit back with my heart beating rapidly as everything comes together...and falls apart.

I loved it. The story itself may not seem very original at first, but as we get deeper into things we see that there is more to everything than meets the eye.

Sound
The music used is absolutely fitting, the opening and ending songs are very in keeping with the actual storyline, and although they may sound strange at first - especially the opening song- they had me humming along in no time. The scores used within the series was actually very appropriate. For those heart-breaking and sad scenes, if what is transpiring on the screen isn't enough to make you shed a tear, the music surely won't let you off that easy. The scores used for climatic moments and suspense really did their job as they stirred emotions even more.
There was nothing outlandish or over the top, no big orchestrated pieces, but the music worked and it worked well.

Characters
I have to go ahead and give a great for characters, as they were indeed that.
Every main character has some depth, and everyone had a part in the storyline - there are no wallflowers. The most intense ones to watch were the Count, Franz, Albert's dad and Albert.

The Count was wonderful. He was charming, seductive, kind, and yet...very dark and even scary at times. One moment you think that you understand him and his intentions, and then the next you aren't so sure.

Albert's naivety was at times frustrating, but it was good because it enabled a great chance for character growth. He is far from perfect, and at times he is a bit unbearable, but still I could not dislike him.

Franz was by far my favorite character. His dedication to Albert, the passion in his voice and actions, all made him simply wonderful.

Albert's mom - Mercedes - and Haydee were perhaps given the most detailed artwork, so it was always a pleasure to look at them because they were so darn gorgeous.

The parents of the three friends whose lives are deeply affected as the series goes on, was a pleasure to watch.

The only character design I disliked was Eugeine's. Her emotions never showed in a majority of her actions, and the story may have had a bit more impact if she would have actually done something worthwhile throughout all 24 episodes. She had a tremendous part in the storyline, but a majority of her screen time had her sitting behind a piano while everything was going to hell in a basket for those she supposedly cared about.

Enjoyment
I really enjoyed this series. There was a slight period in the middle where things seemed to drag on, but i think that was more due to me being overly anxious. I could not tell from watching the first few episodes that I would soon be so caught up in everything that certain events would have me bawling my eyes out later...repeatedly. I liked the fact that secrets still lingered very close to the story's end, even though things had continuously been revealed.

Overall
This is definitely a series that I plan to own as I can watch it repeatedly. I'm very happy that I didn't give up on it after the first few minutes into the first epsidose because of the art.
It's filled with drama, very little (but some) action, and a lot of heartbreak. A real gem.

At first look, Seirei no Morbito may seem like a repeat of a story that has been told over and over and over...but it is not. Yes, there a million + one stories out there where the lead protagonist is rescuing and saving the life of others, and half of such characters may end up being women, so in this respect the series is not very unique. It's the overall story, terrific animation, and strong character designs, that make Seirei an interesting anime.
With a fictional, historical setting, the story takes place in a time when Emperors rule the people, and mythical beings rule the lands. ... Through a twist of faith, Balsa -the protagonist - is approached to protect the life of a young prince whose life is in danger. Nothing new right? That's true. However, the reason for the young prince's fate is not because of a struggle for the throne as we see quite often, and it is not because he is hated...it is actually quite the opposite. And at first, the job, though one with many obstacles in sight, seems fairly simple enough...but it later becomes quite complex as Balsa and her crew learn that the Emperor is not the only one after the boy's life. I won't go into any more details and ruin it, but will say that storyline is fascinating.

The Art is Outstanding. It is sharp, colorful, detailed where it needs to be, and a pleasure to watch. There is always better out there, but for this series I truly believe it was more than sufficient. I especially liked the creator's different sketches of Balsa that is shown at the start of each episode, as it gives a glimpse of his work "in progress".
My absolute FAVORITE thing, is the way the fights are drawn and animated. It's nothing short of awesome. The combat moves, spear and sword manipulations, and other maneuvers, are VERY FAST, but...you can see every single movement. Every single one. There is no blur, and no "what the hell just happened" moments that usually spring up when you can't visually follow along, Everything is seen in detail, as fast as it does go by, and it really pulled me in. There are so many shows out there, that should take a page from this.
Loved it!!!

The music is good. I am not particularly fond of the opening song as it just sounds like 99.9% screaming. There are not that many varying scores within, and you probably won't walk away humming anything, but those heard are very fitting and suitable.

The Character design and development is Great.
Balsa is not your typical beautiful heroine who just happens to be talented with a spear. She's strong, and she looks it. In all honesty, there is nothing very special about her personality or attitude, but she still carries the story well.
My interest lies in the other supporting actors, such as Shuga - the young star diviner who owns a look that is not typical for white haired anime guys. He is an intriguing character to watch out for as a guy who pushes himself to do his best, despite his position.
Then there are the emperors assassins who surprised me with their unique talents and characteristics. It's not often that these type of characters are usually shown to be more than "muscle". It was good to see how unique they each were, despite not being main characters.
Then there is Touya with his bucked teeth, the Shaman who is a bottle of sake away from being a true alcoholic, Sagum the older prince who you WILL NOT be able to dislike, and many more.
Their designs are all nicely created, and together they "do good"

I enjoyed this series immensely. Don't pick it up if you're only hungry for fighting scenes, nor expect it to be very deep with twists at ever turn...because it's not like that. It's just a nice series to kick back and relax to, where the few fights are pretty intense, and there is a great deal of emphasis on how characters interact and associate with each other.

I think it's important to firstly note that this anime is heavily influenced by Japan's history.
It is a re-telling of what Japan went through in the final years of the Edo period, when the Samurai, Ronins, Citizens, and Military forces from Japan and foreign countries, fought for control of the country. The interesting battles and real-life tales of betrayal and backstabbing, are retold with a hint of the supernatural element, which although seemingly far fetched, does hold more than a hint of realism. The story is fascinating, but if the viewer is not into the history genre and does not care about sitting through, ... what may at times seem like a history or Asian culture class, then this series is definitely not for them.
I enjoyed this tale immensely, as it was good to see the behind the scene drama of such an important era in world history. Some of the events are fictional, injected into the series so as to make it more "watchable" and a few of the characters never existed in real life, but it does make things fascinating.
The Supernatural factor, which focuses on the protagonist's journey to destroy an object that is too powerful to remain intact among humans, can be used as an element to show what happens in real life when man becomes consumed with power and greed, and their drive to do the "right then" soon gives way to the very thing they sought to fight against. Though the powerful object did not truly exist, the story does well to incorporate into history.

The Art for the series is good. It suits the story and its time-line perfectly, and is solid for all 26 episodes. The only problem I had, which really boils down to my preference, is that the art does have a smoky-like appearance at times, as if it is being viewed through a very very thin film of mist. I can understand why the method was used, as it does relate to certain scenes in the story, but since I like to view things nice and sharp it didn't win me over completely.

I am going to go out on a limb here and say that the sound is good, despite there being only a few scores, which were all used repetitively. But the thing is, they suited the story perfectly and since it's obvious that the creators did not want anything drastic and over the topic, it was right on the mark.

I'm tempted to say that the characters are Very Good, but I think "Good" is more accurate.
The lead protagonist, Akizuki, has quite a somewhat stiff and at times unreadable attitude, which suits his role perfectly. It may be viewed by some as "boring" but when really get into the story, you can tell why it's the best design for him.
Ibaragi Sōtetsu's character is one to look out for, although I don't need to tell anyone that because as soon as he is spotted, he will command your attention. I think it's very common for a character to be present whose true motives are unknown to the other characters, but very obvious to the viewer, but in Sotetsu's case he will keep you guessing about his real intentions until the very end. His character design is practically flawless.
Those two aside, even though a majority of the character designs aren't particularly intricate, someone will pop up every now and then that's quite interesting to watch.

So like I said, I enjoyed the story enough, even though it may not be extremely outstanding or addictive. I also can understand how the consistent 'history lesson breakdown' may easily be confusing and annoying to some. If you're interested about Japan's past, and a realistic view of Ronins and Samurai, you should really give this series a shot.

Firstly, it's important to point out that the name of this series is NOT "Romeo and Juliet" for a reason, that being it's not a clone of Shakespeare's original play. Now, I for one find that there is absolutely nothing wrong with that, but for those who are either expecting the famous classic or cannot bear to see an exploratory remake, this series is NOT for you.

Okay, that out of the way...
Romeo X Juliet is a fantasy spin on its namesake with adorable characters and a team of well placed seiyū- including my personal favorite Ryōtarō Okiayu (e.g: Byakuya from Bleach). Much like the play ... it is based on, this series holds a combination of romance, drama, and conflict. However, unlike Shakespeare's original piece, the various plots and stories within (there are about 3) could actually stand on their own.
Sticking true to its predecessor, Romeo and Juliet are nobles from opposing households who fall in love and as a result must embark on numerous obstacles in order to be together. The twist to this tale, aside from the fantasy element, is that the bloodline of one household has been almost completely eradicated by the other, and its sole survivor is pressed to take revenge not just in retaliation, but for the good of an entire country. Combine such a journey with the conflicting hearts of the story's protagonists, and those that support and are against them, and you come out with a potentially interesting tale. Unfortunately, the series was not able to follow through on such potential, and came up lacking.
The romance aspect, which is the story's backbone, does not have the intense passion and heart throbbing intrigue as one would expect from anything associated with 'Romeo and Juliet'. Rather, it comes across as very forced, and until the story's end it may have been better for everyone involved had the two lovers stuck to simply being friends.
Another of its plot - remember I said there are about three - seems not only heavily out of place, but down right ridiculous as its presence is what determines the fate of the anime's hero and heroine...nope, I will not say what it entails as that alone would be one major spoiler.

Another reason why the story was unable to realize its full potential, lays with the horrendous character design of Juliet. It is obvious that the female protagonist was meant to be shown as a strong and capable female, but instead she comes across as flat, worthless, selfish, and highly annoying. This may be the reason that the romance between her and Romeo failed to come across with any sort of intensity, as her personal character was so lacking that she is the last person best suited for a someone like Romeo. Romeo, with his genuine heart, spontaneity and naivety, comes across as so real and immensely lovable, that to hand him off to one such as Juliet is a moral felony. Unlike Juliet's superficial emotions, Romeo's feelings come across with such immense depth that I can say he is the only one of the two who really knew how to love, and was in love.
The other characters are very noteworthy. Once again, I must point out that since things have been changed from the original play, do not be surprised that it affects the characters as well. However, despite their change, the main elements that made them unique in Shakespeare's original, still holds very true to them in the series. It is easy to get caught up in how drastic the changes are, but if you take a breather and step back, you will see that it really works for them - the core is still the same.
My personal favorites, aside from Romeo, are Francisco (the story's bijin because you know there just had to be at least one) and Curio - Juliet's bodyguards who do indeed lash out at the heroine when she is being fickle (much to my pleasure), Willy - who is very noteworthy as you can say he depicts the role of Shakespeare and it is this experience that has caused the original tale to come about, and Antonio - Juliet's pint sized, side-kick with a heart of strength and gold.

The Art in the series is nothing to rave about. It is simply Decent where the main characters are the only ones who get much artistic attention (which is far cry away from being detailed), and people in the background are portrayed with bland outlines and fillings. The backdrop - buildings, landscape and etc...range from Poor to Decent as one would expect much more from a fantasy setting. The color is not as bright and whimsical as it should have been, given its genre and setting, and things do appear painstakingly bland.

The Music was a disappointment. There is barely, if anything, remarkable about the soundtrack. There is nothing that will captivate and reel you in. There are no tunes that will make you feel the anguish and beauty of love and the character's situation, and there is nothing riveting for moments of battle or dark scenes.

All in all, it was quite a chore to sit through 24 episodes of this. Things did not start to get interesting (at least, as interesting as it could get for this series) until about the 10th episode and then it fell yet again. I was very happy when it ended.
It's important to note that my dislike for the anime has nothing to do with the changes to the original piece - If anything I really enjoyed that much and I honestly think that Shakespeare himself would applaud it as well...this coming from a Shakespeare fanatic. It is poor because it had such great potential, such a talented staff, but it did not follow through.

Created with the historical fairy-tale of 'Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" in mind, Pretear proves to be a mediocre and lacking tale of one school-girl's journey to save the world with the aid of seven, note-worthy adorable, magical young men.

The story takes place in the present-day world, where magic and special powers are nothing but intriguing elements in fantasy novels. The main protagonist, sixteen year old Himeno, is initially presented as an ordinary girl with her share of problems. However, almost as immediately as she is introduced, it is made clear that there is more to Himeno than meets the eye.
Fast paced at ... first, the story does not dawdle with introductions to all the characters, complete with biographies and a run down of their personalities. Its plot is pretty much revealed during the first few chapters, and it is made painfully clear that while a few unique attributes are present, there is hardly any sort of depth to the storyline - Something disastrous is about to happen to the world, and in order to prevent it seven mythical beings must locate Himeno, who will fight with them to battle an evil element and secure the fate of the world. It's pretty run-of-the-mill, with the regular 'a la sailor moon' transformations as Himeno physically connects with her newly acquired friends, so as to access and use their combined powers for battle.
While the seven magical beings, who appear to be human boys with varying ages, are accustomed to their powers and the battles to secure life in the world, Himeno is completely new to the task and has a bit of difficulty adjusting. Then, as if engaging in daily battles against evil is not hard enough, she has to get accustomed to her " Seven Knights", while dealing with a new family that is anything but warm and comforting. Himeno's conflicts at home affect her greatly, as the situation prompts her to question her self-worth and capabilities, thus resulting in a bumpy ride as she seeks to eliminate evil.
As the story progresses, it becomes so overly saturated with repetitiveness - mostly pertaining to Himeno's emotions - that it becomes quite annoying and a chore to read. The fast pace seen in the first few chapters, disappears in the middle, only to reappear near the end in order to produce a very rush-felt conclusion.

The Art is commendable, but not particularly exceptional. The character designs are consistent, facial expressions are readable, and the background is solid. The story deals a lot with nature, so there are many trees, flowers, landscapes...etc. These are averagely drawn, which is unimpressive especially for a fantasy tale where such things are usually exaggerated and more defined. The one solid disappointment resides in the battle panels, which are pretty hard to decipher. However, this doesn't really take away from the story as Himeno and her Knights are usually battling seeds and vines without any sort of creative moves or skills.

Character-wise, the princely characteristics displayed by the knights make them quite likeable. It is sad that there is hardly much of a development with them. The younger boys are shown as simply adorable. the preteen struggles with his spot in the middle where he is no longer very young but not yet old enough, and the older guys are gorgeous, caring, skillful and potential heartthrobs for the heroine.
As for the heroine, it is not possible to say that she is a " kind-hearted and warm" individual, because she flip-flops from being selfish to seemingly understanding, then back to selfish and annoying in almost every page. This is especially annoying as it's obvious that the author wants her to be seen as a kind hearted girl who genuinely cares about others above all else. When she speaks with what is suppose to be a genuine heart, it's hard to not see her selfishness. She makes every situation about her, and it's hard to believe that she really takes anything away from the lessons learnt.
Another character that is hard to appreciate is Himeno's younger step sister, Mawata. The author would clearly like the readers to feel pity for Mawata, but it is hard to do so when it's not shown in the story that she really "needs" to be pitied. or has encountered situations that call for such an emotion.
The other characters, such as Himeno's Dad, step mother, second step sister and best friend, are pretty much on point.

Overall, the story was not enjoyable. The heroine started off with a positive light, and then came across as very shabby until the tale ended. Each volume of the manga saw fit to waste its pages, ink, and the reader's time (in this case mine) by recapping the union of the heroine and her knights, as well as her wishy-washy emotions which consumed every other page. The battles are monotonous and uncreative. Then to top it off, when the final- and only - confrontation with the real evil source came about, I for one was disappointed because the brief moment spent between 'it' and the heroine, was so VERY uneventful, that it's indeed possible to miss.

The only enjoyable thing about Pretear is the character design for the seven knights. They are nice to look at, and the relationship between them is the only high point and interesting element in the entire series.

My advice - Watch the Anime as it does a far better job than its original counterpart.

I started watching this series because so many people said it was like "Saiunkoku Monogatari" (which I love). But, it isn't. In fact, it's nothing like it. Sure they are both Fantasy, with Historical setting. But that's about it as far as comparisons.

At the start I was pretty turned off by the series. I found the lead character, Youko Nakajima, to be utterly annoying. It didn't help any that she cried and cried for like the first 12 episodes straight (okay, maybe 7). But when that was done with, and the new world that we are presented with is explored and explained, things started to ... look up.

The characters for the most part are pretty interesting. I especially liked Keiki (Youko's Kerin - think man that can turn into what looks like a unicorn), Shouryuu ( King En), Rokuta ( Shouryu's Kerin), Rakushun (a guy that's really a rat) and many more. The characters all have some sort of substance, a majority of them have experienced some kind of hardship. You get to see most of them achieve such sincere growth that I for one couldn't help but to smile at how they turned out after their individual journeys.

The plot of the story is pretty good as well, and the ideas that went into developing the backdrop are to be commended - the author was very imaginative - it works.

However, this series was far too long than was necessary. A few episodes were nothing but recaps of previous episodes, and when i say a few I mean more than 1,2,3,4.... That was annoying and really a waste.
There were quite a few side stories in the entire series (which is good) except one of the most major stories was never resolved. It was simply left...open..I kept wondering if somehow it flew past me and I didn't realize, but after looking back thoroughly, I can say nothing came of it. I am talking about Taiki, the Kirin who disappeared along with his King. This was the start of a great side story, and it was disappointing to see that it wasn't followed through.
Instead of wasting so much film to recap past episodes, surely it could have been used to do better justice to the novel and resolve Taiki's story.

And to conclude, the very last episode was by far the worst episode of them all. All it did was pretty much recap the previous 2 episodes...word for word, picture for picture. If you watch episode 43 and 44, you've watched episode 45. Keiki, who is a very instrumental character, was pretty much left out of a majority of the episodes, and wasn't even granted the respect of being shown at the end.
So, while this was a good story, with awesome characters, it's not a show that I would be inclined to watch again, nor can i say it was enjoyable.

On a good note, I've decided to go out and get the novel. So I guess the anime has done it's job to get me interested in the original source.