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Aug 21, 2010
(not a full review, just my thoughts on the series.)
The story really picks up around episode 60 (?) and gets quite interesting. It's almost as if it were a different anime from the previous episodes.
I just want to say that the characters are pretty one dimensional. Even Reborn. his appeal is basically he's a chibi badass. what more is there to him? even less for all the other characters. one dimensional take everything easy guy, one dimensional super extreme guy, one dimensional grumpy loyal guy, one dimensional "i love the school, i'm an aloof guy" their catch phrases are basically repeated every freaken episode.
The
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one character that i really like and is fresh is Lambo. His voice actor does one heck of a job too. Granted he may be one dimensional too, but it's not boring in the way the others are. His mannerisms are likable. It's mainly the voice acting that I fell in love with =]
(It has been brought to my attention that the original manga was a gag series, and then was adapted by the anime. Possibly the reason why it suddenly got much better, idk. So that's sort of an excuse for the one dimensionality of the characters. Yet it still detractcs from the enjoyability of the anime, and I don't think it was impossible for the anime adapters to just give them more personality either)
The previous episodes serve as an introduction, but it is seriously way too long. it's like the first 3 episodes of a 26 episode series dragged out for 50 episodes. But still they're not too bad. You'll just definitely notice when the real story arc starts.
After being on that exciting new story arc, you'll find it kinda slows down in some parts. Especially "training arcs". Training arcs are basically one by one character episodes that follow each element. During this time, you really notice the one dimensionality of the characters and you just know it's a mini filler for acquiring new power/upgrades. And they're not substantial like the challenge arc for the Vongola X seat, just a nuisance. If the training arcs were removed or made more enjoyable from the series (they're sort of like mini fillers imo), the pace would be quite solid. Still, i stopped watching every newest episode b/c the pace was too slow at 1 episode a week. I'll maybe come back to it months later, after "buffering" a few episodes.
One other note is about elements. Wind water fire earth lightning, or other combinations of that have been done to death, BUT YET! Katekyou i think executed the most fresh take on elements in a very long time. Sky elements of cloud, sun, rain lightning etc? that by itself would not have gotten it so much points, but they way they weave it in to themes and stuff blends in smoothly.
So i have mixed feelings... im not raving about the fact that elements was used again in a shounen, but it's the best twist on elements done in a long time... possibly ever will be. So i give it props for doing the fullest potential of elements.
Final Thoughts: the good parts are really good, especially when they drop the new-setting bomb (ep 60) on you. I shave off points for for having such a long intro arc and characters being one dimensional thus making it feel kiddy, and the boring training series.
But the good parts are pretty darn good. highlight mini arcs are Yamamoto's ssword series, the introduction of the new setting around ep 60, and the roots of the weaponry. The main plot is of course epic.
still, it's a bit immature of a shounen for me, but i can't deny the things it's done well (which i really didn't talk much about here did i? haha). Maybe i'm just growing up.
oh, some of the openning songs are just goosebump-inducing, like around ep 165...EYUGHH, soooo no-TY. But for sound rating are OP's and ED's even considered part of the anime series? the sound effects and music in the actual series aren't bad at all. I just really don't like some of the OP songs.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Aug 20, 2010
You like brilliant plans? You like plot twists? Many times shows will have one, which is pretty much the serving size for the entire series for the main plot. Not Death Note. Death Note has a huge supply of brilliant schemes and they're thrown at you every episode. They do not skimp in this area!
What can I say, whenever i talk about epic animes or someone asks me my favorite, "Death Note" is always at the tip of my tongue. Now I am aware its shortcomings in a couple of points, but I really can't knock down the entire series for them for a few
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points in a couple of departments.
First of all, let me say that there seriously needs to be more animes like this. Where they unfold amazingly genius schemes and tantalize your brain, not just "oh hey let's fight using my super powers and once we kill the evil enemy with my hidden super duper super power at the end for the big boss and done deal" That formula is getting so old, while there is a severe shortage of shows of the kind of ingenious mind-bending strategic style that Death Note is (which some call the genre of "bran-fuck").
(To those also noticing the lack of "brain-fuck" series, may I direct you to One Outs, Akagi, Kaiji, and possibly Umineko Nakukoro no Ni)
Back to Death Note. The show isn't so much about shinigamis as much as it is about the intellectual battle between one trying to kill while not getting caught and one trying to catch the killer. To make things more interesting, the two end up working side by side to catch the killer! So you can surmise just from the setup the kind of intellectual tidbits the killer will have to do as not to give himself away, and yet still go on with the killings, and deal with his pursuant. As the dance progresses, the ante and stakes get bigger and bigger just as the level of moments that make you say "wow that's brailliant."
Oh, you can compare it to Dexter, the TV series, but Death Note delivers intellectual candy at a faster pace.
The anime runs a bit deeper than just unfolding juicy tactics, which I am supremely biased for, if you can't tell already (haha). The characters' endeavors themselves pose philosophical questions to the audience: "Are humans, capable of weilding so much power and not going corrupt, even if you take a super smart, competent specimen, and he has noble aspirations to stat off with?" Granted it's all fictional, but the series is more than just sweet strategies after another. It touches upon many other deeper themes of the morality and capacity of humanity.
The plans Light hatches to gain leverage on L, as well as the strategies L throws at Light will have you piqued and thinking.
Now for the negativity and criticisms I have that does not give this series a perfect mark.
The ending is a bit unsatisfying. They also drag it out 20 more episodes than they should have, and in the 2nd half of the series, the wellspring of brilliant strategies clearly dries up. From the perspective of the producers and writers, it's understandable that they would want to include the extra characters, as well as possibly drag the series on for more episodes, but imo, it becomes very DBZ-like (in terms of the quality of episodes due to the decision to drag it out) in comparison with the first half of the series. There is a movie version of Death Note, and you will find that ending extremely satisfying. I always fantasize, "what if the anime series was cut in half, and had the movie's ending? sigh, that would be the perfect series." And i really probably would give it perfect scores (in the appropriate departments).
Sound:
The Intros and endings, as well as all the in-anime suspense music paint the feeling extremely well. you'll just have to experience it to know what i'm talking about. Just know that they fit well and are very good.
2nd intro theme. i'm not a fan of death metal at all, but i can see sort of the connection with light at this stage. If you read the lyrics of the first ending, Alumina - Nightmare, they depict a guy who decides do things with his own power, his own way, having been broken (no absolute truth) and confused. He's still holding onto his ideals. One cannot help but draw the connection to Light. The 2nd death metal intro song, however seems to paint Light's more depraved state, having gradually deviated from his just world ideal, and more enticed by being the ruler of the world (for power and to be god) as well as the victory of outwitting and eliminating L. But maybe i'm just mad and reading too much into the songs. =]
So all in all, despite critical decisions for the series that drags it out, resulting in fallen quality than what it started out with, i still give this series high marks overall, for the first half was truly amazing, and the story is great. It's merely the execution that faltered a bit. I can't knock it down too much for that. It just prevents it from getting perfect marks.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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Aug 20, 2010
good core, despite the ancient drawing style.
i just LOVE how this series includes dialogue on the philosophies of a strong ruler vs democracy (... and i think they talk about the difference between democracy and a republic.. but maybe my memory is failing me). Seriously, how many animes talk about stuff on that level? That little bit warmed me up.
Despite it's the great middle, it ends sort of anticlimactically. But it's probably just going along with the style of history drama, and more documentary ish feel than trying to be over the top... wihch is not a bad thing. a minor disappointment. but you still
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walk away feeling like you've watched one of those epic history dramas.
impressed with such an anime in the older days. ignoring the flashiness, this really has substance. more modern animes should have such solid cores, and attempt to be unique such as this.
The moral and government philosophical dilemas are just as prominent as the overt physical battles. What if a democracy opts for just as tyrannical outcomes? what if a monarch rules better than a democracy, despite the concentration of power? what if a democracy votes to establish a monarchy? They also get into deeper points that make you double back and examine any previous notions you may have had on governmental philosophy, so major points for not painting one good and the other evil like propaganda. very mature (not erotic mature, i mean mature mature) themes.
not for ppl who only like flash and action. ppl who like death note, one outs, as well as those history drama shows will enjoy it.
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Aug 20, 2010
a nice typical anime. grabs you in with the concept, the eating souls thing. there is an enemy to fight, and it develops really strong. it kind of sets itself apart from your normal fighting animes with the unfolding of the universe.
despite it's strong openning and body, it's ending is quite disappointing and banal. Just before the end of the "body", there is a 3rd party, and it kind of gets you excited for a 3 way war of manipulation, mind games, tactics and strategy, but they instantly kill off any of that sort of potential right away and opt to go for the oh-so-overdone
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"heroes will fight the enemy, unleash hidden super power and bang over".
how many more shows do we need that follows that sort of pattern?
all in all, minus the latter episodes, it's a very nice ride. not the best, but pretty entertaining. also it's a slight bit kiddy for my tastes. just a tad.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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