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Oct 17, 2011
After having watched the first 3 episodes of C^3, I must say this show really has potential. After a light, almost excessively cheerful introduction, the show gets progressively more action packed, emotionally involved and takes a more serious tone revolving around sin, guilt and regrets.
I found the art to be appealing, as is the case with most anime this season, I found the cast of voice actors to be strong, the main male lead in particular, and I found the pacing and development to be varied so as to accentuate the important parts.
If you try to pin this show down with episode 1, then
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you're not going to give an accurate opinion on what it is. It is a varied show with an interested plot mechanic and good production values, that is worth giving an hour of your time to to view the first three episodes. Happy viewing!
Reviewer’s Rating: 8
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Jul 1, 2009
Let me start by saying this: This review is only helpful if you haven't seen the first FMA. Shocking, I know, but people like this do exist.
Alright, I've seen 12 episodes of FMA Brotherhood.
1) The animation is stellar, the action is gorgeous, and scene arrangement ensure a smooth, liquid pacing that ensures you're never bored.
2) The music, the voice actors, everything is great. I can't review sound - go watch and listen!
3) The characters are fantastic. The only character I hate is Ed, shockingly enough. I know, how can you enjoy a series and hate the main character? As far as I can
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tell, Ed is the male equivalent of a Tsundere, meaning as they develop how he actually thinks and feels, I'll grow to love him. I hope.
The other characters, and there are a lot of them, carry the show. Someone is constantly looking to have something done or has some agenda, and characters with conflicting agendas manifest naturally. This makes for a gorgeous multi-linked plot that is getting both hectic but staying steady and clear.
4) Story: FMA Brotherhood is a show about two brothers making a mistake and then trying to fix it. At least, on the surface. It becomes rapidly clear a whole lot of other things are going on, and these things will doubtless lead our intrepid heroes down down down the rabbit hole until we find ourselves at the heart of some crazy hair brained world reaching plot. Or at least, that is my anticipation.
The brotherhood dynamic, as cited in the title, actually doesn't seem like the critical plot focus to me thus far. It plays an integral role, and parts along the way are definitely fleshing it out, but the real enjoyment from the series lies in the varied assortment of individuals you are meeting along the way. I've read some of the other reviews, and they state these characters aren't being fleshed out enough. Given the fact that the series hasn't ended yet, I'm desperately hoping this is true! Good story telling is done by slowly shaving down to the core of what characters are. Imagine my surprise in Ep. 11 to discover Roy Mustang isn't secretly a bad guy, in spite of how he is originally portrayed, and how I originally perceived him to be. At this critical moment for him, my feelings about him completely toggled over to one where, hey, I know exactly who this guy is, and I like him a lot more for it.
5) Enjoyment: The show makes me lose sleep waiting for it to come out to view. That should indicate just how much I love it so far. I will say this: As long as they keep the quick pace up and keep chipping away at the truth, Brotherhood will become a stellar classic, making people wonder why there was any doubt as to where it was going.
I compare its pacing, and plot advancement solely to Code Geass for how quick and consistent it runs.
***I've just now obtained FMA (the original) and started to watch it, struggled through about 12 episodes, and threw in the towel. It was boring, Brotherhood has spoiled me. I hope this doesn't offend original viewers, but all that other stuff in there is fluff to what Brotherhood is portraying as plot critical, and since my mind is full of Brotherhood thoughts, well...
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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May 29, 2009
I have been putting this review off for well over a year.
I have been putting it off on purpose.
I started Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann about half way through the season, and I finished Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann when the last episode aired. I loved it. I know, 'why did he give this a low score if he loved it?'
People deciding whether they will watch something or not skip all the tens, and look at all the low scores. In the case of Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann I've selected a 5, because it is the new benchmark by which I judge any anime with
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an outlandish story of grandeur.
Story: 10/10. Too many of these reviews incorrectly cite it is a story about beating the next strongest bad guy to become the strongest out there, or a simple 'coming of age' story. I will not deny its base structure is a coming of age tale. If it was just that however, no one would care.
Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is a story about progress. Not just for you yourself, not one person for other people, but progress in every sense. It's critical theme is striving forward as much as you can so everyone after you can strive forward as well. It is a story designed to really let you grasp that your successes are built on the progress of those around you and before you, and you are there to make progress for those coming after you.
To break down story arcs, I must stress, watch through episode 9. My shoujo loving girlfriend trudged through this anime until episode 9. Then she finished it in two nights while having to deal with her full time job in the interim. Episodes 1-9 are so-so, even painful. But, they set the tone. Episodes 10-15 are one fluid, fast paced sequence of events. Episode 16 is a recap episode. After the fast pacing of what happens from episodes 1-15, I don't blame them.
Episodes 17-27 could be another show entirely. I have never seen anything so wonderful as this arc of episodes. It is where this show gets most of my love, and it is where you understand why the characters in the first 15 episodes don't get fleshed out as much as you might like to see them fleshed out. You see it come to fruition here. Warriors live the warrior life, friendships are proven again and again and again, and for these respected characters who came from nothing to a place where they have to carry everything for everyone, there is nothing but an understanding that people make way for more people, in an ever striving effort to move forward.
Art: 7/10. Weakest part of the show, almost made me want to turn it off during episode 1. Made it through that and watched the whole series the first time in one run. As it goes along though, it steadily improves, and by the end you understand the art stylization suits it rather well. It is not beautiful, but Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is not beautiful. It's truthful.
Sound: 9/10. Other than a few odd music selections from my perspective, the audio is critically amazing at supporting the action or the moment through and through.
Character: 9/10. Almost all of the characters show multidimensional behavior that fleshes out as the story progresses. If I ask someone cosplaying one of these characters to act like the character for an hour straight, they would have a difficult time expressing all sides to a character. They are not easy to understand when you break down what they do and why they do it, but within the confines of the script, it is easy to see how they make the decisions they make.
As to the complexity of the characters, no, there is not going to be some emo goth socially repressed bipolar homicidal bunny lover, but honestly, that is really not a good character. Good characters are ones that you identify with people that you know in person, yet stand out apart from anyone you've ever met. This means they've sold you on being human and real, yet being amazing and story worthy. The reason why we follow a character is they are unlike any we've seen before.
Enjoyment: 10/10. I don't know why this is really a grading criteria. This is what you decide after you've watched something, and is totally personal. For me, this tale of a man's destiny was utterly enjoyable.
In conclusion, I may cite 5 here, but for me inside this is a perfect 10. When you cross combine these elements, you create a perfect blend of balance and correctness that allows you to laugh, love, and cry. I've seen plenty of anime, and my 5's on my anime list are probably your 7's. This is a 10 on that list.
Reviewer’s Rating: 5
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