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This must be the most disappointing anime I have ever watched. And disappointing is truly the perfect word. Great ideas and characters are thrown out there, but never built upon. This anime just screams "incomplete".

I truly suspect that the studio was going for a longer run, but had to cut everything short after half of the episodes. The overall feeling you get is that they really had a good idea, that everything was planned to be something else. I find no other explanation.

The overall score is too good for what I saw...but the awesome metal soundtrack (kinda ripping off Cannibal Corpse and Marilyn Manson, but ... meh) and the satisfying Art and Character design saved it.

Not much more can be said...no meaningful story in 12 episodes of sheer incomplete chaos.

I'd advise you to stay away from it's grip.

A fairly enjoyable anime that, although not perfect, kept me on the edge of my seat for one day straight.

Your average fantasy setting, but with sufficient new elements to spice up the experience.

The theme and setting is pretty basic for a fantasy anime. Protagonist finds himself in a strange world, with the power to return to a key point in time, after his death. Protagonist Subaru makes use of such power bestowed upon him to alter the course of events in his quest to protect his beloved. Throw in heavy violence, love, likeable characters and some naisu hot drama waifus in there and you ... get a day not wasted of your life.

Pros:

- This anime is very brutal at times...This was what made the series stand out in my eyes. The "return upon death" mechanic allows drama to unfold and death of key characters. I admit, the characters are pretty likeable, so when you see main characters brutally murdered, you cannot help but to feel uneasy.

- Characters are very well built. You will get to feel for them, especially when they are brutally murdered. Unlike many forms of modern art in general, this anime plays on failure of the main character and the triumph of evil vs good quite a lot. An anime where evil gets to triumph is always a good anime in my book.

- The main character is well imagined. He has no powers whatsoever, no background story, with very slight hints. He is a vessel that allows the other characters to shine. Aware of his weaknesses, he is faced with much disappointment, bordering on insanity, and overcoming such states, remaining human in the process (no shiny superpowers here) is commendable. Secondary characters are pretty, funny and rather complex, and they tell their story through the protagonist.

- Not much is explained about the world. I find that quite likeable. It annoys me when anime try to portray a complex lore, taking up so much screen time, especially for anime that don't exceed 10-12 episodes per season.

- You will have lots of questions about the plot and settings, questions you will not get answers from in the anime. I loved that. It makes the world feel very much alive. Even if a new season doesn't happen, it makes everything feel more mysterious. This technique could be dangerous, for it may make the anime feel incomplete, but the creators pulled it off beautifully.

- Although not much is explained, the world is complex. There is a story behind everything you see, and the fact that not much is told about it makes the viewer use his imagination and capacity of understanding. I like to think that through anime, one can tell meaningful stories, and too much explanation can ruin the experience. The viewer is actively challenged to make use of small hints to imagine the bigger picture that is the world of Re: Zero.

- Return upon death mechanic is well used, and is well integrated within the ambiguity the creators went for. There are numerous scenes when the main character relives the same time interval, doing things VERY different, contouring aspects of the grand plot that the viewer never even imagined upon the first go. It goes without saying that this is an instrument for PLOT TWISTS!

- Reliving the same period always feel new. A lot happens, but it feels quite organic. Romance is, also, pretty good.

Cons:

- Lack of explanation can also be annoying sometimes, and it makes the characters' motives feel shallow. There were times it felt obvious that some decisions were not well grounded, making you feel that everything happening then is for the sole purpose of pushing the story forward.

- Sometimes, it can be a lot to take in at once. A lot happens very fast.

- Characters that seem important at the beginning just...vanish afterwards. It may be due to the fact that they are going for a long run, but in 25 episodes, I saw this overpowered sword guy in the 3rd episode, portrayed as some "bigshot" for the plot, only to see him 2 times afterwards. It's just one of many examples.

- LOADS of loose ties...I couldn't rate it lower because I will give it the benefit of the doubt. Everything may be due to the intention of making it a long-running series, so I won't be too harsh, but the general impression is that of "more loose ends than they should be".

- Can get a little cringeworthy at times. The protagonist oscillates between extreme seriousness/drama and hotheadedness. There were one or two times I slapped my forehead in cringe. But it sounds a lot worse when I write about it then when watching.


All in all, this is an anime worth your time. It's one of those that were really thought up. Although I initially gave it an 8, I'll rate it a 9 for keeping me in my seat and making me turn a blind eye to it's flaws. If you take it up, odds are you won't put it down if you are into fantasy stuff.

Cheers, and remember, anime is a form of art, don't just watch it, but feel it and study it. ;)