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I've never written a review for this site, so bear with me. I've been noticing a lot of mixed and disappointed reviews. That's somewhat understandable if one's going solely on the trailers. Instead of an all action fantasy piece, we got a very experimental story of friendship. The very core of BRS is the meaning of friendship. How it bolsters one. How its absence crushes one. How far one will go to preserve it.

I'm not good at assigning number grades, so take them in stride. It's hard to quantify the difference between an 8 and 9 and so on and what deserves what.

Story: The story ... of Black Rock Shooter is a somewhat generic, basic one told in a very unusual way. It deals with two friends, Mato and Yomi, who grow very close to one another in their first year of middle school, only to drift apart in the second year. What makes it interesting is that this descent evolves into a fantasy battle spliced into their regular lives.

This effect is apparently rather hit or miss judging by other reviews. Some even suggest that the reviewer didn't connect the two, which is a shame. I thought it was an interesting way of presenting the story. Seeing the downfall of the relationship, the bitter ashes it created, while also watching its genesis gives things an unusual perspective. The battle portion working in time, building with the actual friendship (an example being that the fight doesn't really begin until the defining moment of the friendship). Hence we see it wax and wane simultaneously, and can't help but wonder what went wrong. Why did it come to this? What's more, we see the evolution of that battle, the true meaning of it, as Mato realises just what her friendship and actions have come to mean as well.

This presentation is probably what sets the show apart. Had it been linear, the story would've been rather average indeed. It would still be good, but much more 101. That's due to the simplicity of it. It really is nothing more than the rise and decline of a friendship and the fight to restore it. A lot has to do with the emotions of it. How friendship can lift ones spirits and how its decline can drive them into the darkest of corners. Seeing these concurrently drives it home.

Obviously, this form of presentation can be confusing if taken at face value. Complaints about seeing a fight between two characters that have no reason to fight in the previous timeline are marginally valid. One needs to realize that it's essentially two episodes playing concurrently, with scenes not always meant to complement one another. It is foreshadowing on a grand scale.

So what we have is a very simple story told in a deceptively simple way, and it's up to the viewer to put the two together properly. The only part I didn't really get was the opening fight scene involving a character that doesn't matter.

Art: The art of the series is both eye-catching and a touch mundane. Though I believe that's the point. The "real" world is done in blues and soft colors, and has a rather basic school show look to it with pastels and other soft colors. On the other hand the fantasy world is more greens and yellows, and sports a more gothic and checkered look, with richer colors and darker atmosphere. Appropriate for a friendship gone sour. This color themeing goes right down to Mato and Yomi themselves, with Mato themed in blue, and Yomi in green. The two styles play well off one another in conveying the respective moods.

Character designs are simple yet eye-catching. I particularly love the look of Dead Master. Overall, the art is probably the most memorable and appealing aspect of the show as the storytelling is highly visual. Particularly the fantasy world. It supports the story well in accentuating the emotion and action each scene is telling.

As a first effort, the animation is suitably fluid. The battle scenes are a touch hectic, but work well. About the only complain I could find is that the artists couldn't seem to decide whether Yomi's hair was short or not. The front and side suggest a close-cropped nape with long front, yet several back shots tend to show parted hair. So there's a inconsistency there.

Sound: There's very limited dialogue in the OVA, and the actors are more than adequate for the job. In fact, there's no dialogue at all in the fight scenes. Since the show works heavily on a show, don't tell" concept, this isn't an issue. I can't imagine an argument between BRS and Dead Master adding to the emotion already inherent of two friends at each others mercy. Hence the silence is fitting. All that needed say already had been at that point.

Most of the music is average, with one rather odd bubbly number during a friendly montage. I was also rather surprised at how little the title song features in the show. Though it does appear at an appropriate moment. The music doesn't really shine until the end, with some very fitting piano pieces. Particularly the finale score adding to the emotion of the scene.

Characters: This one is tricky. Being only 50 minutes long, not much character development occurs. Indeed, all we get is what's important, and that is an extroverted girl befriending an introverted one and becoming very important to her. So important that when they start to drift apart it literally consumes her in darkness. By that account the characters pull off what's needed, and that is the friendship at the core of the story. Sure, we could've learned more about them, especially Yomi, who always seems to have a sad side to her. These are characters of which much can be inferred upon. I have no problem with that given the context of the story.

The point is that the relationship of the two is handled well enough to keep the story afloat leading to a satisfying conclusion to the conflict. They're likeable, identifiable, and one cares enough to want to see it through. In a story like this, that's what's important.

Enjoyment: The enjoyment of the series really depends on what you give it and take from it. Black Rock Shooter strikes me as the type of show that might improve on repeat viewings. It also depends on how well you like the blending of stories. One does tend to spend much of it wondering when the next fight will occur and how it came to be. Both lines build slowly, and at the end really come together nicely. The entire storytelling style pays off brilliantly at the end, in my opinion, as we view the beginning and end of Mato's journey to save her friendship simultaneously. It can be a touch jarring to essentially see the beginning after the end, but it drives home the very reason she became Black Rock Shooter in the first place. That moment alone practically makes the whole thing.

Overall, Black Rock Shooter is a very ordinary story about friendship told in an extraordinary way. Those coming in expecting wall to wall action will be disappointed. Perhaps I avoided that when I read that the story was to be about two friends so i knew what to expect. It's essentially a minor tragedy, not an action piece. The experimental way the stories told rewards viewers willing to put up with it and not just take it at face value. A lot of hype has hit this, and it will be judged far harsher because of it. Is it the best show of the year? Probably not, but it definitely is entertaining and worth a view, especially if you're a fan of unorthodox storytelling. The light hand of the story and characters allow for a lot of fan exposition, and I can see this inspiring fan fiction and sequels, especially with the open ending. The artwork alone is good enough to keep this one around.

Give Black Rock Shooter a shot. The show deals heavily with friendship and what it means to people in an interestingly visual way. It may not be the masterpiece everyone was expecting, but it certainly is an excellent first effort and a welcome change from the average Slice of Life shows. Let it soak in awhile, and maybe you'll find something worthwhile in it. It definitely lingers with you.