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This is an anime that is tailored for a very specific taste. It's also good to mention in the beginning that there may be 12 episodes, but it's really more close to 24 because each episode has about 40 minutes to it rather than the usual 20 that anime has.

TL:DR is at the very ending without spoilers, but the overall review might contain some.

Story: 8
The actual story is really complicated, and I had to look up some of the questions I had. The first reaction you might get after completing it would probably be, "WTF??" because it leaves you feeling really empty. But ... taking a moment to digest everything, the story was really well written.

At first you watch it as a comedy until the last few episodes which turn dark really quick, not that the show didn't indicate it's a dark show in the beginning. When Shichika casually mentions that he kills his father, but never really addresses it, it serves at a good indicator that despite the art and dry humor, this is a pretty messed up story. It reminded me a bit like Panties and Stockings where the art and humor seemed light but was very 18+ for various of reasons.

The story unravels itself much similar as a puzzle, not really getting the full picture until you have reached the end and take a step back. It holds the idea of legacy as well as how the future cannot be changed. I would also argue that it is a coming of age (not really?? since Shichika is already grown in body but not really in mind), and how Shichika develops himself as a person paving his own fate in the end, not accepting his position as a sword.

There are many other points the story tells that is embedded within the series, but at the same time, I wouldn't say it was perfect story telling. There were many plot holes in terms of specific characters, but as an overarching story, it did well. As specific episodes, I would say only the last few hold any significance. Despite the fact it was overly complicated in my opinion, the concepts it held and told made me give high marks for it.

Art: 9
The art was what actually drew me to this series. It was really unusual for an anime to have such a distinct style such as this. The character designs physically all fit to my personal aesthetic taste that I really enjoyed. The cartoonish? style as well as how the colors matched with everything especially with the characters ( such as the color scheme of the Maniwani's and Shichika's sister etc.) really came together nicely. Nothing felt overwhelmingly too colorful, despite the very vibrant colors of the entire series. The themes they had set for each character also in term of looks were great, giving distinct characteristics that allowed you to distinguish everyone. Same face syndrome (Love Idol???? *cough cough*) was not there despite the simplicity of the art style itself.

I just really liked the color palette and art my dude.

Sound: 10

Wow wow. I have not enjoyed a soundtrack like this since, I don't know, Princess Kaguya? It mixes between traditional japanese sounds, but often puts this hip pop? in the background which.... oddly fits really well. It fit so well I couldn't help but to admire it and try to hear it when they were sometimes talking.

It threw me off at first because that was not what I was expecting as well as not the usual anime soundtrack which I was use to. But while watching the series, it flowed so well in a sense that the mood of the sound did not seem forceful on the situation. Sometimes, when you get series moods or action scenes, which places this dramatic moment, indicating that it is a dramatic moment.

It's useful and can even be iconic (My Hero Academia, ya'll know that one song when Deku brings out his smash). But this was a change to hear a different sense where you didn't really realize the background music, but still noticed it at the same time for it's uniqueness. I'll probably go back and look up the soundtrack to listen to it again because I enjoyed it so much.

Character: 7
Hmm, the characters had levels of complexity to them..... and they also did not. The ending really showed the true nature of the characters as well as how much they have grown, or not grown because humans are difficult creatures to change in a span of a short time.

This is why I say they were both complex and not. The audience attaches themselves to the character during the story because, they are very likable characters. All of them. However, most of the characters don't grow beyond their original character designs, making you feel as if you are liking something that you see on paper rather than, well an actual personality.

It seems rather a vague imitation of a complex personality. They seem really simple.

Then in the end, they reveal, tada, these people are a lot more complex than you thought. But by then the audience has attached themselves to these characters as a simple character, not a complex thinking one. So when their appearing personality is shown that it was not what it was without any solid resolution to it, you feel distaste on how everyone ended.

I understand that the characters were sacrificed for the sake of the story telling, but that leaves the audience that these characters were empty shells made for only the purpose of reaching a specific ending and meaning to this story.

Enjoyment: 7

They did not really think too deep for the enjoyment of the audience. A lot of the episodes feel as fillers, and the overall feel pace of the show is pretty slow despite the fact that they collect the swords quickly. Because of this, I can see why a lot of people feel bored watching this and drop it.

But I can say it was really enjoyable because the characters are still likable and the driving force of the story (collecting the swords) is really strong despite the fact that you probably know how it is going to end. It's sort of feeds on that guilty pleasure of watching it for the sake of watching and specific things but boy, they were not friendly to the audience on the dynamic.

It's also the reason why I said you need a specific taste to enjoy the show or else, you'll watch it feeling as if you forced yourself to watch the entire thing only there to be no solid resolve and feeling empty.

I enjoyed it much more once I realized the main purpose of the anime and what the writer wished to tell. But I have to say, I was thinking WTF IS THIS when I initially finished it.



TL;DR

Overall: 7

Overall, I can say, yes it was a good anime. Would I recommend it? If you enjoy anime's where you are sort of left confused and wishing to find a resolve, much like Paprika (although, Paprika and things like Perfect Blue are incomparable) I would recommend it. It's a great time killer in terms of episodes and as a story, allows you to have a good "Ah hah!" moment once you piece it all together. But it requires either resolve or a specific taste for certain humor, visuals, etc. to get through the entire series.

Otherwise, if you are looking for anime with a dramatic resolve and character development (similar to Assassination Classroom which was cute but very very enjoyable), this really isn't the one.

If I can describe this anime in a sentence it would be,

An actionish type that gives off a mood of slice of life but oddly has a deeper meaning to it if you look.

So I would like to consider myself as a person who is pretty lenient in judging any anime, but oh boy. So I watched this anime the same year it came out but for some reason had it on hold. Looking for a time killer, I watched it.

Slight spoiler ahead fyi but it honestly wouldn't give out much because that's how unclimatic everything was.

So the premise of the story was great, cursed children born with monster powers, defeat monsters, lolis, cool. But then the story was all over the place. The characters had no depth to them even up until the end, and so ... many of them lacked the purpose of being there at all. Like towards the end of the anime, a bunch of characters was introduced to... not be developed at all? Like there was no purpose to them except that they were there to help fight. That was it.

And then later bad guy turns good for no reason while good girl turns bad, questions of how the main loli girl is not turning into a monster remains, and why the bad guy who turned good is still alive, like none of these are answered. They just kinda throw things out there and be like, "Oh yeah. About that, don't worry man, just watch the loli's". Like bro, there is only so much loli's can cover.

Besides the gaping plot holes in this series, I personally think the lack of character in the characters themselves played a big part in why this series was such a flop. They all had one purpose and one person only and existed for that one thing.

And the unnecessary death of kinda a lot of people left you thinking "but like why?". For example, the death of a character at the end of a series kinda left you dumbfounded because you didn't really feel bad for the character since they didn't develop him at all into the story but at the same time you think, "oh man that sucks".

It's a great time killer if you want to see some action/shooting scenes + cute loli's but if you're looking for actual plot and characters, I recommend finding another anime.

This movie is where it really makes you think about life and what true "happiness" is.

If it's too long just read the last paragraph, I honestly get tired of reading long reviews too lol.

So when I first watched this, I was unaware that it was a Studio Ghibli work just because of the fact that the art style was so foreign. It was a soft, hand drawn paper pencil style and honestly, I never watch any of them before I watch this one. But as you watch, you can understand that the artistic style choice was so well adapted with the story and fit ... very well with everything that goes on.

The story it self comes from an old folk tale about a bamboo cutter but it has a more of an emotional adaptation to it. Much of the story contains a subtle development of the main character and has a very "warm" and child storybook like feeling. However, one thing that did really bug me was the fact that the ending was very choppy. Yes, it did make me cry, but it still was cut off so randomly which made me fell a bit...lost as in if felt as if the story was left unfinished.

Personally, I don't like it when the story does not have a finalized ending and leaves as an "open-ending". But this is just a personal pet peeve and you might find it very like-able that is does this.

Oh the MUSIC!. It is marvelous, Much of the soundtrack is very Japanese traditional sounds but there is one scene from the movie that had the Princess laughing and the music made if truly feel how beautiful she was portrayed.

And speaking of the Princesses, the character was very intricately woven. Though some characters were your typical "bad guys" (not really) who I really wanted to focus on was the main character itself. Though t may seem she is very two-dimensional, it subsequently shows each side of her character, and I found that she was the most complexly made character in the whole movie.

So if you plan to watch it look for that and it's super cool.

Overall it was fantastic, the art style really grows on you and though it seems a little boring and slow for some who likes things fast paced, this is one where you sit down with your hot coco in your bed with the rain outside and just relax to enjoy life.

Ya it's those kind of movie. It's great.