Back to tsukina_'s Profile tsukina_'s Profile

I really tried hard to give this anime a shot but alas, I was disappointed with the turn of events and dropped the show. The art style was mediocre at best; the overly-cut fight scenes left little to be desired and the lack of character development really put a damper on my interest in Black Cat. My favorite character was Sven Vollfied, as he seemed to be the most multi-dimensional character in the show. The first few episodes started on the right note, then gradually disintegrated into a muddle of blah with unexplained character changes and utter confusion. It's a shame, really, because the series ... did hold potential in the first five episodes or so. In summary, if you're looking for an intriguing plot with equally captivating characters in an action setting, skip Black Cat.

Akatsuki no Yona has become one of my favorite animes. I've even started reading the equally wonderful manga. I enjoyed watching Yona blossom from a weak, ignorant, and sheltered girl into a determined and steadfastly strong-willed heroine, alongside the comrades that she meets along her journey.

Never have I seen such intimate and thoughtful character development in a shojo storyline; each character is given proper background and each adds a special quality to Yona's troupe. The characters all complement one another and as a result, there is an intriguing dynamic among the protagonists. Do not be turned off by the reverse harem-- this story tosses out ... any tropes that would typically be found in reverse harem anime and romance is only a subplot throughout this story! The art style is also amazing and almost nostalgic. Be prepared for several climatic, well-drawn fight scenes. Not to mention, the soundtrack adds even more depth of emotion to Yona of the Dawn. It is one of the first anime shows in a while that successfully opens with a beautiful instrumental song (at least for the first twelve episodes). The music lends itself as a homage to the beauty of such instrumental songs.

The antagonist of the series is similarly complex and three-dimensional (as all interesting characters should be). His mannerisms and intentions definitely confuse us; however, this only makes Akatsuki no Yona even more of a gem. Storylines that develop the "villain" just as well as its heroes are few and far between. I look forward to seeing how the manga further dives into his character...

Akatsuki no Yona truly deserves more attention (and a second season!). I know I will be re-watching this show one too many times in the future.