Koukyoushihen Eureka Seven

Eureka Seven was the first anime that I ever binge-watched. For that reason, it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Now, on to the review! (which is, for the most part, spoiler-free)

The story is quite good. The anime is 50 episodes long so there are some lulls in the action. I would describe Eureka Seven as a love story that happens to have fighting robots. The main enjoyment (at least for me) comes from seeing the relationship between Renton and Eureka grow. You spend a lot of time inside Renton's head and, by the end of the series, he is one of the ... most fleshed-out characters that I have ever seen. You understand his motivations, his insecurities, and his goals. You become emotionally invested in the characters which makes it all the more heart-wrenching when some of them inevitably die.

The art is consistently good throughout, props to Bones.
The soundtrack is absolutely amazing and adds much to the atmosphere.
Favourite track: "Eureka".

Now, I think something should be said about whether to watch the dub audio or original Japanese. I have watched both, and I can say with some confidence that the dub is superior. Without getting into matters of authenticity and adaptation, I think that the voice actors (especially for Renton) give a superior emotional performance in the dub. If you're open-minded enough to give it a try then I would recommend watching it in English. Try both though, maybe you'll enjoy the sub better! Whatever floats your boat :)

I won't reveal plot details because I think it's best to take it on completely fresh. I stumbled upon the DVD at my local electronics shop and, knowing nothing about it besides the blurb on the back of the case, I picked it up. And it blew me away! Give it a shot, it won't disappoint.

Eureka Seven is one of the most awful anime series I've ever had the displeasure of attempting to sit through. The show got so bad I actually had to stop about 60% of the way through and drop the anime. Don't get me wrong, every action scene of this series had incredible art and for the most part it kept me on the edge of my seat. The real problem here is the character development.. That's what ruined it for me. Not all the characters, but particularly in the case of the two main characters Renton and Eureka. The way the show's ... set up you have about equal (if not equal, 60:40) screen time between romance and action, and I was fine with that. But as the show went on the relationship between Renton and Eureka felt so weird, and almost forced despite them being anime characters. And it felt even more weird when you realize the two main characters are 14. The show slowly continued inching towards the 70:30 line between romance and action, but I figured if I can look passed all that just for the action— the show might be good, it might even be as good as all the reviews say. Sadly.. Unfortunately I was sorely mistaken and sat through about 20 more episodes before realizing Renton is a poor excuse for a main character. Why? Because he's always too scared and rarely knows how to solve a problem. The real hero might as well be the type zero for constantly saving the day. Eureka on the other hand seems emotionally displaced 90% of the time. And when the writers try to bring her out of her own bubble of self pity it makes her seem bi-polar and inherently crazy. It got to the point where it felt like Renton was watching four kids (including Eureka) and he's only 14. That to me, isn't an enjoyable thing to be watching. And maybe I interpreted the anime wrong but for now Eureka Seven is NOT my cup of tea.

50 episodes ago I thought I was mad for watching such a long mecha anime. 7 days later I'm wondering why it's already finished. My expectations for Eureka Seven were high, though I never thought it would be more then a stereo-type mecha anime. And guess what, Eureka Seven is a top notch mecha anime, but it's also much more then that.

Everything starts with a 14 year old boy named Renton Thurston. He's entire life up until then turned around ref-boarding, a popular sport in the world of Eureka Seven, and mechanics. So when the Gekkostate drops by, a group of rebels leaded by ... the famous ref-boarder Holland Novak, it's as if his greatest dream comes true. During the 13 following episodes, Renton gets acquainted with the crew and is introduced to the beautiful lady Eureka with whom he falls in love instantly. Being a newbie, quite a bit of pestering is awaiting Renton once he gets on the ship, so lots of fun and humor is to be expected in this arc. You best just sit back and enjoy the adventures the crew lives through, the outstanding character designs, some neat mecha fights and lots of amusing hip hop tunes.

Around the second quarter of Eureka Seven this "no worries"-state of mind which existed on the GekkoGo (that's what the ship is called) makes place for some vicious down-spiraling melodrama. Everything goes from bad to worse to even depressing. Renton is having a hard time with Eureka and the GekkoGo crew while everyone else has it's own problems to worry about.

It's around this time you really get a good view of how deep character relations go in Eureka Seven. This is what Eureka Seven is about: character development. And boy did the producers do a good job here! Not one character is alike, all are unique, and they all have their own way of being attractive to the audience. I can't really chose a favorite since there are many whom call to one's heart. Eureka Seven has many supporting characters and all are treated with the same care, making sure they are important to the main story.

After going through this drama bit, the clouds seem to have shrunk a little and Gekkostate is back on the right track with their goal clear in mind: saving the world!

A new party is introduced to the game, the army, lead by an evil man named Dewey (I had a hard time not laughing when I heard his name, I mean come on! Dewey?!). Many secrets are unraveled after the second half of the anime, meaning more ability to sympathize with the characters and ease to understand the meaning behind their actions and reactions. Pieces of information are given about the Coralians too, though I can't tell anything about it without spoiling.

You can await many mecha battles from now on, but they never get boring as more important matters surround them. By now there have been 3 different intro and ending songs too. I especially liked the first pair, I felt they worked really well with the anime. I was disappointed by the second pair because they didn't match the feeling the series had by then. The third pair was better and supported the events going on in the series. The fourth opening and ending were great, equivalent to the first. The animation was amusing too, except for the last ending, which wasn't even animated. It made it seem as if the producers got bored of it all. A shame. The music throughout Eureka Seven isn't comparable to many other soundtracks. If you're into this kind of music, you'll like it. But if you're not, you might have a hard time listening to the same tunes over and over again. I myself found they gave a modern and joyful twist to Eureka Seven.

Onto the final arc. Everyone, in all three camps, the Gekkostate, the army and the Coralians, is getting tense as the apocalypse is near. This is where the romance between certain characters shows it's best side and where children like Renton become real heroes (though his childish side never fades, after all, he's only fourteen).

I've heard people say Eureka Seven is too childish and idyllic and there is truth in that statement, but I can't say I see it as one of it's flaws. Eureka Seven stirs up your wildest dreams and makes possible what's impossible in real life. Maybe the concepts in Eureka Seven are childish, but the series is mature enough to bring them in an attractive way for most anyone.

I'm not sure about the final episode of the anime, the final battle was great and the climax sent a strong message to the world, but little is said about how Gekkostate is doing after these decisive events. What you believe has become of them is up to you.

Over all I enjoyed Eureka Seven. The animation was beautiful and detailed to the very end and the soundtrack was catchy and fun to listen to. The story was interesting, maybe not too original but very well brought and never boring. But what Eureka Seven makes such a good anime is it's character development and the relationships that are sketched at the start and fine-tuned near the end. So, omedeto to Eureka Seven's developers who brought us this wonderful piece of art!

Eureka 7. It completely stands out from any other Mecha/Romance anime's out there. First few episodes were great but when it came to the last few episodes it was Phenomenal. The setting was great with a awesome story to back it up. the art and animations looked amazing as the music went in well with certain scenes. The characters are all great and compelling.

It starts out with a 14 year old teen named Renton Thirston. Everything about his life sucks until it all changes when a huge LFO comes crashing into his house.Out comes A very beautiful girl named Eureka. Soon after Renton joins ... Eureka on board the Gekkostate. A massive ship with a crew of Anti Government members with the leader being the person Renton looked up too Holland.

As i dont want to give lots away i will say that the story was amazing. It had many plot lines that kept you wondering until the very end and for 50 episodes they did an amazing job keeping it so good for that long. As the story was very great it did have some stuff that was never explained which could be very annoying if you were curious about it but never the less it was spectacular.

The Animations on this show was top quality i had never seen so much detail and visuals that looked amazing until of course this show. The way they created the trapar waves looked amazing and Characters had so much detail going on. As for The Art they did get a bit lazy with some backgrounds but none the less it looked incredible. Some of the most notable art was the nirvash and what it leaves behind they put so much work to it.

They really did go all out with the soundtrack. The way they implemented certain tracks at certain scenes was brilliant and they have their timing down perfect. For the songs themselves they have excellent quality in the sounds and they made certain songs go with certain scenes which added to the quality of this anime. If you can go download or buy the OST's of Eureka 7 their well worth it. As for sound Effects the way the LFO's move through the trapar waves sounds great and the shining of the nirvashes eyes was incredible.

All the Characters in Eureka 7 are very pleasing to see. Renton and Eureka together always makes me feel happy for them and when they do things together. as for the other members of GekkoState Holland had an amazing personality. Taho who is Hollands girlfriend had a personality that changes during the story she was really fun to see. Other members such as Stoner was very interesting. Stoner is the photographer of the Gekkostate he doesn't like resorting to violence. He is also the one who created Ray=Out the official magazine for the Gekkostate. As for Matthew and Hilda, they made a great couple and both were great in their own way. Hap, Hollands life long best friend was really funny character who liked playing pranks but was also serious at times. As for Eureka's 3 kids Link Mader and Maruice, they play a very important part in Eureka 7. Other members such as the the Vodarac and government played a great role in the anime. It would remind people lots of how in world war 2 the Nazi's killed hews just because of their beliefs and views. Overall the characters of Eureka 7 are all unique in their own way but as they are good something very irritating is their back story and how they came to be there in the first place. but for 50 episodes they did a great job in making the characters very memorable.

Eureka 7 is in many ways an incredible Anime that is well worth the watch. The story is compelling and keeps you watching until the very end, Animation and art was Fabulous and remarkable, the sound makes all of it even more enjoyable to watch. The music were great and the way they implemented it. As for the voice actors both Sub and Dub had amazing Actors but Dub did put more emotion into their acting. The characters were all unique and had different personalty's that kept you liking them. Overall this anime is well worth the watch and will always be in your heart for the days to come. You will feel emotionally happy you will feel Sad you will feel great and enjoy it all the way through.

Emos ! We've all heard of them! We've listened to their music, we've heard of their ridiculous /wrist attitude and we've made fun of it! Now they're here trying to save the anime 2d world fighting with mechas and spaceships.

I'll start by commenting the two most important aspects of any anime. The characters and the story. The word that fits best the characters is the word i used to start this review. EMO! And what exactly defines an emo character you might ask. Well here is a rough description of emos :

"Complete idiots. So called "emotionals" often attempt to get depressed ... about anything and everything and over react emotionally for no reason other than to be attention whores. They wear their hair down over their face, often looking like it was used to wipe someones butt, or so we assume form the attendant acne that most have because they don't shower. Probably because showering makes them sad that it's wate that the fish could have, or that they can't take their camera in with them or it will be broken so they can't express the emotions that the moving water swells up inside of them with it's radient beauty. Rightfully they feel that every thinks they suck. This is because they do, but only because they have brought it on themselves. Had they not been emo we wouldn't make fun of them. Despite this, an that fact that they're not, they tend to think of themselves as hardcore and so can cop an attitude when they finally stop crying about how much the world hates them. Usually about how much better they are than everyone because they understand the emotional side of things and we "don't". they dress in drag and so are usually made fun of for being gay. Cause they are."
This describes exactly their attitude. To be honest the anime doesn't start like that. The first episodes look much better than the rest. The characters are introduced nicely and they look fun and interesting. However after around 13-15 episodes there's a dramatic change of mood and everything gets screwed up badly. The anime from being light and fun turns to an over-dramatic tragedy. The characters start to fit the "emo" description more and more with each episode. Their irrational behavior, their way of over-reacting even for the most simple thing becomes ridiculous even annoying.
The word "pathetic" kept circling my mind the whole time and i was abit surprised to find out that it's the word that's used for the rating "1".
Fitting...

The story was almost equally bad. I'm not sure if i was supposed to know more about E7's world by reading some manga or novel before, but for a newcomer like me it made little sense. There were gaping plot holes. I kept saying "whatever" episode after episode. There's simply no logic behind the weather effects in this world. I never understood what exactly where those waves or how exactly the lifting worked and many other things including the mechas, the aliens etc. Maybe if i watched it a second time i could find some more explanations. But it was so uninteresting and so dull that i would do this only if i was payed good.

The redeeming features of this anime are the music and art. Both are great. The fighting sequences are nice and the animation is flowing. Spaceship models etc are nice. Artistically everything looks and sounds awesome. Too bad that's not enough to make up for the pathetic characters and the story.

Overall : I enjoyed the first 15 episodes. I was very happy there were 50 in total and couldn't wait to see how would the story and the characters evolve. I almost dropped it around episode 40. I took a huge break from 40 to 50. Gathered all my courage and finished it just to be able to write my opinion on this. Some people seem to have enjoyed this thoroughly. Personally i didn't. Feelings of anger and boredom overwhelmed me while watching it.
I the end i suppose it's up to each individual to decide whether to watch it or not. Iif it's an amazing anime or not.

Some people scold me for dropping Eureka7 with a number 3!
Maybe it is Gundam 00's fault because i was watching these 2 together
Eureka7 focuses on the pathetic life of Renton Thurston who suddenly becomes a super hero
This anime is not good at mecha and it's not acceptable in fighting scenes
but romance is kinda tolerable
anyway this one was not good for me...

Eureka Seven is first and foremost a coming of age story, but more broadly it's about how everyone can and should adapt as their circumstances change. It's also about mecha on flying surfboards, the horrors of war, the power of love, fascism, counterculture, Gaia Theory, the importance of family no matter its form, how you shouldn't meet your heroes, some really out there sci fi worldbuilding, and finding your first love. Even at a stout fifty episodes it's positively overstuffed with ideas, which does mean some have to be run through at a million miles an hour and arguably don't get the screentime that they ... should, and people coming in with an explicit desire to see a *lot* of mecha action may leave disappointed. However, all of the ideas clearly belong together and play off of each other to create the texture of the story. It's a very post-Evangelion series in much of its ideas and iconography, but is also a repudiation of the former show's crushing nihilism. The animation itself is not necessarily awe inspiring, although it is consistently good, but the designs are visually interesting and there's a very considered use of colour that means things that need to stand out, like lasers and the trapar waves which allow flight, do. The first part of the story is a bit slowly paced, but patient viewers will be rewarded with a cavalcade of "oh blimey" moments, in various forms: shocking plot twists, scenes of visceral horror, and moments of punch-the-air triumph. It is a wild and uneven rollercoaster ride that will leave viewers with a preference for more tightly constructed plots behind, but I absolutely loved it.

Eureka Seven is an anime series made by Studio Bones in 2005. Unlike most anime series, E7 is not based off any pre-existing material; it was originally made as an anime.

At first glance, E7 doesn’t appear to be anything out of the ordinary. The story is about a fourteen year old boy named Renton Thurston. His life is thrown upside-down when a giant robot crashes into his house’s garage. Piloting the robot is a girl named Eureka. Apparently, she is the member of a rebel faction called the Gekkostate, which fights the government for unknown reasons. But before he knows it, Renton gets caught up ... in their battles, and becomes inducted into the Gekkostate almost by accident. He stays for two reasons: one, their leader is Holland Novak, someone Renton looks up to. Two, Renton is hopelessly in love with Eureka. That’s . . . the best introduction I can give if you haven’t seen the show, but take my word, Eureka Seven has a little bit of everything in it. There’s action, for most of the fighting is done in Light Finding Operators, or LFOs. LFOs are basically giant robots that are armed, can fly through the air on “Lift” boards (thus making it look like they’re surfing through the sky), and can also transform into other vehicles. There’s comedy, for the members of the Gekkostate are a quirky bunch, and there’s drama, for every action has its consequences.

But what’s impressive about Eureka Seven, more than anything else, is the characterization. The characters in this show feel like real people. The villains aren’t simply one-dimensional “evil” people who want to cause harm; they have motives for their actions. The characters develop and grow throughout the series. Renton is a very different person by the end of the series, as is Eureka. The same could be said for most of the rest of the cast. The show also show poses many tough questions for both the characters and the audience: do the ends justify the means? What makes a great leader? Is love worth it? What is the truth? All this and more is explored.

Aesthetically, Eureka Seven does not fail. The animation varies from average to amazing. Scenes where people are standing around talking don’t look impressive, but fights between LFOs never cease to amaze. The character designs are not some of the best I’ve seen in an anime, but they are unique and serve their purpose. The soundtrack is an eclectic mixture of orchestrated scores, techno, and rock, all of which is impressive. The voice-acting, both in English and in Japanese, is outstanding.

But this show is special. Why? Because E7 did something no other anime series, no, no other tv series -period- has ever done before; it made me cry. I cried real tears of joy at my favorite moment in the series. I felt -that- strongly for the characters. You see, E7 is an emotional rollercoaster ride: one moment, you’re smiling out of warmth, the next, you’re depressed, and hope that the pain ends soon. In the next scene, you’re terrified at the awesome power of the LFOs. And, yes, you may even be moved to tears. I have rarely seen a tv series able to do that effectively, and E7 is the only animated series from Japan that I know can do that. That in itself is incredible.

And so it stands; Eureka Seven is now my favorite anime......

.......Most of the above is from an essay I wrote back in 2008, when I first watched E7. I never published it online, just kept it to myself. It’s 2015 now, and after nearly six-and-a-half years, I watched E7 all over again. To my surprise, not only does everything I wrote back then still hold up in my mind, if anything, E7 has gotten better over time.

The pacing of the series is perfect. Perhaps because E7 was originally a tv series, and not a manga or video game, but every episode, save for the 39th, contributes something meaningful, and things never slow to a crawl, nor does it overwhelm you with too much content at once. Some people criticize the show for not starting off on a high note. Personally, I feel the early episodes are good, but it’s not until about eighth or so episode in that it starts to get really strong, and even stronger by the second half. Even then, I feel the early episodes are a necessity, for it gives you an idea of what Renton is, what the Gekkostate is like, the sort of shenanigans that will occur, and so on.

Speaking of characterization, again, I’m simply amazed by what Bones accomplished. Renton is not a bland cypher for the audience to slip into like many other anime protagonists, nor is he an impossibly perfect deity. He’s a kid, he’s impatient, he’s overly emotional, and he’s entirely relatable. Eureka is not “just another Rei Ayanami ripoff”; she’s a fascinating individual who undergoes incredible growth as the series progresses. Holland is a massive prick, true, but he’s also complex, and is more humane than he lets on. And let’s not forget Anemone, my favorite anime character of all time, the one partially responsible for that certain scene that, even today, still makes me cry.

I’ve watched many more anime since 2008. I’ve grown myself, not just as a person, but as a critic, and as a writer. I’ve seen many works of animation, some that I also love with all of my heart. And yet, after all these years, it’s a shonen mecha series I like above all else. Even more than Laputa: Castle in the Sky and Death Note, hard as it is to believe. E7 is also my favorite televised action series, and if Futurama didn’t exist, would be my favorite animated series of all time, yet even THAT is currently being contested.

Why though? Why do I love this show so much? A show that some people scoff as “just another mecha”, “just another Bones anime”, “just a ripoff of Evangelion”? Well for one thing, I have noticed some elements in E7 that are similar to Eva, as well as various Gundam series. I don’t feel E7 ripped them off, but rather, took elements of older mecha series, did them its own way, and effectively improved upon common mecha tropes. It’s really hard for me to describe without going into spoilers, but I think what separates E7 from everything else, even its own successor Eureka Seven Astral Ocean, is that it’s about hope. Renton hopes to be with Eureka and impress his idol Holland. Eureka hopes to do what she thinks is right. Holland hopes to make amends for the sins of his past. Anemone hopes to find something meaningful with her life, and somehow, everyone tries their hardest to make things better. Amid strange phenomena, surfing robots, loud techno music, and violent deaths, everyone, in one way or another, says, “Screw how things are! I’m gonna set everything right!” It’s a rejection of cynicism, and a statement about making dreams come true, even if you must risk your life, your sanity, and your livelihood to do so. For the longest time, I couldn’t find the words to describe exactly why E7 is my favorite anime. Even now, I’m not sure if these words will suffice. All I know is this show grips me in a way no other anime has, and may continue to do so for the rest of my life.

Don’t beg for it, earn it. Only then will it be granted to you.

I've always wanted to write a review for Eureka Seven, As it is my favourite anime.. but for whatever reason i always feel like words i say can never live up to how Amazing Eureka Seven was. The anime is action packed, heartwarming, beautiful, dark, scandalous, funny, cute, romantic, packed with morals and so on.
Eureka Seven actually one of the best anime I've ever watched. From the first opening i saw on TV back in 2006 i thought it was going to be creepy and hard to understand just like .//hack sign... But it really wasn't. As long as you don't skip an episode and ... listen/read carefully it shouldn't take long to catch onto. There are only 50 episodes so considering most Shonen it isn't very hard to catch onto.
I think the story in Eureka Seven is just magnificent. Its profound and questions the morality of the futuristic society that it takes place in. It is also very deeply romantic but also quite funny at the same time, as the main character is 14 year old, awkward pubescent teenage boy.
the art in Eureka seven is defiantly one of the things left to be desired in Eureka Seven, even if its not actually that bad. The art is probably one of the only major fall backs in Eureka Seven but it is easy to get used to. There are some points when it is dead horrible, but others where it is absolutely amazing
the sound in Eureka seven is average, just like listening to another anime. I think it will probably just depend on the quality of the Upload or DVD you're watching.
Character in Eureka seven is amazing. They are complex, multicultural, relatable and very unique or individual. Look deeply, every/almost every character has their own amazing and deep back story.
Eureka seven is easy to enjoy with humor, romance, action and learned lessons. It jam packed full of fun hand has something related to everyone. The only thing you wont enjoy about Eureka seven is how short it is.
Overall Eureka seven is one of the best anime i've ever watched and i could recommend it to almost everyone.

Eureka Seven is first a decent show but turns out to be a masterpiece. It can take time to get into it, but you will not regret watching it. I was new to mecha when I watched this, but well it made me interested in mecha later, and I really recommend it.

_____Story_________________(9/10)
The story was not that great in the beginning. It took me five episodes before I started to like this show. The first ten episodes are mostly about getting to know the characters. After about five episodes the plot starts to flow in. Yes it takes some time, but when the story really start, ... it may really capture you. Eureka Seven has a lot of funny moments and romance. After a while you'll really see an outstanding and amazing story. You just have to be patient.

_______Art_____________(8/10)
The art is really good, especially the fights are very well drawn. The characters are also looking beautiful, but there's of course things that could have been done better.


________Sound____________(10/10)
The voice actors are all very well fitted for their roles. Renton's voice may be very annoying, but once you get used to it, you'll se how he's voice actually are perfect.
The Openings and Endings are all great and matches the feelings of the show.
The music in Eureka Seven is composed by Sato Naoki. I really love the music and the OST is amazing! They're all unique and I recommend listening to them. It was actually the music that made me watch this anime. The music is so beautiful that it may give you goosebumps ore make you cry. And it's not just classical music in this shows, but alot of trance/electronic music by other people.

__________Characters____________(9/10)
The characters in Eureka Seven are all outstanding with their own struggels and fears. They all develop alot throughtout the series, especially Renton does. He changes from being an annoying little boy to a cute, understanding young man. The relationships between especially and Anemone and Dominic is remarkable. This show has alot of romance, and many of the characters fall in love.

______________Enjoyment____________(8/10)
I did really enjoy this show. It's problem is the many episodes before the plot actually starts. Some of the first episodes were like fillers for me. If you don't have the patience, there is a chance you may not see this show. But anyways, don't give up! When the story finally begins, it's great! And even if you don't have an interest in mecha or romance, don't worry! There will be surely something interesting for you in this show.

___________Overall_______________(10/10)
If I look away from the "fillers" in the beginning, this show is the best. Many of the sad things in Eureka Seven is very alike things happening in our own world. I loved it because of it's unique story and relations with our own world. This show has everything; comedy, romance, action,psychological
stuff , drama.... It is definetely one of the most amazing animes ever made^___^

(I'm not an English speaker, and I apologize for any grammar or spelling mistakes. I hope this review is understandable and helpful)

Length: 50 episodes
Demographic: Shounen
Genre: Sci-fi, Adventure, Mecha, Romance

Plot Synopsis
"Giant robots that surf in the sky on things called Transparent Light Particles"
Sure the premise to Eureka Seven is quite sketchy... but don't let yourself be fooled... This is probably the best anime released this decade.
The storyline takes place 10,000 years in the future, after humanity has made a mass exodus into space. At the start of the series, we see that humanity has settled down onto what is called "The Promised Land".
The story is of Renton Thurston, a 14 y.o. "punk" who's ... looking for a life bigger then the one he has. He dreams of joining the Gekkostate, a group of counterculture outlaws, and pilot an LFO, the large robots described above. He gets his oppurtuinity when the typeZERO LFO, nicknamed the "Nirvash" crash lands at his grandfather's garage. Piloting it is Eureka, a young emotionless girl, with a blood stained past. But to Renton, she is the most beautiful thing he's ever seen. Soon after, Renton gets his chance to join the Gekkostate. However, he soon learns that the life he reads about, isn't actuality. Renton's journeys are solely fueled by his crush on Eureka... however these feelings quickly become something more...

Personal opinion
After watching the first 5 episodes, I felt i was watching a happier version of Neon Genesis Evangelion. Then by episode 10, it had eerie similarities to Fullmetal Alchemist. These similarities soon end and Eureka Seven takes off.
The first thing I did when I heard about this anime was read it's Wikipedia entry. Unfortunately it wasn't detailed at all. Following that I decided to watch the openings for the show and make out what i could of the plot. The first opening was enough to convince me to watch it. From battle scenes to the grand setting, it's an ideal opening for a series like it. I watched the first episode and was hooked right then. I'd never had watched a show that had gripped me that much from that early on. And it only got better.
A common complaint I got was that it takes too long for the main plot to start (all the way to episode 26), and that the first half of the series moves too slow. While i can see the former... it didn't affect me at all. In my personal opinion, the first half of the series, although slower then the remaining season, was still quite entertaining. Had the series ended there I would've given it decent reviews (3.5 ish). However upon entering the second half... the pacing picks up and the plot becomes much darker. By the final 10 episodes... Eureka Seven becomes legendary.

As a few words of warning, romance is a core theme in the series... so if you're not into lovestories... then this isn't the anime for you. Also, there aren't great extended battles, however... whatever battles there are, are quite amazing. They aren't disorienting (like in NGE and Blood+), but they are still quite grand. Eureka Seven is unique in this way; having a central romantic theme in an action based anime. At times it felt more like a shoujo (animes aimed at girls... has more romance, ie Sailor Moon) then a shounen (animes aimed at boys... has more action, ie Bleach, Naruto). An easy of putting this... Shoujo meets Shounen and Eureka Seven is the result.
Somewhere between the romance between Renton and Eureka, the dark and amazing storyline, and brilliant animations... i realized that Eureka Seven is the best and most beautiful anime i've seen thus far.

Rating: 10/10

Similar to...
- Neon Genesis Evangelion
- Fullmetal Alchemist
- D.N.Angel

I've watched quite a few Action-Romance-Mecha series before this one, non of the others comes close to Eureka Seven. This series is basically the best combination of pretty much every genre out there I've ever seen. Add to that great music and art, and you'll get a must-watch.

While watching the first episodes some may think: "This might suck", since, quite frankly, Renton isn't likable at first. That's when the main thing starts.
this series excels at making the viewer identify with the characters. It passes all the feelings of all the characters through to you exceptionally well, so well actually, that I believe if your ... personality is slightly similar to that of a character, you'll feel like you have gone through the same changes after watching the series.

The second best trait here is the story. the story is awesome, and the way it is unfolded is even better. you'll never get bored here - something is always happening and it never feels like a side story. The plot twists a lot, though i don't want to mention details(spoilers) in this review. Go watch it yourself and you'll understand.

Finally, the SOUND. Hell, the sound changes everything. the sound makes you cry, laugh, feel encouraged it enhances EVERYTHING. What I'm getting at is that the sound is superbly done, the OP and ED songs are catchy and you'll find yourselves humming them every now and then. the sound effects are great as well, but i doubt you'll really pay attention to them.

I really really really do recommend to watch Eureka 7. it's a truly unique story, with unique characters and their development. If you watch it you're bound to take something from it with you.
You'll enjoy every second.

So just as Adrok said:
"Don't ask for it, go win it, and you'll be rewarded".

have a great day people
-Martaine

A futuristic mecha teenage love drama story with likeable characters and an excellent soundtrack without a manga to slow it down, here we go.

I remember watching this show every week, waiting for the big final at 50 episodes and it was one of my most enjoyable moments watching anime. A strange love between a human and a coralian with a mech robot that understands them as they have to face the challenges of different enemies that want them captured.

Renton is a somewhat dumb and brave boy that have a talent for flying the combat mech Nirvash, growing up with his grandfather in his repair hangar, ... his life is one day changed as the girl Eureka needs help with her mech. Swept away with love on first sight he chooses to join Eureka's group and soon finds himself in a good family of friends.

I have not seen Neon Genesis Evangelion but I guess that most people that are familiar with the show will feel right at home. You should try and see if you like Eureka Seven, don't be scared by the 50 episode length. And avoid the successor Eureka Seven AO until you are ready, because it changes the original story too much.

Attention, it seems that this criticism could contain pieces of real troll and fan-boy. Goggles, mask and gloves are mandatory.

Tired that we rebate your ears with the latest television half missed of Gundam? Tired of the deafening hype surrounding Code Geass? Annoyed by the dance of "moe"philes around Macross Failure, uh sorry, Frontier? Tired of the tasteless ersatz of Evangelion? If you dare speak of Mecha Anime, it will surely bombard you with the name mentioned above . Do not get fooled, I know what's good for you. What you need is Eureka seven.

Sorry for this introduction worthy of a carpet dealer, I wanted ... to do it.

Now the critical :

The first thing you notice when you look at Eureka seven, of course, is the visual aspect. The only word that fits in is "wonderful". Everything is extremely neat. Thanks to Kenichi Yoshida for the characters design to Shoji Kawamori for the mecha's (the Nirvash, theEnd, the vessel or the Gekko-Go are all sublime) without forgetting the scenery. Eureka seven boasts one of the best artistic directors of the decade. Bones forces, the animation as the mecha's move in the air with incredible grace. Eureka seven humiliates not only his contemporaries as for example Gundam Seed (Destiny) but in addition this series would almost put everyone on their knees even if it came out as it is today. Here we are in the "heavyweight category", a series that as a Stand Alone Complex still shines for years after.

But if Eureka seven was a pretty empty shell, I would not bother to tell you. Far from trying to hide the emptiness behind a beautiful façade, the artists of Bones just wanted to create a setting worthy of their jewel.

The use format of 50 episodes is brilliant. Instead of spreading unnecessarily, to scrape by repeating the same pattern as a Gundam
The team made the opposite choice: because it has 50 episodes," we'll take the opportunity to change patterns, genres, tones. Thus we will find adventure, crazy comedy, drama, slice of life, romance, without forgetting the fighting mecha". Instead of repeating itself, the series takes the opportunity to be rich and varied, taking the time to portray the characters with the application and the world around them. No episode is unnecessary or free. This slice of life anime is a great tool for development, characters who will gradually discover and enjoy.

Indeed lets talk about the characters .The cast is rich and colourful as in few other anime. Renton the hero, is the boy we were all a little at a time. Living his daily routine in a quiet town, he dreams of adventure and lift, this precisely "surf" practised by his idol Holland and his band of dissidents, the Gekko-State. The adventure will come to him when he attends the crash of the Nirvash a white and red robot and Eureka a pretty member of the Gekko-State where Renton will immediately fall in love. With it, he can join this group he so admires, even if they turn out quite different from what he imagined.

Renton is an interesting character. Followed during the 50 episodes will help to bind him, as we see change in its relations with other characters, and their reactions towards events. We will thus see his mood change and move from its original state "I am part of the Gekko-State because I like Eureka" to the disappointment "I am part of the Gekko-State because I lead a war" and Finally, the acceptance and re-elect "I am part of the Gekko-State because I lead a war to Eureka." Unlike some anime hero who finish as they started, you really see Renton evolve into an adult. A process borrowed from shonen and Gundam but really applied.

Paired with Renton, we have Eureka. A little strange, mysterious and withdraw girl. Her relationship with Renton, far from giving me the buttons as I expected, touched me. We can say that those two are a beautiful couple. Eureka who "adopted" 3 children on a battlefield, give some of the most moving scenes in the series. One gradually discovers humanity and feelings behind the apparent coldness of the lady.

Behind the star couple we found many other characters just as successful. The crew of the Gekko-Go is a collection of colourful individuals with high capital sympathy. I think especially of a another couple, Holland and Talho. Idol of Renton, Holland proves to be a tortured man, a difficult and complex character . Talho, the charm of the series, is a much more worked than a bimbo at first glance. She is essential as a "support"to Holland. It's different from the couple formed by Renton and Eureka, less fantasy, more realistic, but also with its share of problems. The relationship between these two couples is also very interesting.
One couple remain, the most difficult and tortured, formed by Dominic and Anemone, which are among the opponents of the Gekko-State. Here it is an unrequited love, that of Dominic for Anemone, super soldier with an unstable psyche, forced to take drugs to escape her crisis, a real psychopath in charge of theEND in conclusion.. We can only admire Dominique for his determination to take care of this girl who can not return his affection, stuck in this pitiful condition to which we sympathize. Like the main couple, their evolution is visible, well-written and memorable.

It is difficult to talk about the story without spreading in spoil, but it is very rich. One of the prowess of Eureka seven was finally to resolve the question that arose since 1996 " how to make Gundam / Macross while integrating the legacy of Evangelion?" Thus the series will mix these influences while affirming its difference. Eureka seven is one of those series that are part of a tradition while adding a stone to the edifice. The story told here is rich, sometimes surprising, varied, rich in emotion, action and surprises. It's both intelligent and honest, never taking the viewer for a fool while launching the pseudo-philosophical crap to give the illusion of depth. It is a story of adventure and love, nothing more, nothing less, but that's a lot, because it is well done. The idealism of a little blue flower that runs through the series will perhaps make some cringe, but if you love it or you ignore that, it's a wonderful world that awaits you. Because it's one of the best anime of the 2000s. Do not wait. Get it by your hands, like Holland would say.

Nostalgia is the first thing that comes to mind when I think about Eureka Seven. I was about 17 when this Anime first dropped, and I had watched bits and pieces of it for about a year, never quite devoting myself enough to it until now. It took me about two months on and off to finish this series, but its 50 episodes flew by before I knew what had hit me. An enjoyable storyline with a great cast of characters offers Eureka Seven to be a great Anime for virtually any fan to enjoy.

I feel like the world of Eureka Seven ... was so vast and complex that it actually had to take the full 50 episodes to pace its story correctly. It actually took me a good amount of time to fully grasp the entirety of the series. Viewers follow the main protagonist, Renton Thurston, son of Adroc Thurston… the so-called savior of the human race. Renton resides at home with his grandfather and leads a relatively normal life in the land of Kanan. Normal is quite relative however, as there are quite a bit of flying airships and mech-style units known as LFO’s and mysterious surf-like “waves” in the air called “trapars” that these LFOs use to fly. Trapars are even used for recreational purposes, like surfers of our world would use to shred sweet blue rip currents.

Renton quickly meets up with members of Gekkostate, a renegade group of vigilantes hell bent on opposing the military all the while producing an underground magazine, Ray=Out, basically showing how cool they are and what they stand for. He’s initially a nuisance to the group, but quickly demonstrates his usefulness in “Nirvash”, an almost self-aware LFO piloted by the mysterious Eureka. Throughout his time aboard Gekkostate, Renton discovers the secrets of the scub coral (the sentient beings sharing the planet with humans), Eureka, the military’s real intentions as well as a lot about himself.

I like the intricacies of the storyline in this series; every point of interest was carefully derived and clearly executed. The introduction of religious ideals in the Vodarac and the struggle between right and wrong really made it feel closer to real life. I felt like foreshadowing and hint-dropping was prevalent and existed only when necessary. There were also not too many mini-arcs, and the ones that existed provided a great deal of value and depth to the overall story. Filler episodes, which have plagued so many of our favorite shows, are slipped in occasionally, but nothing that would cause one to press the skip button. My favorite was the one between Dominic, the military strategist and Anemone, the crazed pilot of the military’s most prestigious LFO, TheEND.

I can’t say too many bad things about Eureka Seven’s story, but I did notice that I didn’t binge watch it as I do with some Anime series. I could watch maybe 3-5 episodes a day at most, but my finger didn’t really itch to click on the next episode. It’s a good anime to watch on the side, considering it took me over a month to finish it. All in all, I really enjoyed the story and it is one I will remember for a long time to come.

So many good things to say here regarding the cast in Eureka Seven. Few times with any series can I say that such a large character-base can be so well personalized and explained in fewer than 100 episodes. Finally we have a younger protagonist that I didn’t absolutely hate. Renton acts like a real 14 year old boy would, ambitious but scared… in his most courageous moments he is still vulnerable. Most of all, there are no harem-y aspects to this entire show. And I love it. I understand some sort of fan service is expected in Anime, but Eureka Seven did not disappoint or go too far. Eureka, Renton’s main love interest and pillar of the entire story is such a complex character. Her transition from a stone-faced robot to a loving, caring and emotional human being :) is pretty incredible. Her relationship with Renton is pretty spot on for what I’d expect from children his age and is innocent. She can seem to many to be a stale, overused character type, but I feel she had enough originality to fit the bill. The children that she takes care of can get annoying at times, and their premise is a bit odd… but even I grew to like them as side characters.

The crew of the Gekkostate were the strongest and most likable characters in the entire show to me. Holland, the leader of Gekkostate was a fantastic character. You were always wondering what he was truly thinking on the inside, despite his hard-headed attitude on the outside. He always had hidden intentions for the job at hand, even if he was the only one that knew about it. His girlfriend, Talho provided a small bit of fan service with her skimpy outfits but piloted the crew’s ship while keeping Holland himself in line. The rest of the crew all formed a great team together and were all multi-dimensional. This supporting cast reminded me a lot of “Gurren Lagann” in the way they all meshed together so well.

Even the antagonistic military characters were interesting. Colonel Dewey is cunning and mischievous, and seemingly impossible to defeat. His enlistment of children to combat Gekkostate and the scub coral shows his deviousness to the full extent. Dominic was most likely my favorite character in the show… a young, successful military brat whose own morality is tested as Colonel Dewey threatens to conduct the most dastardly of tasks. There are a few episodes which feature him as the lead and really convey his personality and goals well. His interactions with Anemone, who he is the keeper of, are emotionally complex and entertaining. The mini-arc characters Ray and Charles Beams were also some of my favorites, due to their unrelenting devotion to duty and to each other.

The character base is what kept me coming back to this show, and is possibly one of the most well-rounded and best explained I’ve ever seen in Anime.

The artists in Eureka Seven did a good job at illustrating the beautiful world the story was set in. Obviously the animation is 10 years outdated, but I didn’t see anything that looked tacky or outdated in nature unlike some shows made in the early 2000’s. The character designs were all pretty believable, with the exception of the Gekko’s owner (what was up with that nose!?) I really liked the design of the LFOs, and they brought me back to my small Mobile Suit Gundam obsession from late high school. I really enjoyed the first two openings as well the third ending. The last opening was really odd how they incorporated “Amazing Grace” within it, but I guess it was just me. The show’s music wasn’t too repetitive, and I liked some of the techno/dance music they played over the radio 

In summation, Eureka Seven is a fine Anime, and one I would recommend to most anyone. I would especially recommend it to those who are fans of mechs and Gundam-Style shows. Some of the fight scenes are pretty top-notch and I actually re-watched a few of them. If you can wrap your head around the world and complex story, you will find a heart-warming story of a great cast of characters fighting for what’s right in the world. It’s a shame it didn’t receive the proper sequel, Eureka Seven AO disappointed many fans of the show. Thank you for reading this review, and enjoy the show!

The trials of adolescence is never easy, and the prospect of love in the horizon may lead to some questionable choices that can stain the future. But can those choices be reversed, or would we just have to deal with the consequences? Eureka Seven is a show that is in the vein of Neon Genesis Evangelion and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann due to its association with mechs and psychology. However, it delves much more into the psychology of all of its characters compared to Gurren Lagann, and does not suffer from dissociated references and abstracted plot such as Evangelion. In my opinion, Eureka Seven strikes ... the perfect balance between the two, combining the portrayal of adolescence with the themes of love and conflict, all while saving the world.

Plot: 9/10
Eureka Seven's plot is very well-written, leaving almost no plot holes for people to examine or to criticize. The story comes together nicely in the end, and it has classic points of climax and rising action, even in the middle of the show. Although the falling action, which is only detailed in the ending credits of the last episode, is quite abrupt and brief, it does bring about somewhat a sense of conclusion, that the world is safe and everyone is okay. The climaxes, however, are something this show excels at, as each season of roughly 12 episodes has fluctuations in the plot that keeps the viewer in anticipation of the next episode. The rising action, however, is slightly poor, often struggling to catch up with the rapidly advancing climaxes and often playing catch-up even after. Overall, however, the story is very well written.

Art/Sound: 8/10
Nothing too spectacular here, although for a show made in 2005, it does have some fairly impressive visuals and character designs. The art is crisp and clear, although, being from 2005, it obviously doesn't have the modern type of hair physics or billowing clothes that technology now offers. The opening were also enjoyable, with Taiyou no Mannaka he by Bivattchee being my personal favorite. The endings were slightly forgettable, however.

Character: 10/10
If nothing else, Eureka Seven is a character-driven story, and it fully explores each character's motivations and background in detail in as little time as possible, making them feel real and enjoyable, sometimes even painful, to watch. Some types of stock characters are present, but stereotypes quickly get blasted away, thus the character concepts feel like fresh air. Though Eureka and Renton, the protagonists, do develop the most through the show, side characters such as Holland, Talho, and even Moondoggie have a wonderfully new feel to them by the end of the show. If nothing else, Eureka Seven absolutely nails the formula for wonderful character development and writing, resulting in characters that truly mimic real life.

Enjoyment: 9.5/10
I do admit, the first and second season really pissed me off. But I guess that was the goal of the show in the first place, and they did a wonderful job of accomplishing that goal. By the end, I was thoroughly engrossed with the plot and the characters, while, admittedly, at the beginning, I was a bit lost and even thought about dropping the show. Nevertheless, the little hiccup in the beginning, when everything seemed so pathetic for Renton and how he wallowed in his own self-pity, does prevent the score from being a full 10.

Eureka Seven delivers on aspects that previous, and even future, shows of the same genre do not. Wonderfully real characters, coupled with an entrancing story that highlights the both the positive and negative side of human nature, coupled with a good OST and great art direction, leads to a show that unites the best elements of a show into one.

Overall: 9/10

Eureka Seven is a masterpiece plagued by flaws. What I have trouble understanding is why I enjoyed it so much despite this. On one hand, you have beautiful cinematography, a colorful cast, and a romance that makes Kirito and Asuna look like 5th graders handing each other cards on Valentine ’s Day. On the other, you have a profusion of plot holes, one of the worst antagonists I’ve seen to date, and a very rushed conclusion. I’m going to separate the good from the bad because I feel this is the best way to categorize everything. Here we go!

Before getting started, here’s a brief synopsis:

The ... series follows fourteen-year-old Renton Thurston, son of Adroc Thurston – a military researcher who was renowned for his efforts to protect the world. He lives in the boring town of Bellforest with his grandfather, Axel. He engages in a sport known as lifting, which is similar to surfing but with a medium known as trapar waves. He often reads ray=out magazines published by a member of the airship Gekko Go, and fantasizes about becoming a member of the infamous Gekkostate, led by Holland Novak, a former soldier of the military. By chance, a strange member happens to crash into his room – piloting the legendary Nirvash typeZERO – who goes by the name of Eureka, whom he immediately falls in love with. As the military closes in to capture Eureka, Renton’s grandfather tells him to deliver his father’s creation, the Amita Drive, to the Nirvash, which ends up releasing a powerful force known as the “Seven Swell Phenomenon”, destroying everything within its radius. Intrigued by Renton, Holland invites him to join Gekkostate, who accepts wholeheartedly only to find out that life aboard the airship isn’t nearly as alluring as it seemed. Little does Renton know, this is the beginning of a journey that will change the fate of the world. Will he be able to work alongside the mysterious pilot, Eureka, and the less-than-glamorous Gekkostate?

The Good (aesthetics, cast, themes):

The animation is done by Bones studio who produced series such as Soul Eater, Darker than Black, and Fullmetal Alchemist. They did an impeccable job. Aerial combat is very fluid and each battle scene is complimented by astounding background music. Character designs are fairly modest creating a sense of normalcy, even though the story takes place thousands of years in the future; there are no risks taken in this area with outlandish costumes, which can be very hit or miss – usually the latter. One of the most impressive feats lies in the setting. The producers clearly allocated a lot of time into creating an exceedingly detailed atmosphere with breathtaking results.

Eureka Seven features a broad collection of characters. They are all very unique and original. Their interactions with each other are enjoyable to watch and once the main protagonist, Renton, joins the fray he incites a lot of change in their behaviors. As a result, there is a hefty degree of character development in both the main and supporting cast; it is amazing to see them evolve over the course of 50 episodes, which is plenty of time to see significant growth.

The supporting cast is the source of most of the comic relief, a much needed sentiment since the plot can become Attack-on-Titan-esque at times. They even go as far as giving Renton an “important” mission just to publicly humiliate him on camera. He tends to be at the short end of the stick a majority of the series, which helps counter the intolerable aspects of his personality, namely his immaturity. Luckily, he has quite a few heroic moments and becomes more likable as the series progresses.

The plot touches on some very interesting themes such as the morality of war, religious persecution, and coexistence between species, but in the end it’s the relationship between Renton and his significant other, Eureka, that overshadows everything else while the others are barely delved into. These two build upon their relationship starting from the first episode all the way to the end; even when they’re apart they manage to strengthen their relationship through pure introspection. They don’t fall in love instantly either. In fact, it’s incredibly one-sided, initially due in part to Eureka somewhat lacking primal human emotions – unfortunately, I can’t expound on that without spoiling anything. Their relationship is definitely the driving force behind this anime and I enjoyed every second of it.

The Bad (underlying plot, main antagonist, pacing):

While Eureka Seven has some spectacular moments that deserve praise and that I absolutely cherished, they could not hide the undoubtedly large plot holes and poor execution of the main plot, which is a shame because there was a lot of potential. The set up within the first few episodes is vague in that it did not explain what the purpose of the vagrant group “Gekkostate” is nor did it introduce the main antagonist, Colonel Dewey Novak, very well (more on that later). It isn’t until over half way through the series that it becomes evident what they’re trying to accomplish, and even then it seems to lack direction until the final arc. At one point, Renton even explicitly states that Gekkostate doesn’t seem to possess a clear motive. It’s obvious they are fighting the military, but why? I found myself asking that question a lot. Often times, I was more focused on the antics of the supporting cast and the Renton-Eureka love story than the main plot because of this.

Many of the elements presented in the plot go largely unexplained as well (origins of LFOs, trapar waves, despair sickness, etc.) By the end, I had so many questions left unanswered. One in particular that really bugged me was the specifics of something known as the “Ageha Plan”, proposed by Renton’s late father, Adroc. It supposedly describes the truth behind the coexistence between humans and “scab coral”, but is only lightly touched upon.

Now for the enigma of a main antagonist. If it wasn’t the aimlessness of Gekkostate that mystified me, it was Colonel Dewey Novak. There are two huge issues with him: 1) He barely shows up throughout the series; aside from a scene of him smirking here and there, he isn’t important until the final arc. 2) His motives lack even more direction than Gekkostate’s; I wish I could say more without spoiling anything, but let me just say there is almost no basis for his actions or claims. The supporting antagonists are far more viable and interesting. He proved to be quite an underwhelming antagonist.

The pacing is good until the last few episodes. I wish they would have stretched out the conclusion into two or three more episodes because a lot happens – emphasis on “a lot”. The buildup happened so quickly I barely had time to process everything that had just occurred, which made me feel slightly less than satisfied with the conclusion. There were some loose ends along with the unexplained elements that would have made for a much better ending had they been clarified.

There was also one of the most random, pointless filler episodes I’ve ever seen. Episode 39 involves them playing soccer. Yes, soccer. In amidst all of the chaos, one of the crew members says something along the lines of, “Hey guys! I know we’re being chased by the military and the world is in danger, but let’s engage in a friendly game of soccer! OHOHOHO!” No reason behind it, or at least one that’s explained. It was definitely a surprise when it came up and I definitely could have lived without it.

Overall:

To love this anime, you’re going to have to overlook the main plot. It’s just stable enough to keep you engaged, but it will most likely come second to romance. If you’re looking for a complex and well thought out plot, you won’t be impressed with Eureka Seven. However, if you’re interested in an action-packed adventure with a romantic plot, this anime may be for you.

Although I had a lot of complaints, I couldn’t help but adore this anime. My eyes were glued to the screen the entire time and I would definitely watch it again.

I hope this review helped! Feedback is appreciated (:

Eureka Seven is another very well done series by BONES. E7 is a lot of things all put together in one 50-episode package from action-mecha to SOL to philosophical piece, but the true heart of this series is the developing romance and characterization between the two leads Renton and Eureka. This is the one thing that remains constant throughout the series entire run, gets developed very well and imo is the strength of the series (although Renton can get on my nerves at times). The rest of the large cast is excellently developed in particular Holland who serves as a dynamic and intriguing foil to ... Renton. One thing is that even with 50 episodes, we only really get the background for the main characters like Renton, Eureka, Holland and Talho but I guess that is better than the anime being too long.

The action and animation stand the test of time and still look great. I also like how Bones ambitiously incorporates tons of elements and themes from previous sci-fi and mecha franchises (hello EVA). The biggest weakness for the series is that there isn't a very clear overarching plot for the first half of the series and there are quite a few filler episodes dispersed throughout (even though they are enjoyable). Thus, if you don't keep at it, this is definitely not the easiest series to finish with its 50 episode length. The ending is a bit ambiguous also but you can piece together what happens. The manga fleshes out what happens at the end a lot better so read that if you aren't sure.

Still, this series does a lot more things right than wrong and is very enjoyable to watch all the way through. Just avoid Astral Ocean...

8/10

"Even our favorite things in life have flaws. Even so, we continue to love them regardless."

As I thought of this generic, cheesy, probably already existing line, the first anime that came to mind was Eureka Seven. Not only because it's the main theme throughout the show regarding its characters and their relationships, but also because it perfectly describes my general thoughts on the show itself.

Let me start off by pointing out where Eureka Seven truly shines. In my opinion that would be the general lively atmosphere and vibrant color palette. Man, this show is the definition of fun! The character designs are award-winningly awesome, the ... animation (while still having dips and hiccups here and there) is gorgeous, the background art mesmerizing.
And don't even get me started on the soundtrack. Not only are most of the OP/ED themes memorable, but the OST itself is FILLED with absolutely amazing, memorable tracks, most notably including catchy techno beats that fit surprisingly well with action scenes on one hand, and captivatingly ambient experimental rock tracks which make you feel like you're lifting on trapar waves without a care in the world on the other.
Everything about Eureka Seven screams creativity, and you can tell that the whole project is filled with love and passion from its creators.
All of these components give it that special, nostalgic feeling that kicks in as soon as you start the show and never goes away.

I believe that this nostalgia in particular is what makes people love this show so much and sometimes even neglect the show's problems, which, if you manage to wake up from that ecstatic, youthful, pure fun feeling this show puts you in, you'll realize aren't that small.

First of all, I'd like to point out the show's length. It's 50 episodes long, which is not the most common length. Maybe one that you see once a year or once every 2 years. This relatively chunky length springs up 2 major problems.
The first one is the fact that the show is filled with unnecessary filler. I'd dare say almost half of the show is weird, out of place slice-of-life stuff that drastically slows the story down. Now don't get me wrong, I'd take the development of the characters (most of which are, mind you, surprisingly deep and realistic already) over awkward, badly explained politics/military/sci-fi shenanigans we will get into later. However, most of the filler doesn't even develop the characters much, but instead puts them in weird, one-episode gag situations which end up serving little to no benefits to the story later on (for example the mission where Renton goes out in the field as an in-disguise spy, or the infamous soccer episode).
The second problem which is sprung up by the length is the show's "identity crisis". What I mean by this is the fact that the show changes its core genre way too much. It starts off as a shounen-esque adventure story, but shortly after switches to an organization-based rebel story. Then, it starts really focusing on the characters' psyches and problems, which works fine until the show starts focusing on Renton's and Eureka's relationship, at which point the other parts of the story get more and more neglected and unexplained in order to focus on those two as much as possible. The show's final... let's say approximately third focuses on the sci-fi part of the story which still somehow manages to be outshined by the beloved Eureka-and-Renton part. That, combined with the aforementioned filler chunks make the pacing of the story feel like one big mess.

I saved the most glaring problem for last, that being the sci-fi/politics/worldbuilding part of the show. Let's face it, it's not the smartest thing ever. Most concepts that are introduced (and there's many) are either explained very briefly/poorly and not in the most understandable way, or just... not explained at all. It's not uncommon while watching this show to start thinking things like "Wait, am I supposed to understand what they're talking about? Did I miss something? Am I dumb for not understanding it?" only to realize that you indeed were not supposed to understand it, at which point a character just pulls out a bunch of info out of nowhere. However, you then realize that if they knew that all along, they could have done something about some situations that have already happened beforehand, which then makes you pull out your hair in frustration because of how dumb these decent characters end up looking because of weird directing decisions. And yes, I do blame the aforementioned two problems for this one to a certain extent. If only the pacing was better and some of the filler left out, they would have been able to explain and flesh out these concepts properly and make them feel less dumb/shoehorned in.

Final verdict:
Eureka Seven is not a perfect show. Far from one, in fact. However, its real charm lays in its characters, world, atmosphere and just sheer fun factor.
It's like that one game from your childhood that isn't anything amazing objectively, but it still feels special to you no matter when or how much you play it because it brings you back to those simpler, better times when you were just a daydreaming playful kid without a care in the world.
It explores themes such as family, love, jealousy, happiness, loneliness, etc. in such a way that really makes you invested in these characters to the point where they end up feeling almost like best friends to you.
When I look at the members of Gekkostate, I don't just see a bunch of fictional characters. I see a group of friends, a family, people who'll always be by my side no matter where I am.
Renton, Eureka, Holland, Talho, Stoner, Hap, Mattheiu, Hilda, Maeter, Linck, Maurice, Moondoggie, Gidget, Mischa, Jobs, Woz, Ken-goh, Gonzy, and last but not least, Nirvash. They'll always hold a special place in my heart and I'll never forget the fun times I had on Gekko alongside all of them.
That feeling is something that's really hard to find nowadays, even in the best of shows. That's why I think Eureka Seven deserves all of the love it gets, and why it should remain to be a timeless classic for all of eternity.

Thank you for reading.

Like I don't even know where to begin, I guess i'll start from my reaction to my initial thoughts ( Reverse Order). So after i finished watching episode 50 i spent hours trying to think about the ending of the anime it was something I had never done before, I got on my social networking websites and recommended this to all of my friends. Now that might now sound like much but this anime was truly something else. I came into this anime knowing that it was popular and i hadn't watched it because it had 50 episodes and i heard bad reviews about AO ... ( Sequel to Eureka Seven) I was blown away completely by this anime. It came out in 2006 but the graphics still were nothing to make a joke of. The character development was amazing and had you sitting on the edge of your seat from episode 1 The only thing that took this anime from a 10/10 to a 9.5/10 was the ending. It leaves a lot of things up to the individual and i don't like to be left guessing. That's all for my first review ever and hope it wasn't too messy.