Ranked #1060

Hakushaku to Yousei

The one thing that always impresses me about anime and manga is the attention to detail that the japanese creators of individual stories have, especially when they utilise culture, history, folklore, etc, from other parts of the world as integral parts of their tales.

Hakushaku to Yousei (or Earl and Fairy in english), began life as a series of light novels written by Tani Mizue, which were serialised in Cobalt magazine. The novels proved to be popular given the japanese love of western folklore and mythology, allowing the novels to be adapted for two drama CDs and a manga which is currently serialised in The Margaret magazine.

Before I go any further, I should point out that the story is most definitely unfinished, so expect a second, and maybe a third season at some point. That said, this initial series was rather well done on the whole.

The story is set in Victorian England and follow the adventures of 17 year old Lydia Carlton, a "Fairy Doctor". She has the ability to see and communicate with supernatural creatures like fairies, pixies, brownies, and other members of the Seelie Court, and for this reason she is chosen to help one Edgar J. C. Ashenbert in his quest to become the legendary Blue Knight Earl, the human ruler of the fairy nation. He is accompanied by his servant, a boy of around Lydia's age simply known as Raven, whilst Lydia is accompanied by a talking cat called Nico.

The story doesn't follow a straightforward path though, as Edgar's quest is borne from a desire for vengeance, and he has some extremely deadly enemies to contend with, as well as dealing with fey creatures who can twist the meaning of words and promises to suit their needs. It's for this reason that he desperately requires Lydia's help, especially as he can neither see nor talk to fairies.

The art and animation for this series is very well done, especially if you like bishies. The animation is generally very smooth, however my one gripe with the character designs was that Victorian England had a lot more plain looking people than the anime portrays (it would have been nice to see this, but it doesn't really affect the story). The characters that are in the show are all well designed though, especially Tomkins, whose features hint at his ancestry as one of the Merrow (merfolk). The fairy creatures are also well designed on the whole, and the members of the Unseelie Court all possess a suitably ominous appearance.

The music throughout the series is actually rather well done, and generally matches the time period. However, there are moments when the music definitely spoils the mood of the scene, especially with the more tension filled moments where a more ominous piece of something classical would have served better than the J-rock/pop track from the OP. The VAs are generally very good, however there is sometimes a slightly one dimesnional note to the main characters because of a lack of emotion being projected through the voice.

On the whole the characters were fairly solid. I found Lydia to be quite likeable, although this may be because she reminded me of Kou Shuurei from Saiunkoku Monogatari. Edgar was also quite likeable, however I found the supposed lack of emotion to be odd, especially given his feelings for Lydia. This is something that, unfortunately, carries over to many of the other characters, especially the males. For some reason they all seem to be protrayed as cool, icy, bishounens, when it would have served the story better if they let loose once in a while. It could be argued that this is in keeping with the Victorian setting, but it's more likely to be because this is most definitely a shoujo anime.

I found this to be surprisingly enjoyable though, especially given it's flaws. I think that my enjoyment though, mainly comes from the fact that folklore is a hobby of mine, and I found that the numerous fey creatures and references were more closely related to what is in folklore than most people would believe (in other words, the old fairy tales where there's lots of blood, as opposed to the more modern version - the bedtime story). It shows that Tani Mizue actually referenced a fair amount of material during the writing of the light novels, and has used the information to good effect.

This isn't really a series that will appeal to everyone. It's not complete enough to be a true shoujo anime, however it does highlight the fact that fey creatures aren't nice on the whole. It won't appeal to action or sports junkies, and probabaly won't be liked by mecha and combat fans. Horror buffs may like it for it's portrayal of fairies and the like, but the ones who will probably enjoy watching it the most are fans of Angelique, Saiunkoku Monogatari, Gakuen Alice, etc, especially given the romance aspect between Edgar and Lydia.

If you do happen to like this because of the fairies though, then you may want to check out the following books:

"Faerie Tale" by Raymond E Feist
"Lords & Ladies" and "The Wee Free Men" by Terry Pratchett. read more

Hakushaku to Yosei is a delightful romantic shoujo fantasy. However, for one to enjoy it, expectations have to be set. The 12-episode anime is based only on a few volumes of the light novel series. Therefore, do not be surprised that at the end of the anime, there are still a lot of questions left unanswered. It is because the story still continues in the novels. Perhaps the producers are still planning or are leaving the door open for a second season.

The characters are beautifully drawn and the designs, in fact, are slightly better than in the manga. The music, on the other hand, is average. The opening theme is an upbeat rock song that is tolerable enough to listen to, but not very appropriate to the Victorian theme. The closing soundtrack is a sentimental love song that fits the mawkish ending sequence well. This gratuitous scene that features the male characters lying in bed half-naked is likely conceived in an effort to pander to young female audiences. They even made Edgar’s seiyuu sing it, even though his singing voice isn't as pleasant to hear as his speaking voice. (I may sound so negative, but I'm not exactly complaining).

The two main characters of this anime are quite endearing. Lydia isn't exactly an extraordinary character but she is enchanting, graceful and kind-hearted, unlike the stereotypical shoujo heroines who are plain looking, dumb, clumsy, shameless, and whose only merit is their genkiness. She is a female protagonist who has self-respect and will not immediately throw herself to the guy she likes.

Edgar is an intriguing character. While his bearing is not mysterious because of his rather pompous personality, everything about him is a mystery: his past and identity. But despite his shadiness, he is a sympathetic character. The others (including the villains), unfortunately, are somewhat boring and forgettable. They are incredibly generic and we get to know very little about them.

If the other guys weren’t so flat, the romance would have been a lot more exciting and complex. Unfortunately, it is so obvious who Lydia will end up with even though she is surrounded by hot guys who are all interested in her. Raven is too loyal to Edgar to be his rival. Paul is such a dull character and too passive to challenge Edgar. Kelpie, on the other hand, though handsome, is rather charmless. But it seems the question this story is trying to answer isn’t who Lydia is going to choose, but how Edgar is going to gain her trust and love.

Although this is definitely not one of the best anime I’ve seen, I truly enjoyed watching this series. It is a good romance anime: charming and entertaining enough to engage shoujo fans.

If you are already a fan of the anime, I suggest that you read the light novels (the translations), so you'll know what happens after episode 12. They are also detailed and therefore more satisfying. The supporting characters are also more fleshed out and not dull as in the anime. I also recommend reading the manga since it is a more faithful adaptation (than the anime which is so condensed). It's also darker, whereas the anime is a little too girly. read more

-INTRODUCTION-

I decided to watch this anime as soon as I saw the news about it. Romance, Victorian-like style, and yes, a cat wearing what looked like butler attire. All those factors and the overall feeling the promotional images and the trailer gave off got me attracted to this charming fairy tale.

-STORY- 8/10

My only big disappointment was the ending. The story itself was quite exciting and adventurous, and was building up nicely toward its grand conclusion. Except that conclusion never came. The viewers were left with more questions than answers, and the issue that seemed to be the main focus of the plot, was never resolved. The relationship between Edgar and Lydia also stopped progressing in the second half. Nearly every potentially romantic moment was interrupted either by outside influence or by the characters' indecisiveness. Which is fine once or twice, but it is definitely not the method I would recommend overusing in a romantic storyline.

-CHARACTERS- 8/10

The story managed to introduce a very large range of characters in such a short time, which was both a success and a downfall. If I was judging solely on the characters' diversity, I would have given it full marks. I don't think there was a single character toward whom I was indifferent, nor were they your usual shoujo stereotypes. However, the development of characters is just as important as making them appeal to the public. Due to such a small number of episodes, the same problem as the one discussed in the previous section occurred. Some characters did not move farther than their point of introduction. And the so-called main villain appeared so close to the end that the audience hardly had a chance to find out anything other than his name.

-ART/ANIMATION- 9/10

The artwork is beautiful and suits the given genre very nicely. Pretty girls and handsome boys, flower gardens, starry skies, everything you would expect in a romantic fairy tale. It's quite colorful, but not overly bright, so it doesn't get in the way of enjoyment. I especially loved how the eyes were drawn. The animation quality could use some improvement though, and the characters on the background are not very detailed in comparison to close-ups.

-SOUND- 10/10

This is the aspect of Hakushaku to Yosei for which I don't have a single complaint. Both the background music and the sound effects were perfectly tied in with all the other elements. The opening and ending songs were also very nice. The ending song, My Fairy by Midorikawa Hikaru (Edgar's seiyuu), was especially charming and captured the overall feel of the story.

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Since there was no real ending to the anime and there is no second season in sight, you might have to look for manga and/or light novels to know the complete story. read more

Animation- As though it were a portrait of the countryside(to me), it has such soft nostalgic feeling. Yet, there are times in the episode where Raven's eye/fairies/hounds have an opposite effect with its glowing effects and vivid colors- bringing out enthusiasm from the viewer. Animation and artwork are beautiful and in detail. It does give the feel of a "fairy tale" story.

Storyline- The series was rather quick (but quickly addictive), but it didn't confuse me with the current plot the characters were facing. Although, it did leave a few questions, and the last episode was open-ended. The series has some good humorous scenes -I love that part about Edgar teasing Lydia about her wanting a french kiss- they had quite a few moments like that =) The romance in the story keeps you wanting and hoping that by the end it was what you were looking for.

Characters- Lydia and Edgar were the most developed out the series (but even they weren't completely developed -Lydia's past experience with the fairies, as well as Edgar's relation to the Blue Knight Earl. ). The rest of the characters, unfortunately, were a little two dimensional. You know there is something deeper with Raven and Ermine, but that is yet to be revealed. The main antagonist, Prince, is yet to make his appearance- we don't know anything important about him. I would have liked to know more about Kelpie, and why he is so infatuated with Lydia. The reason I rate this category higher is because even though we may not "know" the character's past/experience, by the end of the series, we almost "know" them as far as personality. I have an idea of what they could have been like and how their personality could have moved them though life.

Music - At first I was expecting something soothing to fit the mood but as the same theme came in during a few fight scenes, I thought, this definitely works. I think overall, the music was fine.

Overall-
Throughout the series there were two things that I kept saying to myself-
1. Don't people knock before coming through the doors?! *Slaps Raven* "Damn his perfect timing."
2. "Someone is going to explain Ermine soon, just calm down."

Since it's suggested to try not to write any spoilers, I will write my rant on the blog portion of my profile- if anyone is interested in reading that =)

This series was very addictive, and it left me in a good mood despite how it ended.

**Seeing as there is a special recap episode that is coming out, there is a possibility we can expect a second season. -This is just speculation of course.
Help support this show for more episodes in order to answer questions! read more

I have to admit that this anime had failed to impress. I was expecting much more from the plot and the characters, but to my misfortune I had only ended up disappointed. Once I finished viewing the entire series, I was not satisfied with the overall outcome of the characters' journey.

Story: [6]
There is still so many questions the anime has left unanswered. The viewer knows little of the Blue Knight Earl. The plot itself is mainly concentrated on Edgar's need to bear a name with a powerful presence, as well as to fight for his love for Lydia whilst others are after her. There was still much to be told of the fairy world, but due to the focused romance between Lydia and Edgar, all other information of the anime becomes lost. Hence the reason why the anime became more choppy rather than bearing the fluent motion that other wonderful animes had.

Art: [7]
The art could've been done better. A fairy world is meant to be magical and enthralling. Matter of fact, if the creators had done their art in an inconspicuous way as to make the viewer imagine they are in a fairy world indirectly [similar artistic appeal to EF - Tale Of Memories and 5 Centimetres Per Second], then they would've received a higher grade. I do praise the art done in O'Neill's paintings though. It almost suits the time setting of the story.

Sound: [7]
I bestow a 7 upon the sound because not only does some music pieces relate to the specific time period of the story, but even the suspense scenes can allow the viewer to understand that there is critical observation involved between characters [e.g. Nico helping Paul search for Banshee, Lydia and Edgar figuring out Ulysses' motive, etc]. Thus, the sound was not too bad. Allow me to point out, if you will, how the theme song sounded like a Japanese version of Yellowcard?

Character: [4]
Indeed a 4 does seem pretty low, but I do have my reasons. Firstly, Edgar. The ash mauve eyes gave him a mysterious appeal. Yet his eyes implied nothing extravagant about his persona. Throughout the progression of the series, it felt to me that Edgar was a phony. The sincerity of his character was questionable. Was he a killer? Is he playing Lydia? What's going on? He didn't seem truthful enough. I had assumed he was only playing smooth as to win Lydia's trust in order to help him obtain the marrow sword. But as the plot proceeded, I wasn't too sure. Furthermore, his reactions are downright dull. When he saw Ermine for the first time, it was as though he either kept on the smooth facade or was expecting her. What? Wasn't she dead? Wasn't he mourning her absence of some sort? It was ridiculous. Not to mention the cheesy romantic remarks made towards Lydia that further aggravated his reputation.

I did take interest in Raven's mysterious, composed aura. Though I was left dissatisfied when he only mentioned his personal character in less than 2 episodes. I was craving for answers to the truth behind his sprite species, like what they were like and how it could be more of a disadvantage aside from the fact that possessing a sprite spirit caused him to kill on impulse. It's too bad though. Especially when he and Lydia shared their similarities, I was expecting the similarities to be elaborated. Oh well.

As for Lydia, we know more of her profession than we do of her personal character. It's understandable on how she is a fairy doctor, which is good for the series. But how do we know how she was able to become a fairy doctor aside from the fact that she inherited the gift through her mother's genes? What did she have to go through? Was it difficult to be a fairy doctor at first aside from others believing you have crossed the brink of insanity? And what was the mother like in order to win the heart of a human professor? Her emotions are also puzzling. We understand that her heart was meddled with by mischievous boys as a child. Still, is she insecure? Is she afraid? Even Edgar asks those questions and yet she has failed to answer them. But overall, Lydia is rather cute [more in nature than in appearance] and has great knowledge of different worlds. But that is only one slice of the cake. If she were to show her personal side a little more, the viewer would have the whole cake and eat it too.

Enjoyment: [5]
I am not much of a fan of Shoujo animation. Nonetheless, I have encountered with Shoujo material that has caught my interest. Unfortunately for Hakushaku to Yousei, it failed to do justice. The corny romantic remarks made me laugh to a point where I questioned the seriousness. I am still sitting here questioning about over matters the series has not covered. The only thing good about the anime was its comedic nature. Truth be told, there isn't really anything unique about this anime. We've seen young, cute, silly girls attracting the attention of the dashing higherups. We've already seen supernatural matters that have brought two people together in holy matrimony. We've seen talking animals and non-human creatures causing trouble. At first glance, an Earl and a Fairy Doctor does sound different amongst the array of stereotypical Shoujo animes. But once peering through the depths, there isn't as much difference as I had initially perceived.

Overall: [6]
Keep in mind, if you will, how I am not bashing the series at all. I have seen worst. But I can admit that this anime wasn't as good as I had expected. I am giving the series a "fair" 6. It did leave me wondering, as most animes should. If this series could've done better in the growth and development of both the characters and the plot, the anime would have done justice to all. It did not. C'est la vie. read more

This show starts out with a decent premise: a Victorian romance with a touch of Celtic Twilight mythology. The heroine is a "fairy doctor," and throughout the show she demonstrates a touch of folklore, plus the useful ability to see fairies that are invisible to ordinary people.

However, the folklore and mythology references, which could have carried the show, are under-used. They are sprinkled over the top of a story which plainly is trying to drag itself out into the maximum number of episodes. Unlike better stories (such as, say, Tweeny Witches, or Magical Shopping District Abenobashi) the mythology and folklore doesn't seem internally consistent. Thus the setting seems painfully generic.

The character designs are decent; the scenery has a lot of eye candy for folks who like the visual trappings of Victorian mansions.

The animation is painfully sparse; pan-and-scan tricks are over-used. I give it a 6/10 for design but a 4/10 for animation, thus a 5/10 for overall art. I enjoyed the initial three or four episodes, but I started to notice flaws by the middle, and by the last third I was painfully bored and waiting for a plot resolution that failed to arrive. The ending seems to indicate that the producers would like to make a second season, but I don't know how much of the audience would stick around to watch it, were that second season to appear. read more

( POLISH VERSION )

Lydia Carlton jest wróżkowym doktorem, czyli łącznikiem między światem ludzi i wróżek. Wiedzie spokojne życie, mieszkając w domku na obrzeżach Szkocji. Wszystko jest dobrze do czasu, kiedy spotyka pewnego przystojnego mężczyznę, który okazuje się być hrabią. Do tego wszystkiego, poszukiwanym i niebezpiecznym hrabią.
Porywa on Lydię na swój statek i wynajmuje do pomocy.
Pragnie bowiem odnaleźć święty miecz Błękitnego Rycerza, miecz który daje władzę nad królestwem wróżek.
Jak się okazuje miecz jest obiektem bardzo pożądanym, gdyż chce go również zdobyć sam książe.
Rozpoczyna się wyścig z czasem, gdzie oprócz pragnienia zwycięstwa rozwinie się też prawdziwa miłość.
Tak w skrócie przedstawia się fabuła Hakushaku.

Kreska jest dobra ale nie wybitna. Uczucia miałem bardzo mieszane. Hrabia Edgar rysowany jest starannie ale Lydia przypominała mi raczej postać z roku 2002 niż 2009. Ładnie przedstawiona jest stara XIX wieczna Anglia, a i różne rodzaje wróżek potrafią przyciągnąć swoim własnym stylem.

Dźwięk bardzo dobry. Muzyka i dialogi są wykonane starannie i wyraźnie.
Godny polecenia jest opening i ending. Nie są super ale da się ich posłuchać z przyjemnością.

Postacie to chyba najlepsza strona serii. Mają ciekawe osobowości, a ze względu na to że mamy tu różne rodzaje wróżek, każda postać jest wyjątkowa. Wodny koń, zmieniający się w człowieka, banshee zwiastująca śmierć za pomocą łez bursztynu, gadający kot dżentelmen, krasnolud czy ponurak to tylko niektóre z barwnego korowodu wierzeń europejskich.

Mimo wszystko opowieść nie wciągnęła mnie. Zmarnowany został potencjał, a huśtawki nastrojów głównej bohaterki i jej melancholijne rozterki były powodem mojej frustracji i nudy.
Pierwszy odcinek ciekawy, lecz w miarę rozwoju akcji chciałem jak najszybciej zobaczyć koniec.
I w końcu zobaczyłem. Po raz kolejny trafił mnie szlag, gdy patrzyłem jak twórcy zostawiają wolną furtkę aby móc rozpocząć kolejną serię.

Podsumowując. Anime bardziej dla damskiej części publiczności. Wątek romantyczny przeciągnięty zbyt mocno ale dla większości pań pewnie byłby znośny. Miłośnikom akcji nie polecam, ale zachęcam do obejrzenia wszystkich którzy lubią XIX wieczne opowieści i legendy. Kilka ciekawych smaczków da się z nich wyłuskać.
Mi, po doświadczeniach z Hakushaku, pozostało tylko odstresować się jakimś dobrym anime akcji, bez zbędnych bishonenów.

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10/10

Summary of Story:
Based on the light novel series by Mizue Tani.

Set in 19th century England this is the story of the 17-year old "fairy doctor" Lydia Carlton. Her life gets thrown into confusion after meeting Edgar, the count of the Blue Knights. She agrees to help him search for the precious sword that is his family heirloom.

Animation:
The animation for Earl and Fairy wasn't all that impressive. I mean, the coloring and backgrounds where beautiful, but the rest was just like any other shoujo anime. The movements where clean and the art style was pretty, and the background matched the setting very well. 8/10

Sound:
I loved the ost of this, even if half the time the music did NOT match the situation. Too much sparkly noise, especially in the scenes where Raven fought and killed people. There was great music to match the comedic scenes though, so it made up for it. Now, the opening was a great song. The vocals of AciD FLavoR where wonderful, but a different song should have been used. Again, it did NOT match the show's theme. The ending song, however, matched great. It was sung by Edgar Ashenbert's seiyuu Hikaru Midorikawa, and it was about Lydia. But... The vocals were awful. I mean. I like Hikaru'svoice an all, but it doesn't sound like he tried to hard in this one. 6/10

Story:
I found the story to be very original, since I had yet to see an anime about fairies and Fae. Though, the story does get thrown off track and instead of finding the sword and all, it gets into the romance bits. Basically, it was more of Edgar trying to figure out a way to show Lydia that he truly loved her and Kelpi advancing more on Lydia trying to get her into the fairy world. I loved the story line, except the part where the anime ended long before it should have, meaning I hope there is a second and third season. 9/10

Character:
The characters are very widely based in this anime. First you have Edgar, a playboy Earl, who is also very arrogant. Lydia, a kind hearted but strong fairy doctor. Nico, Lydia's drunken, speaking, snotty cat partner. Raven, an emotionless servant of Edgar. Ulysses, the antagonist. Kelpie, a fairy with no more motive other than to marry Lydia. And lots of other fun characters. Without them all, the anime would be boring and not as fun as it was. I specifically liked Raven, and hoped for more time for him. 10/10

Value/Enjoyment:
Step into the unknown with Earl and Fairy. With its genre being shoujo and romance, there isnt a thing in it other than that. The action is amazing, the story line keeps you hooked, and Im sure Kelpie will give you a laugh or two. (Especially when he eats a liver. LOL) 10/10 read more

The story for this anime is simple and easy to understand.
The art is beyond amazing. There was a lot of time and effort being put into the art. All of the characters were absolutely hypnotizing.
Each character did not resemble others, they were their own, that was what made this anime series very unique.
I enjoyed watching this anime series SO much. I didn't want it to end. 12 episodes were pretty short. Time flys by when you're watching a good anime. As you watch this anime, you can tell right off the bat that this isn't an anime like any other.
I give Hakushaku to Yousei a 10 in all areas.
I seriously recommend Hakushaku to Yousei. It's an easy to love series. read more

When it comes to soujo anime, I'm always a little wary about watching them. Many rely on the overused character personas, sigh-worthy romance, and drop-dead gorgous men to sell the show. And let me tell you, Hakushaku to Yousei (aka, Earl and Fairy) does have these things. But at the same time, there's something really stand-out about this show that made me watch it in one sitting.

Plot/Story: This is the anime's strongest point. The plot follows a teenage fairy doctor named Lydia, who suddenly finds herself employed by a mysterious earl, who is in search of a mystical sword that is held by the ruler of the merrow.

The story is left incomplete and mostly unexplained. I mean, with only twelve episodes, it's not possible for them to wrap this plot up. But, what they do cover is done very well; there's a fair balance of romance, and well as action. The "Victorian Era" element is nicely handled as well (but then, I am a sucker for Victorian and steampunk anime). Overall, I was pleased!

Sound/Music: This varied with me. The voicework was perfect; every characters' voice suited them greatly and the actors did a fabulous job.

The music, on the other hand, is odd. Sometimes it's worked into the scene wonderfully, but other times it feels out of place (this happens a lot in fight scenes). Same thing goes with the OP and ED; they kinda fit, but it's an odd fit.

But if you're paying attention to the voicework, the music becomes ignorable.

Characters: This is another strong-suit of Earl and Fairy. Though somewhat clichéd, its characters are cleverly-written and quite easy to fall in love with.

Lydia is by far, my favorite character. Her kind but strong personality shines as you watch her grow over the twelve episodes, and I really came to like her. She's the first "typical shojo" girl to win for full approval!

Edgar is so much (almost too much) like Ouran High School Host Club's Tamaki Souh, that it's scary. But I think that's what I liked about him. His quirky playboy additude, mixed with his darker, more criminal acts, serious past, and attempts to redeem himself of this past, make him the show's most interesting character. I just couldn't get enough of him!

The other main characters (Raven, Kelpie, Paul, etc.) all prove to be wonderfully interesting characters as well! Their roles are not overshadowed by Edgar too seriously, so you are given time to get to know them. No complaints with the characters.

Animation: This could be considered the show's weak point. The animation in the show isn't very impressive; it lacks a lot of detail and relies a little heavily on pan-shots. The fight scenes are actually quite good though, so that makes up for some things.

Overall:

Though a very typical shojo, the magical elements and fasinating plot make up for any clichés they may play to. Heck, the clichés are enjoyable too! Here's hoping there's a second season on the horizon.

It's a short, sweet, and worth giving a chance! I'm glad I did! read more

First of all i must say that i do not like this anime, and i'm making a review because it seems that people only write reviews of the stuff they like so everything tends to be rated with a 10 or a 9 and that is frustrating.

-Short review
Story: 6-7 It's not that it's a bad concept but it's poorly written and developed.
Art: 8 Plain but beautiful, especially the protagonists.
Sound: 6 The seiyus exaggerate the emotions, the background music is ridiculous.
Character: 6 Extremely poorly written and "unbelievable" personas.
Enjoyment: 7 I like the era and it has a pleasant feeling.
Overall:6- 7 You could ignore it, you won't lose anything by not watching this but it's not hideous. If you are a sucker for romance (like i tend to be) you will most likely watch it 'till the last episode.

-The long one
Will be added after i watch a few more episodes.


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Earl and Fairy is an adventure where a doctor and a prince are going on a journey to find an heirloom of fairy origin. But since it is also a shoujo, the doctor is your typical silly girl with a good heart that can see mythological creatures and the prince is your typical mysterious hairless chest bad boy hunk. YEAAAAH here comes the cheese.

Animation is done by Artland, a studio which has produced nothing but mediocrities with the exception being the highly acclaimed Mushishi. Other than that, they never had high budgets and thus this show looks rather run down. Direction is done by a nobody who has produced nothing but passable titles.

So our shoujo heroine TM Lydia is a doctor, something that can fool you to think she cures diseases and treats wounds. That would make her a heck of a dynamic female instead of a clueless dumb broad. But NAAAAH she is actually a FAIRY doctor, akin to a witch doctor or a shaman, able to see and communicate with the unseen world of mythological creatures. And that is all she is doing, so the whole inborn talent she has is just there to flavour the story with sparkles of magic. So instead of having rose petals and stars as nothing more than visual effects in the background, those are literally stuff that happen in real life… but only to her, because she is the only one who can see all that, so everybody else just thinks she is a nutjob. So much for superpowers if you can use them to do jack in your every day life and be sent to an asylum for no real reason.

The problem with her is that she is penniless, since nobody would give a job to a 19th century girl, much less to a girl who claims she can see monsters in an age such things are considered nothing but fairy tales. Here is where the mysterious hunk TM Edgar enters the story and with his royal lineage and hairless chest asks her to help him find a sword to prove he is indeed an earl. Because finding that sword is apparently all it takes to prove to everyone you are who you claim to be; let’s hope some random peasant doesn’t get to it first because he will magically turn to a noble or something.

Each of them has their own mascot pet to boot. Lydia has a talking fluffy cat that acts like a spoiled noble and Edgar has a butler bodyguard who kicks ass and is of course also a hunk. And thus the four of them go on a journey where she constantly is helpless, he is constantly mysterious, and their pets do all the comic relief and action scenes. That pretty much means that the protagonists have less appeal than their lackeys. YAWN!

So here you are waiting to be excited with an adventure full of action and suspense. You get close to nothing because everything remains quite basic and blunt to the most part. The artwork is so weak and the antagonists so dull, you just don’t give a damn even if they accomplish whatever they want. And by the way, they don’t because the story is left incomplete. You also hope for some spicy romance to take place between them but NAAAAH not even that happens as everything remains on first base at best. There are many moments where they could have done much more than just holding hands but she keeps flipping and he just doesn’t try to force himself on her. How nice of him; too bad we don’t get a single interesting scene for the same reason.

And that is pretty much all you get from this anime. Run down visuals, dull music, stereotypical shoujo characters who don’t do anything, piss poor action and adventure and an open ending showing you its middle finger. You might as well not bother watching this unless you so much want to be disappointed or have a heck of a lot free time to waste.

And now for some excused scorings.
ART SECTION: 5/10
General Artwork 0/2 (run down)
Character Figures 1/2 (generic)
Backgrounds 2/2 (Victorian era and fairy tale feeling)
Animation 1/2 (basic)
Visual Effects 1/2 (basic)

SOUND SECTION: 6/10
Voice Acting 2/3 (corny but fitting with the feeling of the series)
Music Themes 2/4 (average)
Sound Effects 2/3 (ok I guess)

STORY SECTION: 3/10
Premise 1/2 (typical)
Pacing 1/2 (dull)
Complexity 1/2 (not much)
Plausibility 0/2 (none)
Conclusion 0/2 (doesn’t exist)

CHARACTER SECTION: 4/10
Presence 1/2 (generic)
Personality 2/2 (cheesy but well founded)
Backdrop 1/2 (generic and simplistic but it’s there)
Development 0/2 (none)
Catharsis 0/2 (none)

VALUE SECTION: 1/10
Historical Value 0/3 (none)
Rewatchability 0/3 (no reason to bother watching again such a dull and incomplete show)
Memorability 1/4 (nothing much to bother remembering it)

ENJOYMENT SECTION: 1/10
Art 0/1 (looks lazy)
Sound 0/2 (sounds dull)
Story 1/3 (generic and heads nowhere)
Characters 0/4 (stereotypes)

VERDICT: 3.5/10 read more

I enjoyed this anime alot. I actually gotten into it because I had read a little bit of the manga in this magezine I looked at. I don't remember which magezine it was nor do I know where it has disappeared to XD But it had been quite a while since I last saw this title. It was by chance that I found it again.

I had only thought it was a manga but it turned out to be an anime as well, so that was a delight. And so, I have watched it and I have finished it, so on to a review of it. ^^

Story - Well, I've always loved fairies and I even am a firm believer that they truely exist, so this anime and story is quite in my area of interest. The story is indept and always keeps you wanting to know more. I've finished it and I still want to watch more XD But the story is a little difficult to comprehend at times and at times seems to be seen at a broader mindset. But it is rather easy to keep up and understand what is going on at the present moment.

Art - I thorughly like the style of the art, it has a uniuqe yet familiar look to it. It's not overly detailed but also detailed enough that it keeps your eyes trained on it. The backgrounds are lush and always a beauty to look at. I love seeing paintings in this cause it just takes my breath away to see the lushness of the art within the art. Though, this is just a little thing that bugs me, don't know if it will anyone else, but I hate being able to see the eyes through the hair, it just drives me insane. But that's just me I think.

Sound - The sound is very simple yet exotic at the same time, it has a gentle sound to it at times and at others a lovely mood and feel. The music goes very well with the anime and it builds up, always letting know when something interesting or important is about to happen. I love that. The voice actors also have a certian quality to them, if you imagine that voice to go with that person, it is bound to be close to what you expect. I also loved hearing familiar voices and coming back here to look them up, realizing that they are in many other animes I have watched subbed. I have to say that the choice of actors for this was very well thought out.

Character - I adore all the characters, they each have a certain role and none are unimportant, even if you think they mind. I thought Paul was just a random extra, but turned out he appeared in later episodes after his debut appearence. There are no random extras in this and that makes it rather interesting, that everyone has a part to play this grand story. And the good characters (even though some of them MIGHT seem bad) have a certain quality to them that makes you find them interesting and enjoy watching them. All in all, the characters ar well thought out and put together in this tale splendidly.

Enjoyment - As I stated before, I may be a little biased with my enjoyment, since I have an interest in the fairy world and like. But keeping it unbiased, it was enjoyable. There are moments where you just can't help but laugh but others that keep you on the edge of your seat. The anime pulls you in and keeps you watching even if you have to stop to do something. I was reluctent to stop when it was time for bed. But right when I got up the next morning, I continued it. It calls up a thrill when watching and keeps you intriged with every little event that happens. But granted, it is a little fast-paced and confusing at the beginning. But as it continues on, it makes sense.

Overall - So overall, I give it a 10 out of 10, it was just so enjoyable and a thrill to watch at even now that it's over, I'm rather disappointed that it is. But it leaves room for more enjoyment with reading the manga ^^ For that has a lot more story, background and little bits that didn't appear in the manga. I will be going to go read that soon.

That is my review of this grand anime that has caught my attention for quite some time. I should also mention that it only took me two days to watch it, for it was THAT addicting. Though, that might just be me ^^ For I love watching anime that much. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this anime as much as I have. I highly reccomend it to any fantasy/romance lovers who like a little silly but also slightly corny side to it. read more

Hakushaku to Yousei (Earl and Fairy) was a surprisingly fun and addictive watch. It takes awhile to get into the series, but after several episodes I was hooked. It wasn't the story that got me. To be honest, the plot wasn't what made the show for me. My enjoyment was much more character driven. The art was pretty good, I thought the style fit the characters and the story well. Lydia's hair was a bit out of hand, though. I'm not sure she brushed it very much :) The characters were fun. Edgar was undoubtedly my favorite, but Kelpie and Raven were fun, too. Overall, I think this show is definitely worth watching. For fans of Victorian era stories and romance, especially. read more

Well, This anime series was amazing so i will start with what i dident like first.
I enjoy more of heavy romance anime's and this anime had romance but not heavy enough but thats my only complaint. The characters were all different and all amazing. The adventure parts were cute and intresting and the outfits that each character wore were for the best of words outstanding! The dresses had alot of detail and made since for the time period and the place they were. The whole series was very well thought out and very accurate for what that time period would have looked like and how people may have talked and dressed. Though the series is manely romance,adventure and fantasy there are afew action scenes in the series and though they arent amazing action scenes they were not bad for a romance/adventure anime so i would reccomend this anime for romance fans 8/10
Thanks and i hope you enjoy Hakushaku to Yousei!!!! read more

Hakushaku to Yousei (Earl and Fairy) is a beautiful work which envolves fantasy, romance and just a little action to spice things up.

The story is not very complex, but it's not simple either. You'll be surprised by all the details and twists you find across the series.

The art is truly beautiful, with pastel colors, shadows and outstanding designs.

The sound is very well elaborated and both the Opening and Ending songs are nice and refreshing.

The characters are a bit cliché, yet you find their relationships interesting and they can captivate you, not only by the way they speak, but also by the way they look. Edgar Ashenbert is the typical perfect prince-like main character, who falls in love with an humble, simple, yet gorgeous girl, who is a fairy doctor and will be able to help him in his adventure.

You can be sure you'll enjoy this anime, you'll be captivated by the light romance, the fantasy and also the mysteries.
But keep in mind that this series doesn't quite end, you get a "happily ever after" feeling, but there are still alot of questions and you'll want to know more and see what will happen next.

Overall I give this anime a 9, it's beautiful, sweet and has the perfect amount of action. It's also quite refreshing and engages the viewer in its magical world. read more

Hakushaku to Yousei is unlike any other anime that has been aired, despite some of the cliche romance scenes involved between Edgar and Lydia, plus the unwantef rivalry of a fairy called Kelpie, who is after Lydia ever since they met. The humor and the flow of the story is what makes this series amusing, to say in the least.

The personality of the characters is quite pleasing, if not tolerable. Edgar may remind the fan's of Ouran's Tamaki, due to being a narcissist at some point, not to mention how Edgar suavely handles women with his smooth talks --- which drives Lydia up the wall, causing her to not trust his his advances on her. On the other hand, Lydia is your typical shoujo, who has caring side, and puts up quite a fight to the unwanted affection shown to her by Edgar. Over-all, Hakushaku to Yousei is a definite must-watch to every Otaku out there! read more

Like:
1. character background story,
2. action scenes choreography,
3. concept of mystical world.
No like:
1. Character design. Faces are too deformed even for anime, bodies look as if everyone in this country suffers from severe anorexia,
2. plain 100% predictable plot. At the same time it lacks logic a bit. Should circumstances of this anime be real, people wouldn't act this way,
3. mixed style and mismatched clothes, furniture and other objects. Series' designer didn't put effort into actually representing XIX century Great Brittain,
4. Ending. It leaves impression that authors were creating slow-paced narration for 10 series and then rushed to the end like "there's no tomorrow". Ending episodes look cramped and lacking sense.
No complaints:
Voice actors, mosuc, coloring.
General impression:
it seems that series are imitating "Howl's Moving Castle". Both setting and main male character are extremely close. Other characters resemble those from Ghibli's movie too. Even their number and approximate age matches. Despite similarities "Howl's Moving Castle" stands on completely different level.
Should you watch it?
Yes, if you like fairitales and romance. If you're a lady who likes Twilight, you'll love these series. If you're bored by both action and philosophy but still like art style of anime.
No, if you prefer action, sci-fi or deep thoughts. If you hate cheesy romance or unexplained details. read more

The story begins with a criminal who wants to get information from a professor. The professor gives him that information and he dies by a gunshot. Lydia Carlton, a fairy docter in Scotland, recieves a letter from her father ; he wants her to come to London. Her fairy-cat, Nico, goes with her. When she wants to get to the boat there is a guy who says to be a colege from her father. She goes on board, and she finds out there is a man hinding in her room. He asks to escape with him, because the people on the ship are looking for him. They escape and Lydia is being held captive by the same man she escaped with, on a other boat who sets seal . Lord Edgar, the man she escaped with, tries win her serves as a fairy docter. He wans to obtain the titel of Blue Earl, a earl of both fairy's and humans. At first, she doesn't wants to do it but later she acepts it. The go to the island of merrow, a watertype of fairy, with Edgar's layal servant Raven. There, the find a bunch of problems and riddels.

Earl and fairy is one of the best anime's i've ever seen. It's maybe hard to understand, the first time you see it, but you will understand if you see it a couple of times. I've watched it myself 3 times. One of the best points, the characters. The characters Reaven, the servant and a other character (he comes later in the serie, and i don't want to be a spoiler but his name beins with K ) Lydia is also a good character (Normally I don't really like female character but I like lydia) I really like fairytails and stuff like that, but I also like things like demons, vampire's, gost and werewolfs. It's not only sweet-sweet fairy's, no, there are demon-like fairy's and there is much fighting. Not really something for little girls. If you like Sherlock Holmes, Black Butler and things like that, I think you will like this too.



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First of all, the guy character is so so so cute....the girl is pretty....their love story is really romantic...but i wished they could make more episode for this story...the story line is great! but i hope they make more episode for this story....i really really love story...is really a classic love story...and i just love how the guy character can't just live without the girl...i just love how the girl don't just give herself to the guy because there are some anime where the girl character give herself to the guys which is so cliche.....then, i just love how they make all the magical creatures...the creator of this story is creative...i think that's all from me...hope you enjoy this story!! read more