Jul 11, 2015
Though a very lengthy anime by my standards, Monster has managed to become one of the few that have left a real, lasting impression. The events that unfold are often brutal and shocking, depicting the extremes of human depravity, yet are simultaneously balanced by a recognition of the potential for humanity to courageously acknowledge fault and act accordingly, more often than not for the benefit of others. It is this fundamental ambiguity that makes Monster seem real, as the narrative successfully utilises all 74 episodes to demonstrate its eerie applicability to the real world.
STORY - 9.5/10 (10/10 here)
This is definitely one of
...
Monster's many strong points. The explored themes, which include the value of life, human conditioning, and fundamentally, the complex nature of morality, are credibly developed in a manner that is engaging, compelling and deeply confronting. The pacing is exceptional, and the use of flashbacks and atmospheric tension is incredibly effective, propelling the narrative forward while constantly keeping me on the edge of my seat. Initially competing story lines are eventually shown to be interconnected, and virtually everything depicted contributed to the overarching narrative to some capacity. The only real issue I had with the story is that, while relevant, some sections felt prolonged to the point where they almost felt like 'filler'. Overall, exceptional story line
CHARACTER - 10/10 (Also 10/10 here)
Another one of Monster's strong points is definitely to be found within its diverse range of characters. Many of the characters are crippled by fatal yet scarily familiar flaws, ultimately enhancing their credibility. This allowed me to quickly become invested in the fates of many of the characters, perpetually concerned and aware of the fact that every action taken may result in unforeseen and potentially fatal consequences. Furthermore, character development is excellent and, in the case of some characters, is well integrated as a central aspect of the overarching narrative. By extension, the portrayal of moral ambiguity through character was very well-executed. Overall, it is clear that Monster doesn't generally try to make you 'like' the characters. Instead, it strives to make you 'understand' the characters, and it manages to pull off this effect exceptionally well
ART - 8/10 (8/10 here, but I would normally score art/sound together)
Since Monster isn't a particularly recent anime, I tried to be a bit more lenient in grading the animation quality. Overall, the art was to a more than acceptable quality, though not much of it really stands out and the ED, though appropriate, was a bit simplistic
SOUND - 8/10
Overall, music was used appropriately in many situations as part of the OST, while the OP and ED themes nailed the 'eerie-ness effect' rather well. However, as with the Art, the sound here struggles to make itself stand out. Moreover, while it was a nice touch hearing the motifs in the OP/ED playing throughout the episodes as part of the soundtrack (or bar/restaurant music!), the associated lack of original OST's was slightly concerning. Finally, voice acting was mostly good, and I can confidently say this is the only anime I've watched so far (haven't exactly watched many though!) where I preferred the dubbed version to the subbed version, for reasons I would struggle to articulate.
ENJOYMENT - 9/10 (Wouldn't normally score enjoyment separately)
It would be remiss of me to say that Monster was a completely enjoyable experience. It isn't, nor does it aim to be. However, to say that I didn't enjoy it would be equally unfair, as watching it was a deeply compelling and engaging experience.
As a whole, watching Monster provided for an exceptional personal viewing experience. Though I'd most recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers, I believe that virtually anyone can enjoy the series simply because of the uniquely encompassing nature of the narrative
OVERALL: 9/10
*Notes - Not intended to reflect the entirety of my thoughts. This is more like an abridged, formal version of the reviews I normally write for myself
Reviewer’s Rating: 9
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