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Odd Taxi is not what I thought it was going to be.

Generally I would not consider writing up an opinion on a show before I've finished it, but for this show I had to make an exception because this show is special.

When I clicked the first episode it was because I was bored and didn't have anything better to watch. I read the synopsis and thought it might be another cutesy, mid, cliché ridden show. The cover makes it look like it might be a more silly, kid oriented kind of comedy. It isn't.

Odd Taxi is a human drama... depicted by animals, I love ... the irony. The characters as cartoonish animals which prevents you from passing visual judgements, its genius. I've never seen characters that felt so human in an anime before, their actions are realistic, each has their own personality and the depth is very apparent.

The art style is genius in setting the tone, simple and a unique kind of gritty. There generally isn't a whole lot happening on the screen at any given moment because of how heavily based in dialogue the Odd Taxi is.

The show does have some great sound design, though. Not just the soundtrack (which is great), but the way sound is delivered; maybe through a car radio, a TV playing somewhere in the background, ambient noise in the street, the sounds of weather, and sometimes just well timed silence.


I find this show relaxing, like a breath of fresh air, it is beautifully directed not just from an aesthetic standpoint, but because of all the little nuances that add up to make it special. For one, Odd Taxi can be really funny at times, well places jokes help brighten the show. The show is generally good at evoking emotions in a number of ways like "Jane Eyre" style weather, or the characters being real and allowing us to relate. Odd Taxi is the show I didn't know I needed and I'm eternally glad I found it.

I think "rushed" is a good way to describe this series. It needed another 25 volumes so that it could do the characters justice. It seemed to introduce a new plot right before ending which leaves you wondering what the story is even about. So much potential, not enough development... I will say though, if you're not particularly looking for a banger, this is still an enjoyable read.

The main premise of the retaliation system evokes a lot of consideration. The author did a good job of worldbuilding and I don't think it's fair to pass judgement on ... the retaliation system without considering the world. I found it difficult to pick a side considering the situation and the fact that each character continued to bring up valid points (I'm sure there are many who would disagree with this). The moral dilemma makes this fun to read.

However, my praise stops here because worldbuilding is about the only thing in this manga that can even be considered as complete. It felt like the author rolled the dice on which characters received backstory, and much of the character development felt forced, rushed or downright pointless. This is made worse by the fact that some characters never get their spot in the limelight. The way backstories are presented makes you wonder about the other characters who frequently appear, but aren't addressed.

The art style really worked though

This show left me with mixed emotions about whether or not it was "good" and the simple answer is yes, it was. Sort of.

Taking a step back to really look at it, the show does not offer anything particularly unique, but that does not mean it wasn't an enjoyable watch.

The visuals really carried this show. It has beautiful animation, a creative world design, fluid and powerful fight scenes, and a plethora of symbolism littered throughout for you to notice (or not). It makes great use of lighting and uses clever transitions to let you savor the beauty of the setting and digest the events ... so far.

The soundtrack was (in my opinion) nothing special, but doesn't subtract from the show. It doesn't offer the stereotypical synth-wave vibe generally associated with its genre though, which is refreshing.

The plot was nothing special, reminiscent of the movie "The Cabin in the Woods". There is nothing you haven't seen before and this is true of the characters as well. It's predictable, but this doesn't subtract from the experience.

A true example of "it's not what is told, it's how", this show has one of the most well done and satisfying endings I've seen in a long time. This show left me with a good taste in my mouth and in that, served it's purpose.