Let's start with the aspects of this anime. The story is really a common one at the begining: "a girl stays in the house of a boy for any reason at all". Other thing is that this boy (Yorito) has kind of a obssesion with the sky and everytime he can he take's pictures of the "different skies". Don't worry you'll learn the meaning of this later on in the story. But putting aside the common events like this there is a great deal of fighting and use of supernatural powers (sort of vampire like) and the plot twists that makes a story really interesting. The thing is that, overall, the story is shown in a really annoying way that really ruins it baddly. The reason are this flashbacks to the distant past that occur in the begining of one or two episodes and on the last one. I think this flashbacks do a really bad job trying to give some spectation to the viewer. Well at least in my case I found those flashbacks really irritating and out of context. They definitely spoil what could have been a fantastic tale.
The art and design in this anime is really well done, it reflects what the anime is aiming for depending of the event: sadness, darkness, etc. The looks on every building: Yorito's house, the hospital, the doll shop, the church, the school (lol take a look at it's endless roof xD!) and specially the different type of skies shown in the anime are very nice to watch. The character design is one of a kind in every character specially Matsuri and Aono look really great and opposite one to each other. So almost from the begining you know that there is going to be serious problems between these two girls.
Now the sound is the best this anime has to offer: it's rich and the BGM's are adequate for each ocassion. The opening is really good (adding it to my list), the battle songs are amazing (a techno-electro mix) and the sad themes are really heart breaking. The sound really does make this anime feel awesome and different from any other due the quality of each and every track.
Talking about the characters these are really awesome as well, specially Matsuri. She just looks gorgeous and her personality is just so different of what you expect when first glancing at her, very funny indeed. She is so different in just too many ways: from her war cry when trying to get her favourite juice (Sennoooo!!!) to her sort of a "french" look, she really makes a difference with any other character I've seen. All the other characters are very well designed but it feels like Matsuri's personality and looks totally opacate the other characters, a pity because there are other interesting characters in this anime that I would loved to see having a more important role.
I spended less than two days watching this anime. I know I watched it in a rush but overall I really find it very fun and worthwhile watching but this is not a "must watch" anime so if you are aiming for something really GOOD and sad then go watch Kanon, Clannad or even Air (that if you haven't yet). On the contrary if you'd like to watch a anime that has drama-love but action, supernatural ocurrences and great battles as well then this is the one for you. In the end this anime is different from the lot but not as good to be called a unique or innovating anime. This ends sad as well so if you must watch it grab you pack of tissues or just do as I did: right after you finish it watch the the DVD Special 1, only the first one (it's about a waterpark), you will find it really funny. But don't watch the second DVD Special (it shows some bonus scenes about what happens before Yorito meets Matsuri and it ends precisely when that meeting takes place) right away because you will end up as sad as you were when finishing the anime...
