The narrative is an enthralling romp through outer space and Sidonia - the series' giant intergalactic city, complete with Tsutomu's famously captivating architecture - though at certain points it loses its way (or rather, its appeal) as it devolves into a generic harem. This element could have been better portrayed - perhaps displaying the characters' desperation in trying to find love during their limited lifespan in such a dangerous time - but instead takes a more comedic route, which does well to balance the series and prevent it from becoming a lifeless action set piece, and is also a more light-hearted way to explore and develop the cast, but unfortunately it does little to challenge convention. It’s not as big an issue as it could have been, as the plot is often redeemed through its pace and sci-fi focus, not to mention some twists, which keep the plot fairly engaging, but overall it suffers at times from rather formulaic writing.
The characters are relatively conventional, with each displaying little more than a single trait. These familiar archetypes don't necessarily ruin the series, but their motivation and back-stories become - at times - rather predictable. Like the harem elements, it would have been nice to see more originality, though certain plot twists do sometimes steer the characters away from their moulds. The main character - Tanizake - is at times stupidly aloof, but the cast are an interesting ensemble, despite cliches.
The animation and art is vastly computer generated, the style of which has been fully embraced by the anime staff. Unlike the lapses in originality in the plot and characters, the art style is incredibly fresh and surprisingly befitting of Tsutomu's work. Certain scenes are a little choppy, but the animation staff have brought Sidonia to life and animate some wonderful scenery, along with extremely compelling, hyper-fast action sequences, with good use of slow motion here and there. The cinematography could have been better executed, however; the setting offers many opportunities for some wonderful, breathtaking shots, which are unfortunately overlooked most of the time. There are also a couple of repeated shots and the unfortunate inclusion of some lewd, questionably framed fan-service snaps, which are completely unnecessary. Overall, however, the animation and art is admirable and a welcomed change to the norm.
The sound is an absolute stand-out element. Sound design and editing isn't often incredibly notable in anime, with feature-length productions often displaying the best in the business, but it's nailed to a tee in Knights of Sidonia. A high quality sound system or headphones are recommended; the sound team create some thoroughly immersive, cinematic work, with the sounds of the monstrous Gauna and the impressive mechs being of particular note - brilliantly produced and edited. The music, too, is very immersive and blends extremely well with the visuals and tone of the series. The sound and music are exceptional; entirely worthy of praise.
Overall, Knights of Sidonia has remarkable style, but flawed substance. It’s an enjoyable series with great potential, but a formulaic tale with a narrative and characters seen all too often. Nevertheless, it’s entirely worth watching, with the art style and sound production being huge redeeming qualities. If you can overlook the conventional aspects, you may well hold out for the second series, which - here’s hoping - brings the substance in line with the style.
