Story: 8
The story lacks a forward direction. However, for that reason, as you begin to understand why things are going on, it makes it a much more enjoyable experience. As I mentioned above, if you're looking for a straight-out war show, look elsewhere. If you want to watch "cute girls doing cute things in cute ways", you may like Sora no Woto, though in recent episodes (6, 7) the story overall has taken a darker shade, as some of the truths around the 1121st platoon come to surface.
Art: 10
The animation of the characters themselves was a little unsavory in the very first episode. However, it has become smoother (or maybe I've just gotten used to it)... but the real beauty in this show is in the backgrounds. The setting itself is based off the city of Cuenca, Spain, a city built in a mountainous range, with a variety of steep cliffs and water. This is well represented in the show, where most of the backgrounds make you stop and watch them instead of the characters, if you happen to notice that kind of thing. That being said, make sure you watch this show in at least 720p. ;D
Sound: 9
There's a wide variety of sounds in Sora no Woto, but the most noteworthy is the music. Not the background music - the music that comes from bugles, which is a focal point early on in the series. When the main character, Kanata, first begins to play the bugle, there's not much that can express the sounds that come out of that instrument. Myself being a trumpet player, I couldn't help but laugh the second I heard it, and once again laugh when Kanata suddenly vastly improves with one small piece of advice. In addition, the OP theme, by Kalafina (known for their work in the Kara no Kyoukai series) seems a little flavorless at first, but as the series progresses, it more closely resembles the overall feeling of the show.
Character: 9
Everybody seems to think Sora no Woto takes the characters from K-On! and puts them in a different setting. Honestly, that's just wrong. While they do look similar, the characters in Sora no Woto have much, MUCH more depth to them than the K-On! cast. Each character shows many sides, straying away from static personalities, though to be fair, it does employ anime archetypes.
Enjoyment: 10
From beginning to end, each episode so far has been enjoyable, to where when it ends, I wonder, "It's already over?" This show keeps you guessing what's going to happen next, and why some of the small subtleties are how they are. At the very least, the animation staff did a decent bit of research, and they are putting forth an effort to keep things consistent across each episode.
Overall: 10
I know, mathematically that's not the average of the scores. So far, though, this has been among the best shows this season, and with the production of bonus episodes, a manga, and a visual novel, odds are it's going to maintain the same high standard of quality throughout.
