Tactics

Story: Tactics is a great anime, and its plot is actually quite realistic. I boy who admires a sealed Ogre-eater and dreams of one day breaking the seal and becoming freinds with the Ogre-eater...well, it COULD happen. And at least they didn't make it so that Kantarou, the dreamer, was still TRYING to find the seal. The plot was, actually, one of the highlights if you look back on the story, and the last episode is a real shocker! I will always associate Tactics with certain episodes, and whenever I think of it a rush of slides roll through my head, and it makes me ... want to watch the entire series again!

Art: Most definitely the greatest part of Tactics! The artwork was BEYOND amazing! Kudos to artists who made the anime happen!

Sound: Most of the sounds and songs were okay, and I always run the opening song through my head whenever I'm bored because it's fun to listen to. The only thing I had against the sound was a little 5 second song they played in the middle of some of the episodes when the did the sliding thing. It got kind of annoying, and thankfully they didn't do it every episode.

Characters: Tactics surprised me with its characters, actually. You have a little bit of everybody in there, and even the usually stoic bastard can crack a smile or make a funny face. The characters were actually the reaosns for most of the times you laughed. If I had room on my favs list, I'd definitely add a good half of the Tactics cast on there. And, unlike canon couples, if you were a fanfiction author(ess) there are so many ties between each of the characters you could easily pic and choose who you wanted to be with whom. In fact, in my mind I'm trying to pair off certain people, just to see how it would all work out, and there are too many choices!

Overall: Tactics is definitely a great anime to watch if you want something that'll hook you in. Unfortunately there're only 25 episodes. Which sucks. But, aparetnly, the story is continued in the manga, which you'll definitely want to read if you get the chance! So, I'm planning on adding it to my "to buy" list.

Tactics is, summed up in two words, nothing special. A pretty average anime with a generic "monster of the week" plot with a loose overacing story that is connected by only a few episodes, lacking memorable characters, what characters there are being pretty bland, and ending as a fair piece of work that, while certainly viewers wouldn't actively want to forget, is pretty easily forgettable nonetheless.

Story: 6 (Fair)

The story revolves around Kantarou, a demon exorcist living in what is presumed to be Meiji-era Japan. He has an unusual ability to see and speak to demons and often communicates with them in order to discover the ... truth behind hauntings and possessions. All his life he has always wanted a goblin, a very powerful type of demon that often serves as companions and servants to humans. After following a trail of rumors he finally finds the sealed away Haruko, a demon so powerful they call him the demon eater. After breaking the seal, Haruko joins Kantarou and his friend Yoko (not to be confused by that other Yoko, sadly enough), a shape-shifting ktisune demon; a young girl named Suzu also tags along as she deeply admires Haruko. Other darker forces from Haruko's past may also be stalking him as well.

Although that may sound like an interesting premise, the plot mostly hold together only when necessary, and the series is for the most part just a series of loosely connected episodes about the adventures of Kintarou and Haruko as they investigate one demonic haunting to the next. If you think this sounds eerily like Inuyasha, that's because it is, and a few people have claimed that Tactics is just a blatant rip-off, with Kintarou filling in the role o Miroku, Haruko that of Inuyasha, Yoko combining Kagome and Sango with Shippou's kitsune traits, Suzu filling in for Shippou sans the magic, and the dark forces that stalk Haruko can easily be mistaken for Naraku and Kagura. Take it as you will, but at least the shorter length of Tactics allows for a more successful, filler-free formula than Inuyasha.

Art: 6 (fair)

The art style is rather bland and indistinctive from other anime of the same vintage. Locales are as vivid only as they need to be, and leaves little in terms of memorable impression.

Character: 6 (Fair)

Once again, the characters fail to make any memorable impressions, largely being stock and carrying on as viewers would expect. Perhaps, ironically enough, most memorable in how they behave like Inuyasha's cast in this regard.

Enjoyment: 6 (Fair)

Perhaps a bland series, but not a bad one either. If no better anime is on, it's certainly worth watching, and is fairly entertaining. There are some twists and turns (including one right out of M. Night Shaymalan's playbook, and an earlier one straight out of Silent Hill) that are just enough to keep the viewer engaged.

Which brings the total score to:

6: Fair

The story of Tactics is rather episodic, but each mystery Kantaro needs to solve makes the episodes entertaining even if some could be watched in any order and you wouldn't be lost. The series has a supernatural theme with some Japanese mythology mixed in.

There are certain details about things that took place before the series started that are established but left unexplained. However, it's not too hard to conclude what the possible explanation would be. I won't go further into this so as to not spoil what little information is given in the series.

The characters are well balanced; there are cheerful ones, a quiet one, ... the resident oddball and even the strangely cute "mascot" of an unknown species. Most people are likely to find at least one character they like.

Despite its episodic nature, the show does carry one mystery that extends itself thought the series, though it is only elaborated on in a few episodes and finally revealed at the end.

The series has a few surprises now and then, however after a few episodes the mysteries presented on each episode become very easy to predict once you get used to the style, but they can still be amusing. This is fixed with several surprising plot twists at the end that manage to give the series a nice somewhat bittersweet ending.

If you like supernatural mysteries with a side of humor and friendship you'll like this series. Just don't expect a lot of romance because it's not a main theme. My only real critique is its episodic style and lack of closure; the current things are resolved, yet there's an important thing left in a cliffhanger, but it's still worth watching.

Oh wow… That was what I first felt when I started watching this show. This is not the show I had originally planned on seeing but when I did end up seeing it, from the very first episode, it just gave me chills. And then… the comedy hit. Now this wasn’t a bad thing really, it was just unexpected. I went into this story without any history behind it or any way of knowing what it was about and the first part of the show was so serious.

Now I love the characters, even if they are pretty much stereotypes. Now I keep saying stereotypes ... but its more like stereotypes but its more about what is normally in anime. A weakling boy goes out and finds a strong partner in order to fight against evil and is almost always being saved by this person. Kentaro may seem smarter then most of them but he is still pretty much the same. I can probably set the main characters into three groups, Yoko is the bitchy house keeper who isn’t really a main character but a secondary character no mater if she has her own episodes or not; Kentaro, the pushy, whinny kid who tries to get what he wants but with a pure heart; and Haruka, the jerk who sulks about his past. They should familiar, right? They are in every single anime almost.

Now saying that, why do I love this show so much? I’m not all that sure the whole reason why I am but I know it is how the characters make you just fall in love with them and how they act. You can understand each of the character and the position they were placed into by luck or chance. Sadly, this also has a feeling of a yoai even though it isn’t (and the fan girl in me goes but why not?!). I mean, this may be a tiny bit of a spoiler but Haruka only awakens when Kentaro says his name almost in a love sick voice with a tear.

The animation is pretty standard with one or two hiccups along the way, mostly in consistency between to places which is not really all that bad. The characters have this strange piece of hair that sticks out and wraps around there head like a halo of some sort and tuck into the other side of their head and it seems a little off. Also, some characters feel like they were slapped together and not really thought out much. Some of the animals also lack any real look to them, in fact, Yoko is supposed to be a older women but yet she transforms into this strange little chibi fox that does not have much of anything in terms of realism.

Oh god do I love the music. It’s lovely to say the least and has the feeling of the time period as well as the supernatural aspect for the show. The background scores can get a little annoying but not enough for me to have to turn it off. This show is really a treat for its time even if its not seen as the best in everything.

Tactics is a wonderful anime that can be enjoyed by many. The main characters are very likeable and well written. The artwork of the series, especially the background scenery, is very well done and adds to the story. This anime could be watched in stand alone episodes, with its "case of the week" type format, but there are also story lines that cross the entire series, so watching it in order would be helpful to understand everything that is going on. There are a lot of comedic moments and many times I found myself laughing out loud. There are also some very poignant moments scattered ... throughout the series. When finished with the series, don't be surprised if you find yourself wanting to know what happens next in the lives of the characters! My only complaint is the short run of the series. I think it had the potential to keep going. If you are looking for an anime that is character driven with pleasing aesthetics, Tactics is for you!

Honestly, I have to say this is on my top 10 favorite anime list. The story is very good and well-developed. The characters make you feel like you're actually in their era and I personally loved the manga so I decided to watch the anime. It sucks that it was so short in episodes but I did enjoy nevertheless.

I would recommended it to anyone who likes the Japanese Mythology or just like Bushonen in general. Personally, I would love to study the Japanese Mythology so it would make sense that I would watch this anime.

Well i really had hoped for an quite over the top story near the end , and more charach, development and /or more char. in general. The demon slaying job gets somewhat repetitive and like everyday anime ( after 2000) its too much censored at some good action scenes, Not that i ecxpeted much from the main person but more from the guardian.Sometimes it really got on my nerve that the guardian din't developed further powers and such, animation was looking alright but thats it.

This anime is so underrated when it deserves more love. I first came across it on TV in the U.S. on the Sci-fi channel. There used to be a block for anime and this was one of them. I was instantly in love with the characters. Their designs, by Studio Deen, are lovely along with their personalities. There's not a character I don't like. The story is amazing, though not as in-depth as the manga. The character development in the manga is better, but the anime has it's perks. The most development you can see is with Haruka. He is the best example of this. ... The english dub was actually really good!

I came across this series accidentially, while I was looking for action anime. At first I feel hestitate to watch it, since I don't really like the style of old anime (it's the effect of watching modern series with modern technology and design), but after I read the synopsis, I decided to give it a try. I am a sucker for strong demon and demon buster, I have always loved series involving these two categories.
I am really glad to have watched it, since it's unexpectedly great :D

Story: 7
The story mainly focused on the relationship between Ichinomiya Kantarou and Haruka. Ichinomiya has always been looking for ... Haruka, the one told as The strongest demon. When He finally met Haruka, He made Haruka to help him in his side job as Demon buster, the series has different story in each episode. and all of them mainly based on the story of them helping people that has been troubled by the strange phenomenon cause by demon/spirit.

Character: 8
I really love the relation of the two main characters, Kantarou and Haruka. They give off such a fresh atmosphere when they interact with each other. There isn't many development on their personality through the series, however if we see it from different view, I think that it is one of a good point. Because Kantarou sees Haruka as his friend and partner, while Haruka tough at first seen Kantarou as his master (since Kantarou the one who freed him), but little by little it became natural for him to stay with Kantarou and help him, and he seemed had forgotten that Kantarou is only his master.
The other main character on this series are Kantarou home maid Youko, whom a fox demon. And Suzu Edogawa, the daughter of noble. These characters also have a great role in the series, they are one the reason why I keep wanting to continue this series, since their action and behaviour are so cute and fun to see.
The supporting character in this series is also great, they support the main character and make the whole series become complete, I really love all the characters on this series :D

Art: 8
The art and character design are great, considering it's an old series, they design the character very beautiful, and my favorite is Haruka. H ei such a hottie ;)

Sound: 7
The soundtrack of OP/ED and the back sound are fine, I won't say its really great, but they all fit with the mood and the whole atmosphere on this series, that's why I give it 7

Enjoyment: 9
This series is a light series, tough it's a mystery but its not scary at all, instead its a fresh series and helps you to enjoy your free time. If you guys have been busy with a lot of activity, and looking for anime that can help you have a good time, and makes you feel good, then this anime is for you :D

Overall: 8
I gave this anime score 8 (very good) cause this anime gave me such a good time and it cheers me up after such a heavy time.. :D

Tactics starts out as one of those anime where the same thing keeps happening in every episode, but the main characters meet new one-shot characters every time. I'm personally not fond of these anime since they seem too childish and get boring after a short amount of time.
However, the more you watch it, the more the story really begins to unfold and it becomes far more interesting. The main characters, (especially Haruka) develop a lot, though some of the characters don't seem vital to the story at all.
The use of folklore and mythology is what, I think, makes the story unique. If it weren't for ... that use, this story wouldn't be a far cry from anime like InuYasha and Shrine of the Morning mist, which are also stories about priests/priestess' vanquishing evil spirits/demons.

Ghost busting becomes more fascinating when you see it in the traditional way, at least for me, "Tactics" is a light comical anime where you follow "Ichinomiya Kantarou who is a liar and a sinful person but who is also a scholar"

Story: The story was fairly good, each episode is designed to suit various preferences of the audience. The historical value is also high, quite simillar to the anime "Mononoke"

Art: It was very well done, characters were drawn attractively.

Sound: You get the traditional feeling from the opening and the ending, there's just one of it's kind for the whole series. The soundtracks ... were done well to suit the moods.

Character: Wanted to see more into the character development, the anime lets you explore the feelings and incidents regarding the characters which gives them lessons to make them more stronger. Each character is derived to allure specific audience.

Enjoyment: As i said before the light comical feeling is given and there are some heart warming moments, conflicts between monsters and humans and their relationships which make the audience think.

Overall: It is a "good" anime, i wouldn't say it deserves a second season, but it would be a shame if we didn't have one too. The anime deserves to be more popular.

At its best, this anime must have been an interesting concept, beautiful art and animation, and compelling to watch. However, I'm sorry to say that this anime has not aged very well. It first aired in 2004 and the overall quality of anime that is currently being produced will only continue to outshine Tactics. I noticed that the later the year is, the lower the rating gets for this show. It is not an anime that could pass the test of time, however if you are ok with watching something like that, then I think it's interesting enough to at least look into.

It begins with ... a boy named Kantarou who can see spirits and do spiritual magic stuff that seeks to find a powerful "oni-eating Tengu". That's the general synopsis that you'll read but that is basically only the first episode. After that, the anime turns into an episodic series that has Kantarou and the "oni-eating Tengu", Haruka, running around helping people with yokai problems and sealing away the demons that are causing a problem. There is a slight story line near the ending of the anime, but it wasn't all that interesting or memorable.

I really love anime about yokai so I was excited to watch Tactics. At first, I enjoyed it but it did not capture my attention enough to make me binge it. It took me 5 years from start to finish, and I think that says a lot about the show. Tactics is very episodic, which is completely fine for me, but the characters were not interesting enough for an episodic type anime. To be completely honest, they felt like very downgraded Rurouni Kenshin characters, that anime aired 8 years before Tactics did (I know that they're both manga adaptations but still). The characters in Tactics weren't exactly developed, but they weren't exactly one dimensional either. They were just sort of lukewarm, if that makes any sense.

The art style was fine, I liked it, it wasn't amazing or unique or anything but it was good. The animation was ok, again, it was not really special. The art was a kind of typical anime look but I really liked the setting of the anime, how most characters wore traditional Japanese clothing like yukata. The character designs really fit that look and setting, that was probably the best part about the art.

Soundtrack was forgettable. The opening was at least interesting compared to the generic anime opening songs but that doesn't make it inherently good or bad, just different. I personally didn't really like it and skipped over it. One thing though is that one of the reoccurring characters had a really distorted audio quality whenever she talked, which made me really cringe at the sound. It almost hurt my ears, but for some reason all the other character's voices were fine.

Overall, it was mildly enjoyable but not at all gripping and it became an anime to watch when there was nothing else. It did take me a long time to finish it because of this. Unless you're really into anime with yokai or enjoy mid 2000's anime shows, it's not really worth your time.

I want to be clear that it isn't a bad anime, it's just a decently entertaining anime that did not age well. It started out as an 8 for me, but as the years passed, I put it down to a 6. I rated it by how much I enjoyed it, especially since it is hard to give this anime a solid review due to how much has changed since Tactics has been out.

Okay, the storyline could have been better & the plot is just fine. But there are so many issues which I have with the author/writer.

First of all if you've read the description of the anime it clearly says that other people were not able to see youkai that's why he was bullied. Now the point is why is that girl(suzu) able to see them, ok so many people will argue that is because of them having human form, but if you notice in the 1st episode when haruka's seal is lifted by kantaro, that girl(suzu) was easily able to see him, how is that possible, ... this means he was sealed in the human form. Okay even with that I've no problem.

Second thing is why is that girl included in the anime/manga. What was the need of that girl. Even if she is taken as the side role, it would been good, but why does that girl show up in every episode. Why wouldn't her father just tell her to not to interfere with kantaro's work. Even if her dad didn't thought about her safety, why didn't that kantaro thought about her safety & just why didn't he refused her whenever they go to a place, just like at the time of hot springs & when she accompanied them to that doll house. It's not that I'm worried about her safety, but the point is that is very very illogical & I've seen anime where there is no logic but still compared to this anime they are far better.

Third there are many incidents where haruka just took flight even if he's in crowd, why didn't people noticed that there is something wrong or he's not human, something like that.

Okay the final, if someone had his childhood suffered solitary, I don't think he would have that much lively, okay not talking about liveliness, he would have been quite smart(not handsome) & putting that aside I didn't like the character of the protagonist & that shitty brat(suzu)

"So that's why you brought me here"
---Kantaro

"Are we just destined for failure now"
---Kantaro

A talkier version of Kolchak the Nightstalker ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolchak:_The_Night_Stalker ) set in Japan.

It's damn close to a xerox, With minor changes, the gruff editor becomes a cute girl (who wears a miniskirt 50 years before they are invented). The older woman who is the pennypincher becomes a cute girl fox spirit. The cop frenemy becomes the Oni Frenemy, and the plucky intern who got the job through nepotism, becomes the bratty tag along girl from a wealthy family. Lastly the Crime reporter who writes about the supernatural and never makes a ... deadline, becomes the supernatural researcher who can never make a deadline.

Toss in bland and boring art, a lot of violins in the background with various creepy music, and you have tactics a poor mans version of a TV show from the 70s.

If you do like this kind of thing I'd go with supernatural its format is better, and the seasonal arcs are much better done. If you like episodic horror just about anything from American Television has done it better, more ways and in greater quantity. The only reason to go with this is if you must see badly done yokai.

"...You mean hope to me..."

Story (9): As some have already said, this anime is mostly episodic, it involves some lighthearted episodes, some strange ones..., even some dark parts; yet in my opinion, it's beauty doesn't really lies on the episodic cases, but rather on how it tells you a story about personal knowledge, learning, trust and friendship.

Art (8): The art is very nice, specially the detail added in the vegetation. The only thing I don't like very much is the way they changed Haruka's "aspect", although, towards the end his "aspect" change means more than meet the eye, at least that was my opinion.

Sound (8): ... The op, end and sound in general make a good complementary to the anime.

Characters (9): I think the characters are good, at the end of the anime you understand them and their reactions a lot better, yet, I didn't give it a higher score because during the first episodes it's a little hard to figure their essence, kinda like they are a bit contradictory at times. Yet I really enjoyed the way they made contrasts between youkai and human thoughts and feelings.

Enjoyment (8): I found it a bit hard to keep watching during the first episodes, it seemed to lack some consistency, like if I couldn't be sure if I was watching a comedy, a supernatural or a psychological anime, yet, when the main story became tangible, it got a lot more interesting and profound, finally each character developed dimension and I started to feel real empathy.

Overall (8): It's not a favorite, but I enjoyed watching it, specially the last episodes, the inner story was quite original and moving and the ending..., well, it was simply mind blowing, I'd give it a 10 if it was only for the last episode!

Tactics is one of those anime series that used to have mid-level popularity, and I always wanted the opportunity to watch it. Now, two decades from its release, I can honestly say that it did NOT live up to the hype.

Its underwhelming punch has less to do with its age and more with its execution. First, it's episodic, so don't expect a running plot until maybe episode 14. Which, episodic can be charming if done well, but...many of the episodes seemed to be done just because they could, and didn't leave much of an impact on me. Some episodes were predictable, and I grew ... more and more tired the longer I watched it. Still, I wanted to see it through to completion, which was why I kept going to the end. (And surprise, surprise: there's not a satisfying ending to be found. I won't say loose ends aren't tied, but there's a lot more ends just flailing in the wind.) If you can last until episode 14, you'll be treated with reoccurring characters, some deus ex machina moments, one episode with pretty decent psychological horror elements, and a cute scene or two from the main cast. Maybe, if you squint hard enough and tilt to the left, you won't notice how the plot drags in the latter half, and how the big, bad surprise ends up crunching in your mouth like rotten blueberries on a summer evening.

Then there's the characters. I was originally going to criticize Kantarou harsher, because god, his treatments of his summons ranges anywhere from callously flippant to borderline abusive. But Kantarou is, while incredibly selfish, pragmatic in ways that don't really stand out until you get to know him a bit better (albeit with contorted reasoning). You'll just have to suffer until you get there. Then there's Haruka, who does go through phases of character development in the story. He's who you'll probably want to cling onto to keep your sanity while watching this.

...Then there's the other two, the messenger pigeon and the girl who serves absolutely no purpose except until plot calls for it. Of all the characters, Sugino and Muu were probably the most enjoyable. They were meant to be comic relief, and they did their job brilliantly. But they were still lovable in all the ways that counted. They, along with Haruka, bring the best out of the show.

Last, for an anime that has been compared with various other BL series, there really isn't much in the way of fanservice. There IS something sprinkled here and there, but there's just as many moments where the characters become tangled with other affairs, some of them questionable by today's standards. If I was watching because of that, I'd be sorely disappointed.

Conclusion: Tactics was probably an anime that would have performed decently in the 00s. Standing on its own two feet, though, it pales in comparison with some of its older and younger peers even in the same genre. This is largely due to its incomplete plot, its predictable episodes, and its flat characters. Most likely, you might be interested in the premise and start watching it, but it'll tax you until you drop it somewhere in the middle. It is for that reason I struggle to recommend this series.