Texhnolyze

Texhnolyze manages to flatline across the scoreboard. Although there are slight variations, it's as though the show itself pursued a 7/10 in every category. That said, let's jump right into things.


Story:
Ichise is a personified existential philosophy which works properly with the constant barrage of philosophy expressed both audibly and symbolically. However, his pursuit for reason is not by constantly asking the other lead characters, but by silently observing as they advance in their personal goals. The biggest antagonist to his questioning nature is the very essence of Lux itself. Very early we are introduced to the nature of change – both in setting and characters. ... In some narratives, this characteristic is something that is at the hands of the personified antagonist, or the heroic protagonist, but in Texhnolyze, change takes the wheel as the primary antagonist.

Perhaps what makes Texhnolyze so fascinating is the complimentary nature of Ichise’s unchanging question and the world’s unstoppable evolution. At times, it feels as though the two are not only complimentary, but reciprocals, as Ichise grows toward the ultimate climax and the world around him follows a natural event. It’s masterful, and an absolute beauty to observe.

That all said, the latter acts are cluttered with stunted plot developments and weak subplots that show change but fail to do it well. However, the show still remains enjoyable.


Art:
Running just short of two seasons, Texhnolyze is a 22-episode long series with a washed color pallet and avant garde stylizing. It really helps exemplify the ‘show don’t tell’ of animation. Though filled with extreme conflict, seldom were there scenes of explicit violence for the first two acts of the show, reserving itself to close reaction shots of the characters. The third and final act is when things become more graphic, and even then it’s still quite tame. It helps emphasize the fact that this anime is not about physical conflict, but cerebral conundrums.

I did grow tired of the usual locals of Lux as the show progressed. Although Lux is a city in draught (both literally and metaphysically) I would have preferred the latter episodes to bring more life to the scenery. I don't mean that there needs to literally be life, but that the setting must seem real. Seeing the buildings in the background during action sequences or conversations shouldn't feel like a backdrop, but a real world.


Sound:
I found the music inspiring for the first act as Ichise grows to learn how to use his texhnolyzed limbs. Less than 15 lines are shared between Ichise and Ran as he traverses the unforgiving town of Lux. The ambience of the music, their silent relationship, and the escalating conflict worked together to tell a story without words. It brought to life the world of Texhnolyze right from the get-go, but this excellent wave hit the beach to early, and the second and third act fail to have the same impact. It’s a shame, considering the early music and emphasis on visuals over dialogue was the best part this show had to offer.


Character:
Mentioned above in the story, but to re-iterate, Ichise is not in league for best MC. He's in league for best personification of a debilitating worldview. It's an excellent character study, but not necessarily for the sake of his own actions, but how we interpret his interpretations of the actions and events surrounding him. In other words, despite his essentially boring nature, he is still a really interesting and compelling character to watch and I was always pleased to see him in the scene. I hope you enjoy his company on screen as much as I did.


Enjoyment:
Good! I liked this, but like most shows, I can't turn off my critical lense. It's a shame, because the show had potential to be an above 8. The problem is that the ending has some weak directive decisions that make it a little... well, weak. It's very strange that of the 4 Ueda Yasuyuki influenced shows I've watched (including this one), 2 were less than 8 due to poor directive control at the ending, and one the total opposite, having a boring beginning. Perhaps the biggest let-down was the failure to have proper music played during the last 2 episodes that helped convey the emotional weight of the ending, on both the characters in Texhnolyze and us, the viewers. That said, I can definitely see myself watching this piece again, and will definitely recommend it to friends.

EDIT 2/1/2017: I just want to mention that there are certain tracks in the OST that, a year later, I am still in love with. There are a LOT of great songs in this anime, and I mean a LOT. The music and atmosphere of this work are captured near perfectly. Not only that, the general experience of this show stuck with me all of 2016 and even into 2017 I just want an excuse to watch it again. I can see myself raising my rating score on a rewatch but for the time being I just wanted to throw this lil tidbit in.


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I have been watching Anime for many years and I can safely say that Texhnolyze is one of the most unique series that I have ever seen while simultaneously also being one of the most depressing shows I've ever seen. Texhnolyze is a dark show and while many other shows have been labeled dark I believe this show is one of the few that actually deserves this label. Texhnolyze is not just dark because of its story or plot elements like many other shows, Texhnoloyze is dark because it simply contains no light to the bleakness.
The first part of this is the mood of ... the series. Other shows that are dark or depressing often have points that contain little bits of happiness, redemption, or at the veery least little dashes of humor here and there. Texhnoloyze contains no moments that can be described with the words stated above. While many can complain that this might make the show seem like one big depressing piece of filth I believe its darkness is one of its biggest strengths. The bleakness of it all almost makes the series beautiful in a twisted sort of way. It never compromises itself to appeal to a wider audience and if nothing else one can at least respect that the show was never dumbed down. The pacing in the show is slow and while this may be a complaint to some I feel it is completely necessary. Throughout this whole series there is this a looming sense of gloom and doom and that "this is not going to end well" and the slowness at which the plot progresses helps exemplify this.
Now while I won't risk spoiling any of the plot I will describe the setting in which Texhnolyze takes place. The majority of the plot takes place in the underground city of Lux, which is actually brighter than some may imagine a underground city to look like. Now in this city it is very common for people to get robotic limbs and body parts to replace their old ones. Some use these for violence and love them while others, such as the main character, view them as almost a curse. Now the city of Lux is a home to a number of gangs that end up brutally fighting with each other over the course of the series. While Lux seems to be in order at the beginning of the series there is always a sense that the city is going to be destroyed soon weather it be by major characters or a more mysterious force. The city is very ugly ad not a place you would want to visit and it certainly is a horrid place to live.
All the characters in the story are flawed with many being self-destructive, it is not a very upbeat series as I have said before. Now why am I giving Texhnolyze a 10? Because it is beautiful, despite the fact that I was never happy with the setting or characters in the show I was able to shed a tear when it ended and it was at that point thatI realized that the show had affected me. Its definitely not a enjoyable piece of entertainment but as a piece of demented art about the dark side of humanity and the destructive nature of man it nears perfection. On the technical side animation, looks, and music fit together extremely well. Texhnolyze is certainly a series that many won't like or will not be able to finish but it should at least be given a glance if for no other reason than for its uniqueness. As a final note I would like to say that if anyone tries this series and is turned off by the slow pace that they stick with it for at least the half way point Even I thought it was kind of boring when I first watched it but I stuck with it and now it is one of my favorite animes. Texhnolyze is a unique anime that is hard to explain but if you are into dark stories, cyberpunk, or just sci-fi in general and have a little patience Texhnolyze is at least worth one viewing. As an added note the series can be violent and graphic at points but when it does it is always for a purpose and never felt unneeded to me.

Texhnolyze is a conceptually rich abstruse piece of fiction that tackles intricate philosophies such as nihilism and solipsism and displays them with contrasting themes through pragmatic practices. The drabby art style precisely exhibits the morbid facial features of the characters which also superbly emphasises their glum appearance and personifies their dismal behaviour and mannerisms. The storyboarding is astonishingly vehement and emotionally raw. The sound design is exotically rhapsodic.

Texhnolyze presents both orchestral sombre and bombastic soundtracks that synchronize almost perfectly with the doleful and suffocating nature of its world. The eerie atmosphere complements the miserable and desolate setting in which this narrative takes place in. ... The beginning is quite the slow burner, however the concept is deeply disturbing and the series of events are optimally executed. Texhnolyze references many scientific and psychological studies in intensive yet concise sequences.

A delicately crafted anomaly that deserves global recognition for its excellent attributes. This series is comparable to that of a fruit as it gradually develops into its most appetising condition throughout, which is when it becomes fully ripe. The delectable flavour it contains can only be savoured once you are able to truly appreciate the beauty of its enticing themes. Texhnolyze is simply a wondrous narrative that requires patience and maximum attention to be profoundly deciphered. It is the utmost perfect paradigm of fantasy. The pinnacle of all anime from an ideational perspective. The epitome of an immaculate story. Yoshitoshi Abe’s magnum opus.

If there was one word to describe this anime, that word would be "brutal". From the very first scene to the last, Texhnolyze constantly punishes it's characters and the world that it has created. This may make it sound like an unnecessarily harsh anime, it's quite the opposite. Texhnolyze is about the protagonist's growth and search for happiness in the darkest times.

Texhnolyze is set in a believable future where the world has been corrupted by a convoluted political system where the privileged have replaced limbs with prosthetics that can surpass regular human function. This sounds like the usual cyberpunk anime and while it does carry ... similarities with Ergo Proxy (Ergo Proxy was released a few years later), this is a very unique take on how humankind attempts to continue as a species.

The pacing for Texhnolyze begins incredibly slowly with the first episode having almost no dialogue at all. However don't let that dissuade you. Texhnolyze has an ability to tell it's story without being pretentious, nor does it insult your intelligence by making things obvious. The story builds each episode, adding layer upon layer until suddenly the anime is pure chaos.

The art and sound for Texhnolyze is superb. Every song used throughout the series sets the tone of the scene, usually giving a feeling of dread, emptiness or suffering. In fact, I enjoy the soundtrack so much that I now own it. The art is also done well. Each character is unique, the action is animated well while not being over the top to detract from the main storyline and the different settings are easy to tell apart. The soundtrack and art style are used well together to emphasize the themes involved in every scene.

The characters themselves are done well. Each character is important to the plot, explored in depth and memorable. There are no clear good guys or bad guys, instead Texhnolyze leaves the audience to try to make sense of the characters by themselves. The protagonist however can be a bit frustrating for some as he rarely ever speaks. Personally I did not have a problem with him though.

Texhnolyze is one of my favourite animes. However it is not for everyone. The action is not spectacular, the characters are not straightforward and the themes of the show are mostly quite depressing. Instead of aiming to tell an entertaining story, Texhnolyze tries to be thought provoking, leaving the viewer to ask questions such as "what makes living important?" and "can humans find happiness even if the future is bleak?". For anyone who does enjoy something complex, thought provoking and is prepared to put their mind to work while watching an anime, then Texhnolyze is perfect for you. But if you are looking to relax, avoid this series.

I can honestly say, I cried at the end. A wretching, sniffling, snorting, tear-filled cry.

There isn't much dialogue in it unlike quite a few anime, but it added to how beautiful it was. When there's no dialogue, you have to watch to make sure you know exactly what's going on. Usually, the music and the visual will communicate what's happening or what is about to happen.

The soundtrack to this was outstanding! I downloaded the OST and I listen to it as often as I listen to my other favourite OST. They mixed Jazz, piano (some classical), electronic, one magnificent Dub song, and guitar (acoustic, ... classical). The sound wasn't particularly dark, but it wasn't too up beat either.

What I loved; while I was watching it, everything Ichise was going through, I FELT. I got attached to him and he sucked me in further into the story and his pain and even his apathetic stares.

If you've watched Ergo Proxy, you'll recognize these voices from the show: Onishi is by Patrick Seitz (who played Raul Creed in Ergo Proxy) and Toyama is by Liam O'Brien.

KEEP IN MIND: This is not an anime for everyone. This anime takes a while to speed up and get to more dialogue. It's very bloody, gory, and has quite a few sexual scenes (including homosexuality).

Overall, it's an outstanding anime.

Rarely do you come across masterpieces like this. It's been some time since I watched Texhnolyze for the first time, but I just got to writing a review.

As most people know the series is a bit difficult to watch, though that didn't stop me from marathoning it one afternoon. The atmosphere is very dense, the story morbid, and the characters brooding; it's not an anime for everyone. Yet, anyone with some knowledge about anime will know why this series is a masterpiece regardless of whenether they enjoyed watching it or not.

Now to write a non-spoiler fast summary, let's say this is difficult as it's extremely ... easy to reveal something subtle so easily and ruin the enjoyment of somebody. Just read the MAL description, there's nothing much for me to say here.

Some might say Texhnolyze is an anime trying too hard to be dark and ends up much too shallow for such an atmosphere. The creators of this masterpiece did not intend to convey a deeper message, and that is something many might overlook. This is similar to the anime Ergo Proxy, albeit there the authors did indeed try to forward a "deep" message and in my opinion, failed horribly while creating a mediocre show. Texhnolyze was simply made to be a form of "simple" enjoyment and excels at this. All the feelings are there, the animation is top notch, and the soundtrack is extremely fitting.

While some of the characters might come across as shallow, each and every one of them are fun to watch on the screen. From the enigmatic Joshi to the commanding Oniishi, each of the people in Texhnolyze has a unique personality and contributes to the storyline; there are no filler characters.

The actual plot is a hit or miss. For me, it's a well-written story that might attract the occasional meaning-finder, but like I wrote before; it's just made to be enjoyed.

Overall Texhnolyze is one of the best anime ever created, up there with the similar Serial Experiments Lain. I urge any and everyone to try it out and at least watch the first few episodes as the plot starts to pick up and the pieces fill the puzzle.

Texhnolyze is a hard anime to watch. The first episode sweeps you up into a world where everything starts out dark and seemingly mundane, and continues to be this way throughout the 22 episodes you watch. Everyone seems to be so tired and dead inside, like the city of Lux itself. With a minimalist style, not much is said, but does there really need to be words to describe what this show represents?

Texhnolyze is an anime without excessive fight scenes, drama, or mostly anything that regularly pops up in current anime. Instead, it drags you along with Ichise slowly, almost painfully, having you experience and ... find out what being human really means, or rather what human society could turn into when evolving is no longer an option. The characters in Texhnolyze also strive to show the viewer human nature, most of them being more like symbols for certain characteristics of humanity than actual people. Texhnolyze is a slow show, however, if you stick it out and watch till the end, there is nothing quite like the conclusion Texhnolyze finds.

Texhnolyze is not an anime for the characters. Instead, it uses the characters as a means to progress the story. This is why the characters can feel very far away, even when they've been in the show from start to finish. But that doesn't mean the characters themselves aren't well written. In fact, in my opinion, Texhnolyze uses it's characters so well that they seem human even when put to a distance.

The soundtrack is particularly beautiful. Although the anime sometimes chooses silence over sound, whenever the music starts up, it never ceases to impress me, with mixtures of piano and violin, or even an electric guitar solo.

Overall, Texhnolyze is not a pleasant watch. You can't watch this show and walk away happy and fulfilled. It instead tries to deliver a dark truth about humanity and what will happen when we are no longer able to evolve. It may not be fun or uplifting to watch, but it is certainly rewarding in the end. I personally loved every moment.

A masterpiece that made me feel joyful and devastated simultaneously, especially at the end. Never have I seen anything end this way. Stunning...and by that I mean, literally stunned.

No, it's not an anime for everyone, thank God; if it were it wouldn't be itself. Texhnolyze is devastating, hardening, gruesomely realistic, gritty (including the animation). It surpasses thought provoking and reaches thought-torturing. It is absolutely beautiful.

The episodes are slow. Hell, the first episode in and I was already looking for reviews that dissed it, and believe me, they exist. There are plenty of pretty well written posts on why Texhnolyze is pointless and boring. ... Most of them say it's painful to watch, stupid, needlessly dystopian. And yeah, I can see where people would see it that way.

I had my doubts while watching the series as well. One episode would be great, one would be dry and I'd pause it a million times to look up more interesting facts, like who the voice actors were (most of whom apparently only participated in a handful of other animes, and some who only worked on Texh). But in the end, it pulls through.

It's not that it ends very differently than you may suspect; that might be why it is so powerful (at least to me). Texhnolyze doesn't focus on surprises or exciting plot twists because people are surprising and twisted enough on their own.

Absolutely sickening and gorgeously raw, so beautiful and so ugly and so, so human. Not for the faint of heart, but if you have one, you might just love it.

A psychological story about a futuristic dystopia could very easily go very wrong in the hands of the wrong people; Luckily, the people previously known for Serial Experiments Lain, Haibane Renmei, and a small wealth of other fine titles were at the controls of Texhnolyze. On that note, Texhnolyze bore fewer similarities to Lain than it did to Ergo Proxy; So, needless to say, if you have seen and enjoyed Proxy then this is definitely a show to watch (and vice-versa).

Story; 10. This is hands down why Texhnolyze is as good as it is. There were, sadly, a number of fairly aggravating faults in other ... aspects of the series, however the plotline was essentially flawless. Slow, realistic pacing is key here, so anyone who doesn't like any down time between plot points should probably steer clear of this from the start. However, once it gets going this show was actually very well paced. The last ten or so episodes were filled with intricate explanations, epic monologues, and genuinely unexpected twist; if Evangelion had a properly executed ending, it would have matched this one. The other noteworthy fact of Texhnolyze's story is the atmosphere it creates. The show from start to finish successfully carried a melancholy tone of poverty, deprivation, and various other elements that helped create a truly upsetting world. Episode 19 is probably the high point of this, which I can't actually explain. It's probably the only thing I've ever seen that made me want to cry, but not for any specific reason, it's just really heavy stuff. Very successful story.

Art; 8; This should pretty much come down to wether or not your a fan of Abe's style. If you are, it looks good, and if not, you're not going to like the way this looks any more than anything else he's ever done. And personally, I like it. A welcome change from all the doe eyed moe girls we're used to.

Sound; 8. The soundtrack served the dreary atmosphere well, there was not a pop hit in sight. Mostly low-fi electronic and strings, and being a fan of Juno Reactor already made it a cool treat to hear the opening, Guardian Angel.

Character; 7. Here's the issue I had here. Ichise was not developed really at all until around episode eight or nine; And right from the get go, I could tell I was supposed to feel bad for him. But, he wasn't developed at ALL, so I didn't. I can appreciate the idea of keeping a shroud of mystery over such characters in this kind of story, but even a small backstory segment would have helped me out a lot. Ran was done perfectly, however, and I thoroughly enjoyed her character. Actually, every side character was by stories end fleshed out incredibly well except Ichise, although they did admittedly pick up the ball towards mid series. The doc also grew on me a lot towards the end. It's a shame they messed him up so bad, because aside of that glaring issue it's a great show.

Enjoyment/Overall; 8. I welcome this series greatly because until now, nothing had even touched the head scratching, soul searching inexplicable "heaviness" of Ergo Proxy for me. Likewise, nothing had captured that dystopian, edge of complete destruction world, and on both accounts Texhnolyze delivered. This show deserves much more attention, because as a sum of all it's parts, it's a very successful series.

“Lack of originality, everywhere, all over the world, from time immemorial, has always been considered the foremost quality and the recommendation of the active, efficient and practical man.”
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The duality of the superficial world, free of conflict, chaotic world of Lux, which devours itself with all the lingering ambitions, shows that the two humanitarian sides have been brought to their extreme and ultimately failed since the balance has broken. In other words, it symbolizes two different ways of confronting (or presenting) the extinction of the human race.
Just waiting for death with peaceful memories of the past, or by living and fighting to another yourself ... until you die at least as a result of your actions and not just wait for your eventual appearance.

The other is interpreted more symbolically as a measure of the inner struggle of a person who lies in a coma with different personalities symbolizing the conflicting ideals or will within the mind.
My first experience with ABe trilogy and that was very satisfactory.
The series was shocking and unexpectedly bold, perhaps because of the ideas he discusses, namely stereotyping and oppression under the name of reform and refinement.

Of the things that I liked very much which matches the case of the city of Lux, which offers us the series systems of her life strange in the case of hell, which is essentially the embodiment of the torment of the human, for the inhabitants of the city of Lux is the most successful representation of the philosophy of nihilism most or all citizens of that city lost the identity and the will of life In waiting for a slow death, they live a life that neither nourish nor satisfy hunger , but is a formality routine waiting for the inevitable death.

In my opinion, the series succeeds in creating and embodying a miniature model, a genius, a revolutionary of nihilistic ideas, an actual embodiment of hell and a loss of the identity of life.

The whole series can show the conflict about how the mind must deal with those artificial, isolated state that finds itself in them. There is a religious aspect, the side of mind or order and disorder, which is symbolized by the three organizations in lux.
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Plot (10/10)
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Ran's role is more ambiguous in my opinion, but I think one thing is certain and that is that she saw all this coming from the beginning ,That is why she was very depressed throughout the show and refused to talk about her assumptions until the end , She wanted to be the only one who must suffer from that knowledge and not burden on others she is that she said to ichise that he would basically be the last one to die.

In the end, ichise, the representation of will or basic humanity if you want to call it to reject the path of insanity or to fight madness through endless waiting in the form of those forms.

Yoshii is one of the best villains as the motives and actions of the characters who presented the philosophy of nihilism in an ideal way , Yoshi's character was built in an excellent way , he was intrigued by humanity's emotions .
And Youshii's motives were presented perfectly and his motives are because of the stereotype of life on the surface and its lack of life in the real sense and the people on the surface became ghosts moving and breathing without a goal.

First: How does Yoshii see the world?

-Yoshi does not see the bright world that some of us see. He sees another world full of evil, extremist and malicious tendencies hidden in the hearts of those who dare not express it for various reasons, such as the existence of a legal deterrent, nor does he see any benefit from life. The existence of man is worthless and devoid of any real meaning.
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Characters (9/10)
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Art has been used deeply that the world it represents is a strange world, not necessarily an indicator of the past or the future but has a close enough with our world that we can realize the importance of the story to it.

The dark style of the animation inside the anime and the movement of camera and the world, which was exemplified in an excellent manner. All this was a great strong points of narration within this anime and the excellent soundtracks made this idealistic combination PERFECT.
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Animation & soundtrack (9/10)

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In conclusion..

The anime is dark and bloody, with a focus on music, inspiration and a lot of scenes.
Revolves around a number of different personalities whose lives and destinies intersect in an atmosphere of guerrilla warfare, betrayal, power struggles and who will rule the lousy city of Lux until a common enemy comes to destroy everything.

Personally I like the gangster style more than anything in my life
This series presented everything I love and enjoy.

The gangster style + Philosophical ideas + Blood & gore + Dark theme+ Excellent written characters + Story contains several aspects have been implemented in an excellent manner + soundtrack I still listen to it so far
what I can want more?
I consider Texhnolyze one of the best 3 animes I've ever seen

The story is a complex look at the harsh nature of reality where our hope for technological salvation isn't quite reachable. This series offers a glimpse into the very darkest aspects of the 'soul.' Humanity is on the brink of it's existence and the survivors are broken inside like shards of glass. The remaining humans electing to live in poverty in a struggle to hold onto any resemblance of a life, clinging to the scraps of civilization.

The pacing of this series is tediously slow although the rewards for watching are numerous. There isn't much dialogue, electing to rely on symbolism, flashbacks and the ability ... of the viewer to put the pieces together.

This series might not be appealing to newer fans of Anime but people willing to explore and search out the classics, revolutionary or simply older Anime; will enjoy this series. This is one series that shall stay with me, it's a truly unique series that deserves more love and respect. This series is truly an overlooked gem.

“Only one glass of water brightens the world” – Voice on Radio

There are times, sadly rare, when an anime will transcend the medium. Leaving behind the plucky, odd coloured hair hero or the somber anti-hero, these series inevitably leave their mark on anyone who watches them. They might be good, bad or somewhere in between; in the end it is irrelevant. They are different, they are weird and they are impossible to look away from.

Texhnolyze is one such series.

It begins with an episode oozing with symbolism. Blink and you’re apt to miss something, some crucial piece of a puzzle you’re never given all the pieces ... to anyway. It’s an episode that, or so I’ve heard, was specifically designed to drive casual viewers away and in that it succeeds. It almost turned me away, if I’m being honest. Dialogue is at a premium, whoever wrote the script hoarding words like they were priceless jewels. Without this crucial aspect of human interaction you’re forced to watch and judge for yourself; why are they doing these things? What is s/he thinking? What, exactly, is going on?

I have yet to see anything like it. But I’ll freely admit it isn’t for everyone. As I said, it nearly turned me off and so I can certainly understand why some might abandon this series. But if you can push through an odd first episode and a slow start, you’ll find something unique.

The story is set in Lux, a city caught in a tense stalemate between gangs. There’s vague references to the “Class”, a group of elite people living on a nearby hilltop. Mechanical limbs, the process of grafting them to a body dubbed texhnolyzation, are also present and quite widespread through society. Unfortunately, that is about all you get in regards to the world.

As I alluded to above, everything in this anime depends on your own interpretation. Nothing is spoonfed to the audience and while it works well with the characters, it fell flat when it came to the general world. Even after finishing it I have no real idea what Lux is, or who the Class are. It ultimately makes the anime purely character driven, which isn’t a bad thing, but a solid explanation by the end of the series would have been nice.

Speaking of the characters, they really do drive the story. Ichise’s search for meaning to his life is an interesting one, as is watching Oonishi fight for what he believes is the right thing to do. Others, such as Ran and the Doc, help to round out the cast and provide their own unique look at different topics. Change in them is subtle and slow, just like real people, and while I couldn’t predict their actions (or maybe more correctly they didn’t fit into roles I’d come to expect) they never felt like they betrayed who they were. Even if I didn’t agree with or understand their actions entirely, they never felt wrong. That was something Ichise would do, or that is something Ran would say.

The actual story itself shares this unpredictability, more so than the characters. I had no idea where it was headed for most of the series, and I mean that in a good way. It kept me wanting to watch, wanting to see what happened next. There aren’t many anime that pull this off and it felt…refreshing.

Moving on to the technical aspects, the sound is great. Whether it’s the opening song, a new personal favourite, or the strangely alien sounds of the texhnolyze vision (you’ll understand what I mean when you watch), it all just fits. Nothing seems out of place and it’s all good quality.

The art style is a little different, however, and might take some getting used to. It feels…old, I suppose? I’m not quite sure how to describe it. Sort of similar to how shows like Bebop and Outlaw Star were drawn way back when, but with a facelift and some more modern design choices, like less harsh edges. It might take getting used to by some, but it’s not all that bad and suits the kind of depressing tone the show seems to go for.

In the end, I’d recommend this for anyone looking for something different. If you’re not into that sort of thing, however, I’d give it a miss.

The quintessential series that is "not for everyone". A show which its enjoyment heavily depends on the observer, but I would like to dispel that notion.

Texhnolyze is certainly a difficult anime, as you see it the story becomes more serious and it becomes clear with every passing episode that the conclusion won't be a happy resolution. And yet that is the hold point of the journey, here you have a show concerning the transformation of the human essence once the pick of the race has long past. The cast are here to represent different aspects of our species and in their different arches will ... see how something new will be born.

Now that right there is where most people that i know say lies the reason why this show cannot be for all audiences, and here I disagree. First let me say that the only prerequisite is that you have more than 21, if so even if you do not like this genre you have to watch this anime. This is mainly because the scope a spread of the ideas presented are enough to justify at least one complete view of the episodes once in a life time.

The subjects tackled will expand greatly any set of values and at least force some revising of one's beliefs, and such a confrontations with once self will open new forms of thought.

So to end, watch it at least once regardless of personal preferences.

This is an incredibly skillful anime.

It is also depressing as all get-out.

Any anime that really wants to depress its viewers has to have some amount of skill, or else it will lose its audience. "Now and Then, Here and There" is my typical example of a depressing anime done with minimal necessary skill.

"Texhnolyze," on the other hand, is the work of a mad genius who went off his medication during production. Oddly enough, the creator started working on this series while doing a much less depressing series, namely "Charcoal Feather Federation." Rumor has it he needed to do a depressing ... series to balance out the uplifting emotions from "Charcoal Feather Federation."

So, yeah, the creative talent behind this show is literally insane. Therefore I recommend watching it with a certain amount of self-restraint. If you like the ultimate direction of the storyline, I recommend "Gilgamesh," a similarly epic story that I enjoyed much more. Both stories tend to tell a lot with just visual images, silences, and implications rather than lots of verbal exposition.

This is easily the most heart-breaking anime I've ever seen. At the start, I was unsure whether it was worth continuing. The random sexual acts drove me mad, and a number of things led me to believe it would be the same plot I had seen and hated zillions of times. Rival gangs in a run-down city? An orphan who was clearly destined to become the classic tormented anti-hero with daddy issues? A mysterious tribe with a despondent clairvoyant? Yet another heavily symbolic world of synthetic technology? And that name! Shameful! How could this be good? To anyone who is thinking along those same lines, ... I highly recommend that you stick it out. Because this anime turned out to be anything but ordinary.

The story and environment design were very well done, but the thing that resonated with me the most in this series were the characters. Even the characters I despised I could identify with and understand. There were few shallow fillers; each individual had their own interesting psychology. For example, Doc. Oh did I hate that woman with a burning passion. But, I could see exactly where she was coming from. She represents many women, I feel. Even though she is talented, successful, beautiful, and smug about it all, she is never really satisfied. She can't be. There exists a void within her, a starving desire for love and affection which she has never received and subtly tries to fill throughout the series. And I have to mention Ichise, my favorite. Ichise is a marvel to me because he is unlike any other main character or hero protagonist I've met. In the beginning he is a complete animal, which is a very rare state to be portrayed in. I was expecting for him to be reformed into the bad boy with a heart of gold, or maybe the kid with a hard-edged personality who doesn't always let people off easy, but does it for the greater good or out of disgust for the depraved. But Ichise is none of these. He cannot be called a hero in even the loosest sense of the term. He is merely a survivor who does wrong more often than right, and the good that he does is usually out of a sense of loyalty, duty, or yearning to belong. He isn't intended to be a role model. In this way he is just like most of humanity. But besides being just as awful as the rest of us, he maintains uniqueness. Talking isn't really his thing, he only does it when he has to. Even if a direct question is posed to him, he rarely answers it. He is passive, almost to the extent that you could consider him a doll at times, and yet he has free will. He is also extremely detached and hardly ever shows emotions. Few bonds are made with him throughout the series, despite the attempts by some, and he is disinterested in any physical touch. And, happily for viewers, although his deceased parents do play a role in his psyche, they are rarely brought up and there are no "please feel sorry for me, I had such a tragic past!" moments. Also very refreshing is the fact that Ichise is not undefeatable. He is extremely determined to survive and a strong fighter, but able to be conquered.

Whew, sorry about that long paragraph, but I was very much enthralled by the characters of this series. Moving on, the storyline also turned out to be quite lovely. Even though a few stereotypes remain in this series, for the most part it was surprisingly deep. Worlds and human minds are masterfully and chillingly depicted, and everything that occurs can be described as hauntingly sorrowful. The overall feeling of the series is very disconnected, and many of the interactions and emotions are inconspicuous. How characters really feel is often open to interpretation. Texhnolyze is one of the few series I have watched that I have not sat back and thought, "hmm, I could have done so much with this to make it better". I won't give anything about the plot away, but as I said in the very beginning this anime is heart-breaking. If you are looking for a feel-good show or just a happy ending.... it's not here, ha ha. It does not get light-hearted or even remotely satisfying at any point. While it is poignantly dark and beautiful, it is not for the faint of heart and will only become a favorite of viewers who enjoy very solemn shows.

After re-watching this series over a few years, I have to mention that some of the plot points stick with me, particularly when it comes to human integration with technology. The author's interpretation is that the more "engineered" humans become, and the more their body parts become replaced with "better" cybernetic ones, the less human people become. I know we aren't in that stage of the future yet, but I think we will be someday, and I very much enjoyed the speculation on this topic. I'm fascinated by the idea that even something basic - like our organs - can carry pieces of our souls with them, and that if enough pieces of our body are replaced, we might cease to have souls.

Some little things about this series that caught my attention:

Music. The theme song!!!!! I Love it! It's a rare thing indeed when an anime has a mainly instrumental opening, especially one that fits so well.

Lack of common symbolism. There is much symbolism in this series for sure, but you won't hear cicadas or go into any weird "mind state" episodes.

No psychological oddities. This series is psychological in many ways; however, it is mostly out there in front of you, and with some thinking you can figure it out. You won't be tripping acid to understand what's going on.

Rewatch value. This series would actually be great the second time around, and a second viewing would heighten understanding. I can say that with certainty after having re-watched it at least three times now.

In closing, this is a beautifully done, character driven, well-written series, but it is definitely not for happy-go-lucky types of people.

Texhnolyze is a mature series - it isn't mature down to:
- sexual content
- swearing
- masses of gore
- taboo subjects
Instead, it's mature simply down to the high psycological element that requires the audience to commit full attention to every factor of what's on screen.
This is very diffeent series - an odd, cyberpunk, apocolyptic style, partial conspiracy that still confuses me a tad.

Story...
This series really is a great example of a psycological mind mess. It leaves a great deal up for discussion an it offers little information.
The story pretty much starts at episode one; backstories aren't too importiant and events that occur during the run of the ... series are the only ones that require explainations.
The tone is eerie and the pace is very slow - delibrately, just to ensure the audience gets a full insight into just how bad a situation is, in favour of simply skimming over the uncomfortable and featuring a character re-adapt in no time - these characters are a gloomy as it gets, the detail to their desperate prediciments makes can easily lead a viewer to yearn for answers just as much as the character in question.
Story comes before character type within this anime and as stated, the delivery is purposley slow, so this isn't for everyone, some viewers should avoid, some may have to put effort into pushing threw a few early ep's (it picks up as time goes by), whilst others may simply accept and enjoy the pace (it is something rare afterall).

Characters...
This series features loners; the deeply depressed, the disturbed, mystery workers and mystery travelers - some suffer in silence whilst others are calmly sadistic - basicaly, nobody is extrovert; characters in general don't feel the need to fill a slience, yet they get their points across.
It becomes clear that the characters are all fairly complex, possibly the headlining male lead in particular, who appears to be an anti-social loner who you could easily assume to be a selective mute - he's set in his ways, yet he undergo's a journey - his journey in particular is one you must really follow carefull, as; he hardley speaks, he has no friends or family speaking for him, no narration on his thoughs and past and no clear enemy.

Art...
The scenery in general is eveerything, as in this series, actions speak louder then words (litterally;the characters hardly speak, easy job for the voice actors?) - the scenery is pretty, quite realistic looking and constantly changes - the colour tone witin the series fits in with the mood - anything from dull to misty; generally eerie.
The characters are well illustrated; reaslistic looking in comparrassion to most modern animes, where the characters are very 'cute' and animated looking - this looks a little like some of the animes popular in the 90s.

Overall...
It seems as though this isn't really one of those things you're suppose to sit and 'enjoy' as such (i.e. not entent to get the audience too excited); you're suppose to simply take in what you see and watch what unfolds - it's not loaded with action scenes or clear info'; it's one of those each individual watching may percive differently.

Enjoyment...
Brilliant, well though out, mature material - much reccomended!
Very different; not normally my thing - being into; high energy, fast pace, action tales with quirky characters - this is the polar oposite; a purposely slow pace, moody and suprisingly realistic story I'm not even sure you're suppose to enjoy.

Texhnolyze's protagonist, Ichise, personifies the human condition. He is persistent in his struggle to survive despite inhabiting a crumbled society, becoming a symbol of hope. Never does Ichise allow his surroundings to interrupt what his goal or task is at any given instance throughout the series' run, and while most of his time is spent being a tool for technological advancement or a developing weapon to protect his masters, his resilience is always present, and his lack of independence is ironically enough, ITSELF an act of independence. This is because this is all Ichise knows. Since his parents' death, his existence requires instruction, and without ... it, his is nothing more than an enraged, primal beast, and as his character develops, this requirement gradually disappears, as does his instinctive rage. His construction as a human being feels organic. There are moments in which Ichise emotionally reverts, seemingly submitting to the overwhelming events unfolding before him. Through this, it is important to understand that Ichise, as a personification of the human condition, demonstrates emotional fragility, which consistently makes his personal development difficult. This gives him something both internal and external to overcome, making the finished product more rewarding. By the show's end, Ichise is the sole survivor, content with the fact that death is inevitable; a testament to his newfound maturity. Having witnessed and being responsible for countless deaths and destruction, all that is left is a man satisfied with fulfilling his purpose with nothing left to give. Anybody reading this could reasonably find something within you that can be find within Ichise. Lord knows my emotional fragility is nothing short of intense. He is humanity; an allegory of self-improvement, self-reflection, hope, and survival.

Ichise comes into contact with an array of significant characters, but none more compelling than Eriko, colloquially referred to as "Doc". While Texhnolyze's characters effectively construct Ichise into the character he eventually becomes, Eriko is a character constructed BY her interactions with Ichise. Her sole motivation was technological innovation, which gradually becomes secondary upon discovering the perfect lab rat, Ichise. Through her infatuation with him, her goal is set to be realised, and her faith in humanity to strive further as a species can be justified. As the show progresses, she detects Ichise's rejection of the platonic, almost parental relationship she created, which, as a result of this suspicion being accurate, prepares her for isolation from the world entirely, returning to the surface alongside Ichise before she eventually kills herself in a reveal that is superbly illustrated, maintaining thematic and tonal consistency with enough subtlety to infer what is being presented, as well as being agonizing to witness upon realisation, creating the show's most powerful death scenes in a show that is emblematic of death itself. Her initial image as a saviour and a solution to humanity's prosperity is, in and of itself, rejected, and her character arc is a reflection of the species' futility and powerlessness, as she allows her emotions to get the best of her; character traits starkly similar to her beloved guinea pig.

In Texhnolyze's first half, there are three ideologically opposed factions. Firstly, Organo predominantly holds power over citizens of Lux, boasting strong organisational prowess and resources by way of technological advancement. This however is viewed as a commodity, and through their power came the segregation of classes. The subset of individuals who have lost all hope are unable to access the impressive technology Organo possesses, and are actively neglected by the above class. Organo is materialistic and self-serving. Their arrogance is best highlighted in a scene where Ichise, post-texhnolyzation, is disgusted and enraged by his modified body, interrupting a conversation involving Eriko. Eriko sees Ichise's behaviour as ungrateful as if he owes her, and, by extension, Organo for all that they've done for him, placing themselves on a holier-than-thou pedestal, which is also a solid example of Eriko's saviour-complex being displayed. To acquire their services requires total submission, and that is Ichise's relationship with Organo. Of course, within Organo as a collective lies characters with ideological agency themselves, Eriko already serving as an example. Her position in Organo is merely advantageous to her actual goal. To give another example, there's Organo's leader Onishi, who displays immeasurable conviction to his principles throughout the show, leading to internal conflicts within the organization. He is calm and collected to a fault; almost benevolent, if not for his passive leadership and naive perspective on the society he leads. His organisational behaviour is his undoing, and he is often seen struggling to maintain control amidst the chaos, forcing him to wholly reshape himself. To understand Onishi's decisions as a leader, it's important to remember a key phrase repeatedly used to justify said decisions. To paraphrase, "the city doesn't wish to see a spectacle". This appeal to decorum and peace indicates that for all the power and influence that Onishi has at his disposal, the inevitability of conflict is inescapable, forming the basis for his character progression. Referring back to my initial point, the second of the three factions are Organo's opposition the Salvation Union, who sought to interfere with Organo's work as they wish to rid Lux of texhnolyzation, so as to not sully their flesh. Obviously most resembling a religious cult, the Union through sheer charisma and dogma, have the ability to indoctrinate individuals who have nothing left to lose or had nothing to fight for in the first place into following their cause. Unlike Onishi who prefers to dismiss security accompaniment, Kimata, the Union's leader, has no problem allowing his followers to guard and protect him. He views his underlings as disposable, whereas Onishi does not, and under the guise of salvation, Kimata seeks to gain power through manipulating those beneath him, which is a striking reflection of the reality of cults and their larger-than-life leaders. Thirdly, Lakan is an organization of texhnolyzed individuals who desire nothing more than freedom from the turmoil surrounding Lux, and the freedom to do as they wish. Lakan, despite their rejection of a system designed to oppress, ultimately falls victim to complacency. Much like the Union, their advocacy invites and attracts individuals who have nothing to fight for and want purpose. However, one crucial difference is that the Union's followers had long forfeited their agency, meaning their capacity to abandon the cause is impossible, whereas Lakan's members, as implied by Yoshii, will, for lack of a better description, run away when shit hits the fan. Yoshii is a man who derives fascination from human behaviour, believing Lux to be an embodiment of this component. He almost serves as the viewer's avatar by virtue of being an outsider. Though his actions throughout the show [a small example being when he kills two people as a method of liberation from their personal hopelessness and entrapment] make him so much more than that. Yoshii's philosophy essentially boils down to "to embrace death is to abandon suffering", which is a notion that is prevalent thematically long after his death, meaning he remains an integral component and is not forgotten after his exclusion from the show. His actions shift the paradigm; he essentially wants to watch the world burn or, more specifically, wishes to analyse the primitive nature of humanity by testing their fortitude to adapt.

Compared to what has occurred so far, the latter half of Texhnolyze is more abstract with its thematic presentation, shifting focus away from gang warfare in favour of the fight against a greater enemy, raising the stakes exponentially. Surrounding this, a couple of existing minor characters are developed and/or are thematically relevant. For example, Toyama, an Organo member, who is initially tasked to show Ichise the ropes upon his recruitment, is an intriguing character in his own right. Throughout his time with Ichise, he reflects on why he chose texhnolyzation; to erase any trace of relation to his father, who is presented as despicable and perverse. This parallels Ichise's hatred of his father before discovering he was framed, forming somewhat of a rivalry, making Toyama the yin to Ichise's yang. While it's clear their angst is based on similar circumstances, Toyama is fundamentally different as a person. Ichise himself is very forthcoming and motivated, despite his motivation effectively deriving from angrily punching people and seeking instructional purpose, whereas Toyama is willingly subservient and unsure of himself. All Ichise knows is subservience, while Toyama is aware of his subservience and does nothing about it; he is accepting of it. His development is driven by inferiority, which culminates in his eventual defeat after choosing to fight Ichise one-on-one, which Toyama specifically desired by killing the grunts invading the surface alongside him. As a character with an inferiority complex, Toyama is superb.

Another superb supporting character is Kohakura, a member of the Organo's council with significant influence within the organisation. Lux's inhabitants are no strangers to seeking personal gain, but I believe Kohakura best represents the concept through his actions and ideals. He is initially responsible for the loss of Ichise's limbs, which already presents him as cold and ruthless, given how this event was also an independent decision rather than an order. He picks his spots with calculation unlike his fellow council members, who shared a similar dissatisfaction with Onishi's leadership during the show's first half. A natural opportunist, Kohakura decides to become a Shape, the next step in evolution and advancement, as we see his head on, what appears to be an operating table, connected to a mechanical torso. It is a horrifying visual that elicits curiosity and fear, as well as an insightful view into the nature of separating one's physical humanity. Even after the technology's defection, Kohakura considers his evolutionary ascension as fortunate, his only regret being unable to make Onishi see and follow the path he did. Ultimately, as a man who understands the moral bankruptcy of the society he inhabits, he finds solace in the fact that such an unfortunate outcome was always likely in a world where misfortune is commonplace.

A prevalent theme, which most closely relates to the neighbouring village of Gabe is determinism vs. free will. Gabe's governance is influenced by a "seer", an individual who possesses the ability to see visions of one possible near-future out of many. In Gabe, the seer's visions are infallible, making them followers and purveyors of fate. Their actions have little to no impact on the happenings within Lux, mainly because their way of life permits them to back off. The impending destruction of humanity is essentially common knowledge to Gabe, meaning that through their complacency, they have already accepted death, while their neighbours are attempting to fight it. The seer is a young girl named Ran who, contrary to her followers, is extremely crucial to the events of Texhnolyze. Ran often rejects her responsibility of seer, and her lack of maturity and a combination of other things, such as her desire to protect Ichise, prevents her from accepting her visions, shown to be in a state of panic in one instance. Her presence is omniscent; her existence fuels humanity and its sanity, which is an incredible burden to carry and it shows. The connection between her and Ichise for example is formed via desperation and her acknowledgement of potential in Ichise as a ray of hope among the hopeless as evidenced by her visible disappointment whenever Ichise falls back into old habits, as well as her ominous prophecy of "you will hurt many people", which I believe to be a way to direct Ichise into doing the opposite. Ran as a character is a terrific and tragic example of unfathomable power being forced upon a host who can't possibly control it, which by extension forces them to either find an unlikely escape or accept the consequences through no fault of their own.

The world of Texhnolyze is defined by its barren atmosphere, which perfectly coincides with the show's world building. The towering architecture reinforces the city's oppressive aura, and, like its citizens, Lux distinctly lacks colour and vigor; blacks, greys and browns engulf the landscape alongside a harsh, synthetic sky that blasts down to truly emphasize the city's internal darkness. Ironically, the lifeless nature of Lux is what gives it character; the destruction and constant turmoil breathes life into the city unlike society on the surface, which is a peaceful haven but robotic in nature. Citizens of the surface mechanically follow almost programmed motions ignorant of the fact that death has already taken them. The aesthetic irony and contrast between Lux and the surface is staggeringly apparent, with the latter being a heavenly and prosperous paradise upon first glance until the facade of beauty disappears. In the same way an abandoned ghost town is haunting, the surface generates the same feelings, and it is presented with a deft understanding of what can potentially make a setting scary; repetitive and ambiguous radio transmissions, citizens being translucent figures absent of natural human behaviour, even something as simple as an empty movie theatre, they serve to provide a chilling atmosphere, greatly enhancing the fear factor. It is known that the show as a whole highlights the acceptance of death through the nihilistic realisation that life is meaningless, so I don't believe that the theme's presence is unique to the surface. Instead, using that as a basis to suggest that death acceptance is what the surface primarily represents, secondarily the surface is representative of the monotony, misery, and tedium of peace. Before I explain, it's important to note that I define peace in the context of Texhnolyze as the omission of conflict, regardless of its severity. Citizens of the surface are husks, either ignorant of the near-death or are awaiting death, nostalgic of their past now trapped within an infinite state of nothingness. It is through conflict that humanity is able to function or, at the very least, it is a dominant component to its functionality. Something like simple disagreements constitute as conflict and without something as innate to social engagement as this, you get the surface's citizens, who may as well be drones. This idea is best evidenced in scenes featuring former citizen of the surface turned train engineer Sakimura, who upon returning from Lux, accompanying Ichise and Eriko, is met with the same unnatural, unchanging, and uniform behaviour from his old work peers and boss. Sakimura raises concerns about an invasion to his old boss, to which the response given to him is that of apathy, which is putting it lightly. The response is not so much apathy as it is just a predetermined, programmed interaction prompt. This best demonstrates the robotic nature of the surface, as well as the exclusion of conflict through the fact that citizens are seemingly programmed with piece in mind at all times with no consideration of any deviation.

tl;dr...Texhnolyze is slow-paced, dark, satisfying, and beckons the question... what qualifies humanity?


Warning: The content of this series is extremely mature and can be jarring. Anybody who is overly sensitive towards violence, sex, nudity, and abuse, proceed with caution.

This series is one that is difficult to describe with words, granted I will do my best. This is because Texhnolyze is an experience. The meaning of this series is derived from the character's struggles and the ability, as the viewer, to experience their inner turmoil and search for purpose along with them. It delves deep into the core of the viewer and prompts ... the question: what is humanity? This work is riddled with symbolism and motifs and can be labeled as "artsy" by many and as such, can be quite off-putting to some (especially considering the pacing).

Story (9.7/10)
The plot of Texhnolyze is quite simplistic in all honesty despite the complexity of following the involved parties, however, the manner in which it is portrayed is absolutely phenomenal (I mean that in both senses of the word; get it? senses?). Human society has been driven underground and in order to survive and evolve, they have resorted to replacing lost body parts with machinery. This process is referred to as texhnolyzation and raffia is utilized as "fuel" for the texhnolyzation process. There are two echelons of society, the class and the citizens of Lux. Within Lux, there are three organizations which are notable, the Organo, the Racan, and the Union. The Organo is a band of basically political gang members whose primary goal is to preserve order in society and their own power. The Racan is a band of Texhnolyzed ruffians whose primary goal is to be a hindrance to whichever influential organization they deem to be corrupt at the time. Lastly, the Union is a group of Lux citizens whose primary goal is to fight against texhnolyzation in order to preserve humanity's purity. The series follows their interactions with one another as well as with the class and the society above ground. The pacing of the story is quite slow and some might argue that there is no story. However, this just simply is not the case as the characters are dynamic and most definitely evolve as the plot develops. I enjoyed the pacing, as it was exactly the correct speed to invoke realism and envelope the viewer in the fictional world. Do no expect a happy go-lucky carefree story; the substance of the story is dark, serious, and extremely mature. The ending is satisfying and there is a large amount of replay value.

Art (9.8/10)
I am no expert on early 2000's anime art quality, but I can say that I highly enjoyed the art in this series. There seemed to be a tremendous amount of effort put into the backgrounds, settings, and the character's surroundings. The characters were not exceptionally astounding with the exception of their eyes. The eyes were not only realistic, unlike most anime, but also quite beautiful. This is done purposefully, in my opinion, in order to portray the essence of humanity in all of its organic beauty, in contrast to the lifeless machinery elsewhere in their body or in their world. The settings determine the mood of the series and there is a distinct difference in mood between above ground and below ground. The most important aspect to me is that the art portrays the raw emotion present in the series quite flawlessly throughout.

Sound (10/10)
There are many times during this series where there is little dialogue. This results in a large dependency on sound effects, music, and ambient noise. If there is any area where texhnolyze is effective, it is most definitely the sound. All three of these areas, I would argue, do not add to the mood or the feeling of the story, but rather dictate and establish them. It is through these mediums that we come to know the characters and truly feel what they are experiencing. This is most obvious in the ambient noise present when the viewer experiences the direct perspective of a texhnolyzed individual as there are distinct ambient noises constantly present in that individual's perception. This is something that cannot effectively be communicated, but must be experienced. There are few forms of expression more raw, honest, and pervasive than music. It is a veritable painting for the ears.

Character (9.5/10)
Each and every character is given special care. The writers wanted to understand their experiences and motivations for all of their actions, and as such their presentation to the viewer is, once again, raw. There is little that can be assigned as arbitrary, unless, of course, you decide the entire story is arbitrary. Practically each character is relatable in one way or another and it doesn't feel as though they are confined by the traditional archetypes of storytelling, which is a primary factor in achieving the level of realism present in this series. Each character has to decide what they want to live for, their resolution towards achieving their goals, and ultimately, at what point has their spirit been broken.
[Also, can I just say how happy I was that the men in this show do not fawn over women and chase them blindly, but rather evaluate their worth based on their character...]

Enjoyment (9.4/10)
Enjoyment of this show is a funny thing to rate because it is not really meant to be enjoyed, it is meant to be appreciated and understood... experienced, if you will (excuse my constant use of the term). Instead of saying I enjoyed this series, I would rather say I was satisfied with it. Enjoyment gets the lowest rating of all categories for me simply because it is almost impossible to truly "enjoy" this show unless you are a psychopath. This makes it a large barrier for most viewers and even though compomrising this aspect would be largely compromising to all aspects of the experience, it is a pill that is difficult to swallow.

Overall (9.7/10)
The best anime I have seen to date.

For anybody desiring a more in-depth thematic analysis I plan on writing one and posting it on my profile.

This is one of those animes that a person will dismiss after a couple of episodes or it will stick with them for a very long time. For me, its the latter. Since the synopsis of the series is already provided, I'll head straight for my thoughts on this masterpiece.

Texhnolyze is not for everyone, I repeat Texhnolyze is NOT for everyone. It showcases dark subject matters such as incest, prostitution, and molestation. This is the first anime series I've seen that I would consider adult rated. Though several scenes made me cringe in discomfort, I was also in awe at how well executed those scenes ... were. It immersed me even more in the dark atmosphere of the series.

Story: The story is original and provides a slow pace that gives the viewer an eerie vibe. It successfully leaves the viewer with an impending sense of doom and gloom. It's a very dark story that provides not a single bit of happiness. This is something that is made clear within the first couple episodes. So the series does not mislead you into thinking there is a happy ending because newsflash there is no happy ending for anyone who lives in the city of Lux. Another thing to point out is that much like Ergo Proxy, this series is extremely confusing. Confusing to the point where it might leave the viewer disoriented which I believe was a huge benefit to the series. The disorientation made you relate to the main character who didn't know what was going on half of the series.

The characters: Ichise is a commendable and unique main character. He doesn't speak much yet his actions are more than enough for us to understand him. He was a huge plus point for me while watching this anime. He was so unlike any character of any anime I have ever seen. Flawed and savage yet at times calm and mysterious. Besides him the only other character I really liked or was intrigued by was Oonishi.

Art/Sound: The art is similar to Serial Experiments Lain. The dark tones and random flashes of light were intriguing and didn't hinder my enjoyment of the show. The sound was excellent and succeeded in shrouding us in mystery, sadness, and intrigue. The opening and ending themes were good but the ending song for the last episode (the last 5 minutes of the series) blew my mind away. It was haunting and sad, the perfect personification of the series.

This series has one of the most beautifully tragic endings in the history of anime. I won't spoil anything but I will say that the ending was very well executed and will require to have a tissue box.

Though I have done nothing but praise the series, I will say that this is not an anime I will be re-watching anytime soon. It haunted me long after i finished it and left me in a somber mood. Its an anime that I will re-watch only when I want to show others.

I recommend this for anyone who enjoys a dark, captivating and ultimately sad story. Despite its not so happy atmosphere, I feel that this is an anime that deserves more recognition if not for the story than for the characters.

First of all, if you like the type of anime that you have to connect many dots to understand something, you 'll love this.
The characters are so good and memorable. It starts slow but it's worth it to see. I couldn't get attached to the characters to the point of crying. I don't know if the anime itself was trying to achieve that.
Yes, the first episode is very gloomy. There are few animes like this, it's a unique experience.
Even though it is relatively old, you have to understand why the reviews give it so many tens. It may not be your ... style of anime but give it a chance.

Thanks for reading.