Yami to Boushi to Hon no Tabibito

Note: the following comes from a video review, links on my profile page.

One of the first noticeable things here is the quick change of genre; mostly taking a couple of episodes, they delve into entirely different worlds, kind of like Chrono Trigger, which then ended up resembling different styles.

It starts off in a Baccano-esque train, which makes one think it's possibly a neo-noir, although even within this setting there are odd traits, like a traditional Japanese dress within a Siberian surrounding, and what seems like a stereotypical magic user (two sort of constants with variations throughout).

While there is always an entirely different type of environment, ... there are still similarities, besides the protagonists. What is interesting (that some people don't seem to appreciate or understand) is how the whole of this anime is like a combination of Inuyasha and Lain, with added innuendo. In thirteen episodes it certainly managed to include a variety of narratives and visual differences. It could have combined elements even more explicitly, but the subtle approach to it is interesting too.

The point of this anime isn't the ecchi at all, no... how much hentai out there has the same average rating, though? For some people it seems having everything else also interesting makes no difference... To Love Ru is how popular, again? They have things in common; both attempt sci-fi, except in TLR it is almost deflated. Lala keeps inventing gizmos and the only thing the narrative comes up with is the same exact comedic routines invariably involving the protagonist falling, with inevitable coincidences. Lala in Yami happens to be an AI in a spaceship that cares for children for one particular reason... and yet the latter is what the average viewer rates less, really? Yami has so much depth to it, TLR tried to have bits of romance too, only to fall flat on its face (literally, often), whereas the romance in Yami can be funny and deep at the same time, with added existential complications.

The ecchi, in a sense, is only there because there is also everything else along with it. Ecchi shouldn't be the point of an anime, just like the sports genre shouldn't ideally focus exclusively on that, and instead be merely an accompaniment along with characters' lives. If there is only ecchi, of course, it would practically be hentai, and that is what TLR very nearly is sometimes. Whereas with Yami, even in such scenes, the narrative is making itself cohesive, and not a moment is wasted on capricious nudity for its own sake.

This is when a story is powerful - when, in a scene that could evoke merely lust, there is also a sense of inter-dimensional love, of a chance that something could be lost. Anime that would not settle with only a single relationship, but includes countless analogies of what that relationship could be, of what a cyclic universe could contain. This is when animation tries to do a lot, and ends up doing it, on average, well and visually interesting.

There's a lot to be said about Yamibo, and that may be a sort of understatement. From the confusing but unique narrative, to the giant disturbing-looking hat, to the lesbian incest subplot, it's a real trip if you're only seeing it for the first time.
In fact, I'm not sure how I was able to get through it. But that's for another time. Here are some of my honest thoughts on the bizzare, yet captivating world of Yamibo.

First of all, a question on everyone's mind, what in god's good graces is going on here? Well to be frank, the plot is simple. Two sisters, Hatzuki and ... Hatsumi live together. As an added bonus, Hatzuki has a giant prevalent crush on Hatsumi. Aside from that, on Hatsumi's 16th birthday she disappears out of nowhere. However, Hatzuki is able to follow her with the help of a creature named Ken, where they end up in a place called The Great Library.

On a positive note, for an anime released in 2003 I was expecting much lower quality art and animation. As well as character design. Though, all of these things are the strongest point of the show. One of the reasons I was able to endure the absolutely deranged plot was because of how striking and unique the characters were.

Now to the issue I have. The writing. This is where the show falls flat on its face. With such a unique storyline and characters, one would expect that the writing meets the same standards that I had walked in with. A lot of the characters, especially Hatsumi, have extremely boring and unlikable personalities and fall under severe cliches. Of course this is isekai, of course it's going to be cliche to all hell, but this is the kind that isn't handled properly.

The only characters I can say that I enjoyed the presence of are Hatzuki, Kuiru, and Milka. Yet, that's already bad enough. Hatzuki is the main character with the most shown depth, however, a grand portion of that depth relies on the sister incest subplot that plays an unnecessarily large role in the series. Incest anime is one thing, for sure it exists and I acknowledge that it's just simply not my thing, and that's ok. I have an issue, though, with shows that just don't need it. Not even as a plot twist (I'm looking at you, Vampire Knight).

Characters like Hatsumi are handled very poorly, she's written as a damsel-like, meekly, and almost fanservice-y character. Again, I have no issue with these sorts of things. In some shows, it's vital and I can see why it's utilized. Once again, the issue lies more with the fact that these tropes don't need to be utilized here. The series would've been much more entertaining if it weren't for the constant overuse of uninteresting narratives. Maybe the incest is interesting, I can't speak on that, but these things don't hold good reputation with my immersion in the series.

In conclusion, and on a semi positive note, Yamibo wasn't horrible. In fact, I can say with my chest that I've seen worse. If you enjoy bizzare, short, and snappy shows with an almost indescribably awkward and strange nature to them, you'll love this. If you aren't a fan of those things, it still isn't a terrible watch for those into the early 2000s period of anime.

My final ranking, I give it a 6/10. This was my first ever longform review so that's exciting.

To be honest,idk why i keep on watching this anime until the end. It starts with MEH and ended with EGH?! WHAT WAS THAT?!

and here we go reviewing~~~

Story : 3
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the story are all over the places. It was like we jumping throughout the series without any aim and without we notice,TADA! we has arrived in our destination. At first,the synopsis gave me a lot of expectations and this anime didn't live up to even one of them at all. Even so,i keep and keep watching this with a little fragrance of hope left in last episode and BAM!!!! they bang my hope to a totally ... K.O with the last Lilith and Eve's scene. The only one story i can find my liking in it is the Train arc,others than that,i feel like i was an idiot who keep on wasting my time all thx to the expectations that damn synopsis gives

Art :4
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The art is quite good and i don't find any problem in it except for 2 things : Eyes and Boobs.First,The Eyes,somehow i don't like hatsumi's eyes,it gives off an Ecchi chill and it somehow creeps the hell outta me. Second,Boobs. The size was okay but on some scenes,there are wrong positions in it.I dont really care if if it is to make it looks more ecchi or anything but, Hell it was too far from realistic. I know Right that this anime is under ecchi genre but when i check on google-sensei,i can't find any ecchi pic in its results and so the stupid side of me made an expectation just to be crushed to the ground

Sound : 5
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i dont have any problem in sound nor any liking in it so it is mediocre

Character : 5
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i like 2 characters in this anime : Hatsuki and Youko. Both of them are awesome in one aspect : they can fight for her own self and don't need others to clean up their mess. A dark-haired cool bishoujo with a wonderful swordmanship also a purple-haired bishoujo spy with a kick that left u in awee~~ sounds interesting,doesn't it?
~For other characters,i don't have any problem nor liking in them

Enjoyment : 4
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I watch this anime to live up expectation the synopsis gave off from the start but since it got crushed to the ground really hard i won't give any comment on it. yeah,right! NO COMMENTS for this aspect

Overall :4
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overall,i felt like an idiot who was clinging for expectation just to be beaten up at the end of the day,it was me though but,if you like a fantasy-puzzle-like-adventure type anime with a bit,kay? just a bit of shoujo ai then i think you should give a shot for this anime ;)

For those not helpful voters and You,helpful voters, Feedbacks are appreciated. Sankyuu! :)