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Originality is a term which is tossed around in the anime and film industry, often to write off a show before scratching the surface of its plot or components, but is originality really what we think it is? A recycled or cliché basis for a story does not on its own make something unoriginal. Originality can be found in the events and story which stem from this “plot device”; in the characters and their design; and in the execution and artistic expression of a show. Boku dake ga Inai Machi (“Erased” being its anglicised title) is a time-travel anime which is by no means the ... first of its kind, yet it seeps uniqueness and originality through the way it is presented and through the way it uses its common premise.

Story: 8/10

The main character, Satoru Fujinuma, has the ability to go back in time to prevent disasters from occurring. This is quite circumstantial, as the anime never touches upon his ability to time travel, however this allows us to focus more on the plot which it opens up. There is no need to complain about “plot convenience” here – all stories need a basis on which to be written.
We are thrown straight into the plot when, as an adult, our main character is framed for the murder of his own mother, and is then sent all the way back to his childhood where he seeks to save his quiet and deeply afflicted classmate Kayo Hinazuki from her death, believing that the actions of an unknown serial killer were linked with the death of his mother. The result at first was a mysterious and intriguing detective-like plot as the main character pieces together the puzzle linking these cases, which certainly had me hooked. However, it eventually turned into the story of a self-proclaimed “hero” trying to save the lives of future murder victims. The mystery was eventually solved by mere circumstance, preventing the 10/10 ending which I was anticipating one-third through the season.
In a series of just 12-episode, it is essential that each episode count, and only a couple of times have I felt dissatisfied after 23 minutes of Erased. What this show does well is focusing on the plot and making sure that each instalment is eventful and drives the plot forward, rather than bringing it to a temporary halt. As a result, the final product hardly feels underdeveloped, and did well exhibit the ever-too-common symptoms of short series.
Finally, this anime does not fall into that pile of refuse that the industry seasonally excretes, where a decent concept is belittled by copious amounts of cookie-cutter characters and ecchi fan service. For the most part, Erased stays to the point, and it definitely does descend into this cheap realm of entertainment. I promise that from OP to ED you won't have a second of your time wasted through these means.

Art: 10/10

The art and animation for this show were spot-on: everything appears detailed and easy on the eye, while having just enough harshness and a distinct cold hue to fit in with and enhance the mysterious and almost sinister tone of the story. The character design is original enough and doesn't feature random moe, twintails and oppai for the sake of moe, twintails and oppai. Erased does not give off the "another generic anime" feeling, but instead something you can genuinely admire for not being the same old shit.
I was also particularly impressed by the (virtual) camerawork in this anime. The panning shots and the general positioning and movement of the perspective felt very professional, fluid and movie-like. This kind of cinematography can generate a feeling of grandeur in an otherwise ordinary scene. I would certainly like to see more of this in anime in the future.

Sound: 9/10

The soundtrack is subtle and by no means overdone - what you get is pleasing to the ear and complements the scene well where music is used. I think that a strong OST is, though often overlooked, extremely important as a soundtrack can make or break a scene. As usual, Yuki Kajiura conveyed the correct emotions in each of the tracks she composed for the scenes in Erased, and each one was beautiful on its own.
As for the OP, it is an addictive song with some nice guitar playing in the background. No ear-rupturing loli voices or screaming death metal bands here: instead an intrinsically catchy song which I haven't skipped once. It wouldn’t quite make my all-time favourites list, but it’s the time of song which you would keep coming back to hear. The ED is actually OK, but drives me crazy due to some head-splitting frequencies. I am quite unsure why the ED was the main soundtrack advertised in the previews for this anime. To each his own.
Overall, the soundtrack is perfect in its own right: Kajiura pulls off yet another oeuvre d’art, but not as outstanding as some of her other works.

Character: 9/10

A lot of attention was clearly put into the characters of Boku dake ga Inai Machi with each one seeming genuinely human and well-developed, even if they are only supporting. For example, Satoru's friend, Kenya, is presented as "the intelligent one" but has a deep and evident personality beyond that which makes him, and a multitude of other characters, feel... real.
My main qualm with the characters in Erased, is that a lot of them play an insignificant role. Many of these characters were, as mentioned, very well designed, but some of them tended to disappear from the story. I would have liked to see Kenya play a more significant role, as well as Satoru’s mother, as these were two characters who had the intellect to make an impact on the events in the story.
I find the 2 main characters, Satoru and Kayo, particularly intriguing. Satoru Fujinuma is a man in his late 20's before being sent back to his childhood, where he retains his serious and mature mind-set. Apart from demonstrating an admirable sense of sheer determination, the way he questions and comments on everything with intense scrutiny and critical thinking makes his running internal monologue fascinating to listen to... he is already one of my favourite male leads.
Kayo Hinazuki is, in the main arc of the story, a young and troubled girl, who is considered the quiet one of the class. However, her personality opens up slightly for Satoru as she develops into a much warmer, more charming character. Scenes with her can come across as both depressing and heart-warming.

Enjoyment: 9/10

Erased never fails to be interesting and gripping, and I have enjoyed every second of it. The undeterred focus on the story with tiny snippets of non-intrusive comedy make for an engaging and entertaining experience, without the frustration of time-wasting filler or fan service scenes, which would have really damaged such a short series with that had little time to waste. The brilliant art and cinematography make for a pleasing visual experience, the likes of which I’m eager to see more of in upcoming anime.

Conclusion

Is this worth watching? That’s hardly the main question here - if you want to witness something genuinely unique, well thought-out, well executed, and credible at the very least, of course you should. Is this a masterpiece? Perhaps not. The use of chance and circumstance as a plot device towards the end of the story were disappointing and prevented this show from achieving perfection, though it had the potential to early on. What does set Boku dake ga Inai Machi apart from the plethora of alternative anime available is that it is straight to the point and makes full use of the 12 episode time frame which it had, and what makes it stand out is its effort – particularly in the visual department – and its originality.

~Appilesh~

Describing this one of many shows that "the anime industry spits out every season" is somewhat of an injustice. You will find there is a lot more to Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance than your everyday harem series.

Plot:
This is an anime primarily about fighting and magic-wielding, which is nothing new, but it is more than enough to keep you interested for 12 episodes. The other main theme is harem/romance. What this show does well is prevent the two themes from conflicting with each other and therefore the plot feels serious yet the romance is sweet and entertaining, and compliments the story well as a form ... of comic relief. However, I feel like a lot of important plot elements involving the characters' pasts are poorly explained, possibly due to being only 12 episodes long. This is the type of series that could really do with a prequel more than a sequel. 7/10 for plot.

Art:
Crisp, colourful candy for the eyes. The fluorescent artwork is what will keep you watching if nothing else does. The motion is smooth and the drawing is detailed. The characters themselves all look extremely cute and a joy to watch, all having distinctly coloured hair and eyes as standard. The uniform design is actually interesting for once which compensates for the fact that that is what they constantly wear (which unfortunately alludes to 90% of anime). The setting gives off a medieval vibe which suits the story well. All of the battles are well animated and feel intense - a 10/10 for art.

Sound:
The soundtrack for Seirei Tsukai no Blade Dance is spot-on and fits the medieval setting perfectly. If the music is not stuck in your head, then at least it enhances your experience of every scene. The ED is undeniably catchy as well and not once have I skipped past it. On the other hand, the OP falls short and makes the show feel like low budget trash before it's even started. 9/10 for sound.

Character:
For a series that does declare itself a harem, you would expect a bit more in the character department.
Kazehaya Kamito is a strong fighter with a troubled past that we know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ABOUT (can we at least have an OVA to explain what's up with him?). A solid personality but annoyingly helpless when faced with any awkward situation.
Claire Rouge is a short-tempered tsundere who can be undeniably cute during her soft moments. You are made to feel sorry for her as society shuns her for being the sister of the notorious Calamity Queen, but the intended sense of pity doesn't really reach the viewer. Sorry, Claire.
Rinslet Laurenfrost is from a family of nobles, and certainly does give off that aura. However, encounters with her are so infrequent that you either forget about her or don't care about her. Hardly worth a mention. Sorry, Rinslet.
Fianna Ray Ordesia is a "perverted princess" and is the only character in the series who openly epresses her feelings towards Kamito, which is rather refreshing compared to all those tsunderes. Again, we are made to feel sorry for her, having been unable to become a queen. Again, I couldn't care less.
Ellis Fahrengart... what a delightful character. A knight with a strong sense of justice, yet at heart she is just a normal girl and scenes with her and Kamito are heartwarming.
Est. Every time she says "Praise me more"; every time she gets patted on the head and says "That feels good"; every time she says "I want parfait"; every time Kamito wakes up to find her in his bed; every time words leave her lips as a soft monotonous lullaby... I feel at peace.

As for the interaction between the characters, real feelings are seldom shown (the exception being Fianna, but this is presented in a comedic way). The the pairing with the most romantic value is without a doubt Kamito and Ellis: you will enjoy the bond that develops between these two. 7/10 for character.

Conclusion:
While Blade Dance is by no means a technical masterpiece worthy of a 10/10, it is one of my favourite anime that I have had the delight to watch. Why? The fights are intense, the romance is sweet and fun to watch, Est is a bundle of joy, and all the way through the art and music are beautiful and a real treat for the senses. It alternates between plot and romance perfectly, not allowing either to drag on for too long and provides the right kind of entertainment at the right time. 10/10 for enjoyment and a 8/10 overall. I would recommend this anime to anyone.