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I can sum this up in one line: if you don't like strong ecchi humor then don't watch the OVA.

As far as a real review..

Almost everyone who watched 11eyes was disappointed on some level by a story that should have been good, but managed to find a way to conjure suck stronger than any spell used in the series. Some people think the OVA is the cherry on top of that. Personally, I laughed pretty hard when it dawned on me that the OVA was TRYING to be that cherry.

*Minor Spoilers*
The OVA is an alternate universe where everything in the series ... is morphed into something erotic, from the villains to the hero's powers. The premise is classic dirty OVA fan service. And honestly, the ecchi components aren't all that funny (with a couple notable exceptions).

As I watched, it occurred to me that it was like they took the raw essence of all that sucked about the series, the purest and most potent form of suck known to man, and dipped it in an ecchi hot spring. After the end credits, the second to last sketchbook message is "...Are you angry?" It was then I realized what this was... an extremely self-aware parody of just how bad the series was. I laughed really hard. It essentially turned the whole 11eyes experience into the longest running one punchline joke ever.
*End Spoiler*

So to conclude, if you hated the series and enjoy being the butt of a joke, watch the OVA. Or if you like bad ecchi. It might make you laugh.

Madoka Magica... if there was a list of five most hyped anime of the last ten years, this would definitely make it. Typically I avoid the magical girl genre, its just not my taste, but after seeing Madoka mentioned for the thousandth time in a week I finally relented to my curiosity and watched the short series the day after the last episode aired. Much to my surprise, it wasn't half bad.

The art in this series is heavily stylized, but truly fantastic and bursting with detail. Given as much anime as i watch the fact that I can clearly remember ... scenes months later is a testament to that. Sound quality is excellent and used to good effect.

Characters in the series are likable (or unlikable when appropriate), but most are highly cliche and overflowing with girly angst (to be fair, its a feature of the genre). For the most part they fall neatly into archetypes, but they undergo proper development as the story progresses.

Story-wise, after the first couple episodes warm the series up Madoka stays enjoyable, though like most anime trying to be different it introduces plot elements that are frankly out of place (the big one is hard to mention without spoiling, but Ill just say that in a story that revolves around magic scientific explanations just aren't necessary). Pacing is good, and a handful of twists (some which can be seen coming, but don't get tired) keep things fresh. If you aren't a fan of the genre stick out the first couple episodes, they get progressively better after those.

Overall, its one of the better anime in the last couple years and a treat to watch. Groundbreaking? No. Thought provoking? Slightly. But its fresh enough and crafted with enough care to rise to the top of a genre that till now felt totally played out. At 12 episodes its worth a watch for sure, you probably wont regret the four hours you invest.

Haibane Renmei is one of those anime that could have been really excellent and one of a kind, but takes just a little too long to get off the ground. Production values are solid, but nothing extraordinary. A matte pallet and purposefully run-down art design give the village in which the story takes place a kind of post apocalyptic feel, which works well with the mysterious undertones in the narrative. Sound is solid, but not particularly memorable.

By all rights and reasoning the intriguing premise of the story, solid production values, and likeable characters should make this anime rank as an 8 or ... a 9. Unfortunately, the suspense in Haibane Renmei is late to the party. There is a ton of mystery just sitting everywhere in plain sight, mixed in with what should be intriguing symbolism from the first minute on. But none of it gets properly developed until more than half way through the 13 episodes. Instead, the first half of the series just has the camera follow bland characters (only a couple characters in the series get developed in a meaningful way, and not till later) around the village during their extremely bland days. A couple of times in each episode something actually happens or a mystery is touched on, but there is a definite feeling that there is 5 minutes of show and 15 minutes of filler.

Fortunately, Haibane Renmei doesn't totally waste its potential. Around episode six there is a real personality injection into the story, and a handful of truly suspenseful moments over the rest of the series leads into a well done and suspenseful ending. Its enough to redeem what starts out feeling like an abysmal failure.

In the end, Haibane Renmei is probably worth a watch, especially if you like a very slowly paced series peppered with moderately thought provoking content. But there will almost certainly be a moment of frustration once it becomes clear just how good it almost was. Too many "mysterious" events and symbols that just sit unused and underdeveloped. Too many characters sit mostly idle in spite of receiving a fair bit of screen time. And a shameful waste of a rich atmosphere while the camera lingers in bakeries and thrift stores. If this is your preferred genre then rent the series, put a cup of coffee on to help with the first 5-6 episodes, and enjoy an adequate payoff at the end of your anime day.