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Eureka Seven is a masterpiece plagued by flaws. What I have trouble understanding is why I enjoyed it so much despite this. On one hand, you have beautiful cinematography, a colorful cast, and a romance that makes Kirito and Asuna look like 5th graders handing each other cards on Valentine ’s Day. On the other, you have a profusion of plot holes, one of the worst antagonists I’ve seen to date, and a very rushed conclusion. I’m going to separate the good from the bad because I feel this is the best way to categorize everything. Here we go!

Before getting started, here’s a brief synopsis:

The ... series follows fourteen-year-old Renton Thurston, son of Adroc Thurston – a military researcher who was renowned for his efforts to protect the world. He lives in the boring town of Bellforest with his grandfather, Axel. He engages in a sport known as lifting, which is similar to surfing but with a medium known as trapar waves. He often reads ray=out magazines published by a member of the airship Gekko Go, and fantasizes about becoming a member of the infamous Gekkostate, led by Holland Novak, a former soldier of the military. By chance, a strange member happens to crash into his room – piloting the legendary Nirvash typeZERO – who goes by the name of Eureka, whom he immediately falls in love with. As the military closes in to capture Eureka, Renton’s grandfather tells him to deliver his father’s creation, the Amita Drive, to the Nirvash, which ends up releasing a powerful force known as the “Seven Swell Phenomenon”, destroying everything within its radius. Intrigued by Renton, Holland invites him to join Gekkostate, who accepts wholeheartedly only to find out that life aboard the airship isn’t nearly as alluring as it seemed. Little does Renton know, this is the beginning of a journey that will change the fate of the world. Will he be able to work alongside the mysterious pilot, Eureka, and the less-than-glamorous Gekkostate?

The Good (aesthetics, cast, themes):

The animation is done by Bones studio who produced series such as Soul Eater, Darker than Black, and Fullmetal Alchemist. They did an impeccable job. Aerial combat is very fluid and each battle scene is complimented by astounding background music. Character designs are fairly modest creating a sense of normalcy, even though the story takes place thousands of years in the future; there are no risks taken in this area with outlandish costumes, which can be very hit or miss – usually the latter. One of the most impressive feats lies in the setting. The producers clearly allocated a lot of time into creating an exceedingly detailed atmosphere with breathtaking results.

Eureka Seven features a broad collection of characters. They are all very unique and original. Their interactions with each other are enjoyable to watch and once the main protagonist, Renton, joins the fray he incites a lot of change in their behaviors. As a result, there is a hefty degree of character development in both the main and supporting cast; it is amazing to see them evolve over the course of 50 episodes, which is plenty of time to see significant growth.

The supporting cast is the source of most of the comic relief, a much needed sentiment since the plot can become Attack-on-Titan-esque at times. They even go as far as giving Renton an “important” mission just to publicly humiliate him on camera. He tends to be at the short end of the stick a majority of the series, which helps counter the intolerable aspects of his personality, namely his immaturity. Luckily, he has quite a few heroic moments and becomes more likable as the series progresses.

The plot touches on some very interesting themes such as the morality of war, religious persecution, and coexistence between species, but in the end it’s the relationship between Renton and his significant other, Eureka, that overshadows everything else while the others are barely delved into. These two build upon their relationship starting from the first episode all the way to the end; even when they’re apart they manage to strengthen their relationship through pure introspection. They don’t fall in love instantly either. In fact, it’s incredibly one-sided, initially due in part to Eureka somewhat lacking primal human emotions – unfortunately, I can’t expound on that without spoiling anything. Their relationship is definitely the driving force behind this anime and I enjoyed every second of it.

The Bad (underlying plot, main antagonist, pacing):

While Eureka Seven has some spectacular moments that deserve praise and that I absolutely cherished, they could not hide the undoubtedly large plot holes and poor execution of the main plot, which is a shame because there was a lot of potential. The set up within the first few episodes is vague in that it did not explain what the purpose of the vagrant group “Gekkostate” is nor did it introduce the main antagonist, Colonel Dewey Novak, very well (more on that later). It isn’t until over half way through the series that it becomes evident what they’re trying to accomplish, and even then it seems to lack direction until the final arc. At one point, Renton even explicitly states that Gekkostate doesn’t seem to possess a clear motive. It’s obvious they are fighting the military, but why? I found myself asking that question a lot. Often times, I was more focused on the antics of the supporting cast and the Renton-Eureka love story than the main plot because of this.

Many of the elements presented in the plot go largely unexplained as well (origins of LFOs, trapar waves, despair sickness, etc.) By the end, I had so many questions left unanswered. One in particular that really bugged me was the specifics of something known as the “Ageha Plan”, proposed by Renton’s late father, Adroc. It supposedly describes the truth behind the coexistence between humans and “scab coral”, but is only lightly touched upon.

Now for the enigma of a main antagonist. If it wasn’t the aimlessness of Gekkostate that mystified me, it was Colonel Dewey Novak. There are two huge issues with him: 1) He barely shows up throughout the series; aside from a scene of him smirking here and there, he isn’t important until the final arc. 2) His motives lack even more direction than Gekkostate’s; I wish I could say more without spoiling anything, but let me just say there is almost no basis for his actions or claims. The supporting antagonists are far more viable and interesting. He proved to be quite an underwhelming antagonist.

The pacing is good until the last few episodes. I wish they would have stretched out the conclusion into two or three more episodes because a lot happens – emphasis on “a lot”. The buildup happened so quickly I barely had time to process everything that had just occurred, which made me feel slightly less than satisfied with the conclusion. There were some loose ends along with the unexplained elements that would have made for a much better ending had they been clarified.

There was also one of the most random, pointless filler episodes I’ve ever seen. Episode 39 involves them playing soccer. Yes, soccer. In amidst all of the chaos, one of the crew members says something along the lines of, “Hey guys! I know we’re being chased by the military and the world is in danger, but let’s engage in a friendly game of soccer! OHOHOHO!” No reason behind it, or at least one that’s explained. It was definitely a surprise when it came up and I definitely could have lived without it.

Overall:

To love this anime, you’re going to have to overlook the main plot. It’s just stable enough to keep you engaged, but it will most likely come second to romance. If you’re looking for a complex and well thought out plot, you won’t be impressed with Eureka Seven. However, if you’re interested in an action-packed adventure with a romantic plot, this anime may be for you.

Although I had a lot of complaints, I couldn’t help but adore this anime. My eyes were glued to the screen the entire time and I would definitely watch it again.

I hope this review helped! Feedback is appreciated (:

Zankyou no Terror is one of those rare short series (at only 11 episodes) that clearly conveys its plot and message clearly with little divergence from the main story line and contains a fulfilling ending. I can honestly say there are only a few series less than 15 episodes that have left me as satisfied as this one. Would I call it a masterpiece? No, but there’s a reason why it got such a good reception. It’s well executed and stays within its limits. What I mean by this is that it doesn’t try to develop into some convoluted plot that leaves the story with ... holes.

Story:
In a few sentences, Zankyou no Terror follows two terrorists known as Nine and Twelve who release videos to the public containing a riddle, which, if solved, reveals the location of the bomb they planted. Little does everyone know, these terrorists have an ulterior motive that ties their mysterious past to their actions.

The series is clean in its execution (aside from a few minor issues, which are discussed later), which is as plainly as I can put it. It’s well paced and stays loyal to the main plotline without overdramatizing each character’s past. Where many series struggle is by either over-analyzing each character’s past to the point where it becomes filler or leaving characters in the dark. In my opinion, finding the proper balance is no easy feat and many shows fail in this respect, but Zankyou no Terror did a good job of staying poised by unraveling the protagonists’ pasts steadily during each episode.

The first few episodes are a little repetitive and caused the show to lose some of its luster. The terrorists post a video, the police try to decipher it, and then they go on a scavenger hunt for the bomb. However, I didn’t find each subsequent episode more boring than the previous because of this. The tension remains stable until after episode 4 when the main antagonist comes into play and builds all the way to the finale. The last episode is definitely one to remember. It ties everything together nicely and leaves the viewer with something to remember.

Overall, the plot wasn’t predictable even during the repetitive episodes. There were always minor twists that caught me off guard. The story was revealed without being too vague or too obvious and it had me gripping my seat with the anticipation of not knowing what would happen next. The story is definitely what viewers will commit to memory after watching.

Characters:
The cast features a nice variety of characters, but none of them were particularly memorable. I feel that most viewers will remember this series for its plot rather than the characters. However, the show did a great job of creating a cast with personalities that weren’t too overbearing or ridiculous. Each character plays an important role even if it is a subtle one. What I enjoyed most about the characters was their development as the story progressed. Each character had a specific goal or desire in mind that inspired their actions. By the end of the series, each character had matured to some degree, which was reflected by their actions.

*Skip to “Art” if you don’t want character summaries

Nine and Twelve are fun to watch. Nine is generally the brains behind each bombing and is incredibly insightful while Twelve is the comic relief and spontaneous character. Although opposite in personality, they fit together perfectly.

There is a lot of intellectual combat between the characters. For the first half, Nine and Twelve primarily face against Shibazaki (secondary antagonist), a gifted investigator over-dedicated to his work and was recently demoted for a previous case. He’s the only one who can decipher their riddles, at first. He plays a vital role in revealing the protagonist’s true intentions behind their attacks.

A sudden change of events occurs with the introduction of the main antagonist and old “friend” of the protagonists, Five, an American FBI agent. I felt her role was somewhat wasted or, to put it more lightly, anticlimactic. I wouldn’t call her presence overbearing, but her process of thinking is highly erratic and causes quite an interesting twist in the story because she does everything in her power to thwart Nine and Twelve’s plans. Her personal motives (aside from her job) for pursuing the protagonists, specifically Nine, were still somewhat unclear to me by the end of the series. I can’t say anymore without spoiling one of the most climactic parts of the series, but her role in the show could have definitely been better. Even so, she certainly made the show more exciting.

Lisa is another side character that is present through most of the show. She plays a “subtle” role and is, to say the least, pretty useless, often getting in the way of Nine and Twelve. However, I didn’t feel that her presence was unnecessary or annoying. Her friendship with the two, mostly Twelve, provides some of the only genuinely happy moments in the series and, although secluded from society in different ways, find common ground because of their alienation.

Even saying this, viewers just starting the show will probably dislike Five and Lisa, but I felt that they added to the show to make it more fulfilling.

Art:
There were some impressive action scenes that were enjoyable to watch, but the animation was nothing outstanding or revolutionary. It’s simply good and suits the characters and story. One thing I thoroughly enjoyed about how the show was animated was that the character’s emotions were somewhat complimented by their environment. When the characters were faced with confusion or despair, the scene was often dark and secluded. Conversely, times of contemplation and happiness were complimented by brighter and livelier scenery. I felt this amplified the emotions of each character and made them more realistic.

Sound:
The directors compiled a good list of songs. The OT “Trigger” sung by Yuuki Ozaki from Galileo Galilei captures the nature of the show. The OST consisted of a variety of genres that complimented each scene very well, but, overall, nothing to create a lasting impression.

~~~

To reiterate, this show stands out because of its well executed plot that continues to build tension without faltering or revealing too much, all the way up to the heart-gripping conclusion. The show certainly had its flaws including a somewhat repetitive plot early on and a few underwhelming characters. However, the show says something about human nature and where true terrorism lies. I found it to be a thrilling watch with riddles, bombs, and a pair of ambiguous protagonists for added unpredictability. It’s a pretty straight forward show with no confounding philosophical themes to confuse the viewer. It was one of my personal favorites of the year and I feel that most people will find it worth watching.

I recommend this show for people who like Death Note or Tokyo Magnitude 8.0 because of the similar dark, serious nature in them.

Hope this helped!

This is my first review so I hope it helps!

If you haven't read the synopsis, Angel Beats (in a nutshell) takes place in a fictional world at a school where the protagonists are unable to advance to the afterlife/next life because of regret or lack of fulfillment in their previous life. There were lots of ups and downs to this series. I was really excited to start the series since it had been so heavily recommended to me by several friends, so I had high expectations prior to watching Angel Beats. Whether or not this affected my opinion is difficult to say, but I ... found myself disappointed and unmoved by the end of the series.

Before I break the series down into categories, I'll say what stands out in this anime. The visuals and audio are captivating. They really compliment the characters and story. Out of all the anime I've seen, I'd place Angel Beats in the top 5 for visuals and the very top for audio. The topic of the afterlife is nothing new. The overall idea of Angel Beats is somewhat identical to Haibane Renmei (protagonists stuck in life after death, forgotten pasts, regret, friendship, pass to next life, happy times), but it is presented more uniquely than any anime of the same genre that I have seen.

A show of such promise is subject to heavy criticism if that promise is not upheld and that was the case for me. I'll explain it in categories.

Story: 5
I was really impressed with the first few episodes. They achieved the goal of getting me hooked to the story wanting to unravel the mystery of this world between the past and future as well as why and how the protagonists ended up there. The premise of the show wasn't beaming in uniqueness, but it was presented and built up in a very promising way. A little over halfway through the series is when I felt that the story started to fall apart. The closer I got to the last episodes the less I enjoyed the show to the point where I would only watch an episode every other day. At times, the story seemed a bit rushed and sloppy with the addition of underwhelming antagonists. The conclusion had me shaking my head because of a romance that was crammed into the last few episodes rather than developed throughout the series. Normally, I rejoice with a "BOOYAH!" when these moments finally occur. This ending left me nothing with more than confused and sad "Booyah..?" Maybe the story would have been better off without the last second romance.

Art: 9
I thoroughly enjoyed the visuals. The background, character designs, and animation were practically flawless in my opinion. I felt that the art made the setting and characters seem dream-like, which fits the show perfectly.

Sound: 10
The music was outstanding. I will probably never say this about a show again, but the songs in this series were so catchy that I even downloaded some of them. The OP was good but what really caught my attention were the original soundtracks played throughout the show. For those of you familiar with LiSA or enjoy Sword Art Online's opening theme (sung by LiSA) than you might enjoy this show simply for the music because she is featured in some of the songs. I suppose the background music wasn't anything special, but it fit each situation appropriately.

Character: 6
The character development is a big reason I was disappointed by the show. The show features a wide variety of characters, all unique and entertaining in their own way. Some of the characters were explored fairly in depth where their pasts were exposed and state of mind shaped as the series progresses. However, many characters were left in the dark that I would have enjoyed being investigated more. I found the supporting characters to be more likeable than the main characters a lot of the time mostly because they were generally the center of the comic relief and source of character uniqueness. Even so, I felt all the characters, both main and supporting, made the show unique and enjoyable.

Enjoyment: 5
Although I found many things wrong with this show, I couldn't help but love certain aspects. Much of my enjoyment came from the soundtracks rather than the plot and it slowly deteriorated as the show progressed. There were also more soundtracks in the first half, which is also why I enjoyed it much more than the second half.

Overall: 5
As I said before, I was disappointed at how the show concluded. I feel that the series would have been much better if it had been lengthened to 20+ episodes with enhanced character development and plot adjustments. The plot of the show proved to be very promising in the beginning and never achieved its full potential. Even with all of this said, I do not regret watching the series and would consider watching it again. This show may not be memorable for everyone, but I feel that just about anyone could enjoy it.

Personally, anyone who liked Haibane Renmei, Sword Art Online, or Clannad could probably appreciate this anime.

Hope this helped!