Apr 14, 2016
Riding the wave of virtual world turned reality shows comes Hai no Gensou no Grimgar. It follows the typical tropes seen in these types of shows such as .hack// and SAO, but with a few twists. What differentiates it is it's art style, grounded storytelling, and patient pace.
The story sits around average. It puts a lot of work into building a unique atmosphere that blends very well with the art style and bringing a distinctly grounded feeling to a fantastical world. The story takes a backseat to the world, it bringing
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nothing you haven't seen before and predictable twists that leave a minimal emotional impact. The pacing is also slow, almost painfully so at times.
The writing very hit or miss, it nails most tender moments, but completely fails when it comes to humor. It's one of those shows that mistakes boobs at inappropriate times for humor and is devoid of almost any other type of joke. Which is a shame, because I feel some decent jokes could take this show to the next level.
Hai to Gensou no Grimgar shines aesthetically, it's gorgeous. I decided to check it out because of this: I was intrigued by the airy, watercolor art direction they went with. The animation is excellent as well. I went into the show not expecting to get past the first few episodes, but found myself rewinding because something caught my eye and I needed to see it happen again. Battle sequences are plenty and full of life, the not as flashy bits also treated with care that screams budget. Sure, the pacing was admittedly slow, but I could deal with it when everything was just so nice to look at.
The sound was not very memorable, but it fit the atmosphere of the show well. Lots of well produced insert songs are featured, but none of them shouted I need this on my ipod and most were accompanied by montages that drained my excitement more often than not.
The characters are, to be blunt, a bit shallow. They're very tropey with clear archetypes they rarely deviate from, if at all. They were likable for the most part though. I grew quite attached to a few of them and found others vaguely annoying, but we get to know them. Most of the show is devoted to showcasing the main casts' personal growth and interactions together as a group.
The characters were all very distinct and complimented each other well. They felt truly alive when they were all bickering together and going about their business. Sadly, I couldn't find myself to care about them individually, especially the protag. The protag is bland as all heck. The characters I did feel a connection to, weren't explored enough outside of group shenanigans and cliche moments.
Despite it's flaws, Hai to Gensou no Grimgar delivers a unique experience that kept me coming back every week. The world is simply charming and makes even its lesser aspects glow.
Reviewer’s Rating: 7
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