I hope I can convince you to give this a read. Date A Live is a series I'd never thought I'd bother reading. Much less have it become my all-time favorite but guess what? It did happen. I'll try to keep this spoiler-free and cut straight to the point. I cannot express how good this series is. Never have I been more surprised by something. If you liked the anime, this is ten times better. If you didn't like the anime, I implore you to give this a chance. I'll admit, the initial premise does sound a bit silly. A disaster called Space-quake appeared
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in Eurasia and killed 150 million people. Itsuka Shido's serene life will alter as he meets the cause of the tragedies, a Spirit, 30 years later. Then he discovers that the only way to stop said spirit is by making her fall in love with him.
Admittedly, that doesn't leave a very good first impression. It might do for the harem fanatics, though. Believe me, that premise is just a surface-level description of this series. Under that silly premise is a brilliant story that really encompasses elements from many genres and is an absolute joy to read. It accommodates a genuinely well-constructed narrative. Each volume raises new questions that eventually get answered spectacularly. The author constantly drops clues for massive climaxes at the story's beginning. How it seems to click whenever you come around to said event completely is undeniably satisfying and brilliantly done. Foreshadowing seems to be one of this series's strongest suits. I'd genuinely like to talk more about the story, but a minor slip could entail major spoilers, and this isn't an analysis. More so me trying to convince you to give this a read.
Now for the thing that I like the most about Date A Live as a series. The characters themselves and how the series deals with said characters to make them grow. It wouldn't be a stretch to say that Date A Live has one of the best cast of characters I've seen. Each volume or two tends to introduce a new character and work with them. This formula continues until volume 16. Now, it initially might seem formulaic, but it works so well. DAL's cast is much more than a harem protagonist and a bunch of cute girls.
It contains a cast whose characters are a lot of fun and charming and have a lot of depth. Each of the character's respective arcs covers many humane yet important issues. The fear of rejection, the inability to wholeheartedly trust others, serious lack of self-confidence, the consequences of being isolated, and how one's sense of value might turn distorted. They're well thought out. As for the protagonist himself, Shidou is an amazing character. He constantly grows with each event, and his relationships with the spirits have a unique dynamic to offer, with each having its sense of flair and charm. Throughout the story, I never felt like there was a single character that was wasted. I can't even talk about how good the antagonist is without spoiling. Each of them naturally fits into places and roles made for them. They are a lovable cast made with a lot of heart, and they all grew on me fast.
A delightful aspect of the series is its power system. Astral dresses, Angels, Weapons, etc. Their names are based on many mythological and religious figures, which I found very enticing. Date A Live has an incredible illustrator too. Well-drawn volume covers and the colored illustrations are gorgeous. They are detailed and eye-catching. Character designs are pretty unique too. None of them feel like copies of each other and have unique charms. There's fanservice too, but it never feels out of place and always fits in. This caught my eye and sparked my initial interest in Date A Live, but I stayed for much more. Congrats, Tsunako, The cute girls' bait worked.
It's a series that genuinely offers everything. From good slice-of-life moments that'll get you attached to the characters, some amazing fanservice, emotional moments that'll make you shed tears, and a fantastic endgame. Volume 17 - 22 is one of the greatest stretches I've seen in any series. That doesn't mean there aren't good volumes before it. Far from it, actually. Most volumes are very enjoyable, with Volumes 7 and 10 - 11 showing glimpses of the more serious side of the series. It's a great experience overall. It's a series that's pretty overlooked cause of its silly premise and appallingly adapted anime. It properly develops and gives the perfect conclusion to each character. I want to stress that it's not anywhere near a generic harem story.
I'm really glad I gave this story a chance. It's a series, I feel, has a lot of heart and passion put into it—fun, heartwarming, emotional, and epic all at the same time. With a well-planned-out story, an adorable cast of characters, and some hot but perfectly-placed fanservice, this is nothing less than a hidden gem that you all, who've read my little rant until this point, should give a shot sometime. Ratings are arbitrary; thus, saying it's a 10/10 wouldn't do justice to this masterpiece. I am in tears
Oct 16, 2021
Date A Live
(Manga)
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I hope I can convince you to give this a read. Date A Live is a series I'd never thought I'd bother reading. Much less have it become my all-time favorite but guess what? It did happen. I'll try to keep this spoiler-free and cut straight to the point. I cannot express how good this series is. Never have I been more surprised by something. If you liked the anime, this is ten times better. If you didn't like the anime, I implore you to give this a chance. I'll admit, the initial premise does sound a bit silly. A disaster called Space-quake appeared
...
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