Although I have seen many, many great, fabulous, amazing anime, this one anime has compelled me to write my first review due the extreme controversial nature of how people have received it.
First and foremost, I will explain how I viewed this anime, as it, in my opinion, will and has definitely influenced my view of this anime. I first watched episodes 1-14 in one sitting, upon which I finally caught up to the current episode (14), and after so much gut and heart wrenching scenes (in not so good way - read as "rageworthy"), I decided to put off this anime for other things. However,
...
a few months later, I finally decided to pick this up again to finish it as a closure of sorts, as I loved the character designs, the music, the setting, and much more of the series (which from other reviews, you can see most of them agree with this part).
Thus, I watched episodes 15-22 in another sitting. At first, it was the same gut-wrenching scenes - "omfg, what is he thinking" types of stuff, but then, along came the final arc, which literally blew my mind away. Some may attribute it to the hiatus I had, but the way they designed the last arc, with all it's themes, ideas, and personalities clashing with each other let the pieces of the puzzle fall together, and I finally "got" this anime. The main character, Shu Ouma, who was rageworthy in all of the first half and then some episodes finally made sense to me.
Thus, I heavily suggest taking many breaks in the middle, it's like you are forced to eat a bunch of grapes, some of them sweet and some of them sour, and they're making you eat the sour ones first. When it becomes too much, let the sour taste fade away with sugar (other anime) before continuing.
Story: 8
in the beginning: 7 - typical opening, good animations helped raise the score a bit
from around episode 4 to roughly 17: 4
last arc: 10
The anime had a typical opening of sorts, interesting, but nothing too amazing. We meet a weak male lead, and shortly afterwards, a female lead is introduced.
Middle part: Oh lord, I would say skip it but you can't really or the story won't make sense, but it is far from my favorite. They played cliches to the extreme here, but I disagree with other reviews claiming this is a "harem." It is more like, friends that are girls with a few of them liking the main character, Ouma Shu, as well as the other mainish character, Gai.
However, I would like to point out that this anime did a fantastic job dealing with two "mainish" characters, Ouma Shu and Gai. This is unique in my eyes because we are usually faced with a protagonist and a sidekick, or a protagonist and a villain, but never two main protagonists because it is quite hard to execute. But they did a wonderful job with this idea, and we see everyone's opinions of both "leads," including the fact that there are different (multiple) girls (main/side characters)with crushes on each of them, so yes in a sense it is two "harems," but because there are two "harems," it can't be considered or belittled as a "typical harem anime."
Also, one part I would like point out is that, for me at least, this part was extremely rageworthy because the person I identified with or got to know personally or liked the most or was introduced to first was Ouma Shu, and not Gai. Gai takes center stage in the first arc with Ouma Shu dropping to more of a sidekick, which is probably why it was so controversially received.
Now for the last part, omg amazing, partly because.... it has a theme I like, *cough* Key anime *cough* but I won't be any more specific than that. I would analyze this further, but I would have to mention spoilers which I cannot. All I can really say is that, they changed direction for the better.
Music/Sound: 10
Supercell made the music - what else should I say? Absolutely wonderful songs. Doubt there'd be many people who would say otherwisel
Art/Animation: 10
Smooth animations, beautiful art
Characters: 10
Unlike possibly almost everyone else, I loved the character designs. People claim they're "cliche," but you need to understand, only some are (or really -one- is) "cliche to the max" while everyone else is completely unique. Tell me, where else can you find these character personalities save for the one that causes the most rage and is the exception. I can't find another Inori, even comparing to Lucy from Elfen Lied, they are completely different. As for people complaining about Inori's personality being too "stoic," well.... does that not make sense?.. It's like... she was born from a rock, lol.
There's no character's I dislike or think are poorly designed, again, save for the one-who-must-not-be-named since they all bring a different flavor to this anime.
Enjoyment: 9
I'd have to separate this into tiers again, but it shouldn't be a surprise really.
In the beginning: 9
from around episode 4 to roughly 17: 1
last arc: 10
Yea, so like most people, I couldn't bare watching the middle, which if you analyze makes a lot of sense since we dislike seeing the "useless" main character, especially if we consider the juxtaposition of him with Gai.
(Copypasta here, but I think it's important)
"Thus, I heavily suggest taking many breaks in the middle, it's like you are forced to eat a bunch of grapes, some of them sweet and some of them sour, and they're making you eat the sour ones first. When it becomes too much, let the sour taste fade away with sugar (other anime) before continuing."
Anyways, a summary of my scores:
Story: 8ish
Art: 10
sound: 10
Enjoyment: 9ish
Overall: I hate to say it but I weigh the endings of an anime much, much higher than everything else, so I have to give it a 10.
Hope you all (the few of you who actually bothered reading this) enjoyed my review!
Jun 3, 2012
Guilty Crown
(Anime)
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Although I have seen many, many great, fabulous, amazing anime, this one anime has compelled me to write my first review due the extreme controversial nature of how people have received it.
First and foremost, I will explain how I viewed this anime, as it, in my opinion, will and has definitely influenced my view of this anime. I first watched episodes 1-14 in one sitting, upon which I finally caught up to the current episode (14), and after so much gut and heart wrenching scenes (in not so good way - read as "rageworthy"), I decided to put off this anime for other things. However, ... |
