With great power, comes great responsibility ~Uncle Ben
Higashi no Eden (translated to Eden of the East) is a short 11-episode mystery/action with an intriguing premise that basically begins en media res, leaving the viewer wondering what is going on at the beginning as the action unfolds.
Story:
Basically the story begins after previous major events that are revealed over time. You follow the main character Akira Takizawa, who has wiped his memory and is now in process of trying to figure out his previous reasonings for it. The plot is interesting with a suspense to keep you wanting more. However, since it was only 11 episodes, the ending sort of leaves you with a cliffhanger, to be followed up by the 2 movies following it.
Character:
The main characters consist of Akari Takizawa and Saki Morimi, the woman who becomes wrapped in the mystery with Akari as he begins figuring things out. Akari himself is a great character, who is quickly likeable, being lighthearted at times and serious at other, doesn't take things that seriously, while being funny and a little witty all at the same time. His mysterious past, amnesia, and his random knowledge of film references all are a part of his character. He basically is the star of the show, advancing it along. Saki on the other hand is a bit bland, who does have some good interaction with Akari and the others, but seems more like someone dragged onto the ride (which she basically is). The supporting cast do their job well enough, with good chemistry between one another. The other Selecao members all have different personalities and backgrounds, which provides an extra bit of interest to the show.
Art:
I'd say great overall, the opening and endings were very well done, and the character design looked good, although not super polished, they were fine. The backgrounds and setting all looked great and animation was smooth. No real qualms from me.
Sound:
The opening "Falling Down" by Oasis suited the theme of the anime very well, even though it wasn't designed for the anime. Good pick by the producers. The ending was also good. The background themes and sounds were crisp and clean throughout the anime, and suited the scenes they were in.
Overall I thought this was a solid anime with many good points going for it. It's a nice short anime to get into as it really grabs your attention early, although the fact that it is followed by 2 movies afterwards seems a little strange.
