Story:
The story, adapted from a Japanese novel, was a masterpiece. It gave the underlying impression that "even a seemingly perfect society is one run by cheating and lies." The concepts were all deeply provoking, and my interest was held all the way through excluding a slightly slow beginning. Overall, the story made me think- something that a horror anime like Higurashi no Naku Koro ni or a comedy like Ika Musume could not accomplish. It left me with a better understanding of people and society, and I loved every minute of it.
Art/Sound:
The art was for the most part amazing, excluding some small errors.
The first ED, "Wareta Ringo"/"Sliced Apple", was amazing, and even after listening to it on repeat for many many hours I still have not grown tired of it. The lyrics, if you read them translated, define the story beautifully, and the animation is superb.
The second ED, "Yuki ni Saku Hana"/"A Flower Blooming in the Snow", has less of an effect on me. It is beautiful as well, but was not a good replacement for Wareta Ringo at all.
Characters:
The characters were somewhat unmemorable at the beginning, and I had a hard time telling them apart for a while. By the second story arc, however, I knew each one of them well and had developed feelings for each one. The anime did a good job of allowing the viewer to bond to the characters, seeing as you follow them through their entire lives in this futuristic society.
I would definitely recommend this anime to all who like intriguing and speculative fiction. It is slightly scary at times, but mostly the psychological aspect is the chilling part. Watching this anime made me want to go back and read the novel!
