This is a difficult review to compose. Not because "Machine-Doll wa Kizutsukanai" is a bad show, but because it is a GREAT SHOW! It is VERY fast moving, plot points in every episode, the cliff-hangers leave you breathless. Even the music is excellent.
Let's go to work,
When I think of the number of Anime, constructed as well as this, I can count them on the fingers of one hand.
The story line begins simply enough; a teenager Raishan, of mysterious background enters a prestigious school to improve his skills in an art form only present in this alternate reality of the latter 20th century (which is the puppeteering of a machine-doll). While there, he runs into a myriad of characters, every one of which has a unique personality, with their own skill-set, and identifying traits (I know, some would say "... I seen this stuff before .." and you'd be right). But try to create a new personality for yourself. This complaint was probably presented in Chaucer's time as well. Too bad, every person is born into his world, and that dictates at least part of his personality; try to escape it and become a misfit, if you dare.
In any case, this story has twists that Macheavelli would have been proud of. Even some of the 'good guys' get into serious trouble, only to find their way, led out of the darkness by Raishan.
And then there is the character that started the entire story. While some would say, it was Raishan's brother Tenzen; I submit that Raishan was left to die, and should not have had a part to play in this drama. The true beginning of this story, is a character named Shouko Karyuusai. She even gave Raishan a choice of whether to have a part to play, or not; from the very beginning. She is quite prescient about the future, and wanted to pit the two brothers against each other. Only the audience becomes aware that Touko doesn't give a tinker's damn which one survives the exchange, as long as she is left with an intact, but dead brother to use in one of her own experiments. WOW!
Even the ban-doll Touko delegates to Raishan, is part of her plan. And while the entire audience is dazzled by the ban-doll's hentai behavior, Toukos' intention to use Yaya to drain Raishan's energy unto death is hidden in all the charm and comedy. We even feel sorry for Touko; who 's conscience nags at her about Raishan at times, even though ultimately she will write him off as raw materials for one of her latest experiments in the creation of a new ban-doll! Exactly what Tenden did to the entire remaining parents and siblings of his own family', using them for spare parts to make his own set of ban-dolls!
We are left with the watching of the events unfold between Raishan and Touko, as if mesmerized by an unfolding train wreck as it expands a little more each episode, meanwhile we are diverted by a house fire in a neighboring town.
The house fire is the growing dread of what ends up just beginning by the 9th episode, dealing with a heretofore unknown character with her own superior ban-doll, Cedric Granville. This last thread is the part of the story that gets the most criticism by many viewers, who don't know what is going on. That event is an unfinished thread in the story, that while is very amusing to Cedric, is unrequited. The end is never in sight, which leaves the lack of satisfaction for many.
While there are many other events going on in this masterpiece, the previous discussion recounts the most important issues in the story line. The story is NOT complicated. It stands as unfinished. No other criticism is necessary.
Putting the previous comment aside, it is clear that this Anime stands very high in my book. The story is Great! The artwork matches any Anime ever made. The music, dialog, and soundtrack is quite impressive. Character development is great although short because of the unfinished thread. Machine-Doll wa Kizutsukanai is extremely enjoyable, quite funny at times, and at others very poignant and subtle. Emotions extracted range from outright laughter, to tragedy, to suspense; to that other thing, done so poorly in the rare Anime that attempts it; horror.
It is my hope that Machine-Doll wa Kizutsukanai gets another season, the next fully realized installment can only lead to further suspense, and a good time should be had by all.
I give this Anime an overall score of 8.
