This series failed my four episode test on the first four episodes.
The Pros: The art style is nothing original, and several other bishonen series have very similar styles. The quality is not terribly bad, with the possible exception of the very first scene in the very first episode, where child kajika's head is disproportionately large. The characters are well voice acted, even if the rest of the sound is absolutely run of the mill. The characterization is actually well done, for the most part, and is the most successful aspect of the anime, in my opinion. I find myself able to empathize with Li-ren and Barnesworth, and even Kajika, though her stubbornness is based squarely in stupidity and naivety, and her inability to consider the consequences of her actions is incredibly frustrating.
The Cons: As I mentioned at the end of the Pros, Kajika is frustratingly stupid, and the series world just goes along with it, trying to portray her idiocy and self centered naivety as heroic behavior.
The plot starts off alright, and has great possibility, but quickly descends into absurdity, with a nonsensical dilemma based on a convoluted family history. This is made worse by kajika's part in it, which seems to be limited to A) her insistence that Eugene is her dead pet cat because their (Eugene's and the cat's) eyes look the same, and B) her shooting a gun at a mirror, which manages to cause Eugene to spontaneously abandon his planned suicide and change his worldview entirely.
I guess all the people at the suicide hot line need to do is have someone on hand to drive out and shoot a mirror, and that will instantly cause the suicider to abandon their self destructive course and see the world differently. Sounds like a plan; let me go tell them.
In addition to this, the series is thematically barren, and consistently seems to shout that good looking people are somehow worth more than average looking people, and that it's okay to drive people to suicide as long as you're a selfish noble with a 'dark' past. Personally, I blame the schools.
Bottom Line: Well, this is what I have to say to you, creaters of this anime: As one of those average looking people, I object, and rate your crappy anime a 3 overall, based on it's crappy, poorly constructed plot, frustratingly idiotic main character (that everyone pretends is saintly), and inability to say anything worthwhile. So, no need to make any more, you should all just go die.
Now, you might think that harsh, but if I was a silver haired, greened eyed pretty boy, you'd want to have my babies, wouldn't you?
Caveat: I may be a little harsh, as I'm writing this write after finished episode four and the frustration and annoyance is still fresh, but it's a good estimation of how you will likely feel too. Unless, that is, you are a reincarnated cat.
Update: I'd like to apologize to all those who read this before now. It took me a while to come back and proof read, but I did. I'm fairly certain I discovered all the offending passages and corrected them. Please enjoy.
