Story - 5.
Although the concept of the anime was an intriguing one, the execution was not so well done. A lot of times I was confused by what was happening, with no real explanation afterward. The overall story I understand, however little things are left unsaid - anything about the kings really, their origin, very little is actually said about powers, how and why different people have them, and so on. It left me with a gazillion questions and very few answers. The ending is also a cliffhanger....sort of...which is always annoying if it is not followed up.
Despite some plot holes and unexplained phenomena (like the whole Strain thing - why do we only meet one? And why is she entirely unexplained?) I did enjoy watching K, for reasons I will state below.
Art - 10.
Yeah one of the things everyone seems to agree on it that K's art and animation really is stunning. The animation was smoothly executed, the character designs were relatively interesting and the art style consistent. The colour palette was varied and really helped develop a certain feel in a lot of scenes, especially the fight/action scenes - lots of bright colours to add to the excitement. The little details were not few and far between either - almost everything was detailed, which really made a believable environment.
Sound - 8.
The sound quality for K was noticeably high, the voice actors did a sterling job and really set the scene for the anime in general. Honourable mentions to Mikoto and Fushimi's actors, both of which executed a brilliant and believable performance to their characters.
I enjoyed the OP, it seemed relatively fitting to the theme of the anime, however the ED didn't really stick for me. I didn't like nor dislike it.
The only problem I had with the sound was the same piano riff/theme was used throughout the series, I don't think there was many deviations for it, mostly for a reveal or the lead up to an epic moment. It didn't annoy me, it was just noticeable and maybe a wider range of background music would have set the scene a little better.
Finally the in-world noises were executed fine too.
Character - 6.
Since the story is so confusing at times and seems to leave most questions without answers, the characters weren't too easy to really relate to for me, although I developed a soft spot for Shiro.
I think where characters probably worked best in K is with their interactions with one another - they almost all have ties with each other and interact in different ways, which really made the anime for me. You were always wondering what their true relationship is and how it will change over the course of the anime.
Of course, being so short, you don't get much time to really connect to the characters whilst you're trying to figure out what's going on around them, but for me an at least passable job was done portraying what they wanted to portray. I've seen blander and more personality-less characters than K, that's for certain.
Enjoyment - 8.
Despite its flaws, K was an engrossing and thrilling ride for me. I really had no idea what to expect (as the synopsis didn't give away a lot) but I wasn't disappointed (until the ending). It may not be a really deep engaging story but the action scenes are really a spectacle to behold, I'm glad I watched it for the art alone! Although there wasn't much character development or real..substance to each character, they stood best when interacting with one another, which really kept the show moving for me. And the mysteries surrounding each. Which were decently executed, but I feel like if they'd had more time to give you a little more information on the characters and the world in general it may have been easier to connect.
I digress.
Overall a very enjoyable anime to watch, especially for those who appreciate excellent art and animation - just don't expect a fully solved puzzle at the end of your journey.
