Story: 7/10
The story focus on the medieval era, where a new threat comes to haunt and end the humanity, monsters called Youmas that devour humans come spreading the horror and the terror in the life of the humans, destroying and killing every human that see. The result is in the panic and the lose of hope where everyone is afraid to die and no one is reliable since youmas can transform into humans and live between them for after devour and kill them, also them are more fast and strong than the humans. In order to put a end in this situation, a organization is founded to create warriors for fight with those monsters, where they put blood and youma guts on them in order to becoming a hybrid race of human and youma and fight with the monster in equality, those are warriors are called Claymore, warriors of blonde hair with silver eyes(99,7% is female, somehow, females are more compatible with the blood and guts of youma). The story starts with a young boy called Raki, that is attached with a claymore called Claire that saved his life by killing the youma that murdered his family, and somehow they become like partners where Raki always accompanies Claire no matter where she go and as soon the story goes, a deep relationship is being made between them. By Hearing this, you can say that the story is a typical monster slayer story with few romance into it right between the hero and the fragile girl right? WRONG! is very very different, Claymore is not really focused in only warriors fightning monsters or the romance between the characters, is not like that. The focus of the story is the horror, melancholy, and the sadness that involves the characters in most of the situations where they react very well in determinated situations such as Dangerous, Sadness etc. Also, what make the story more good is the events on it, principally involving claymores that are a mixed of human and youma. You would trust in someone that have 50% of humanity and 50% of monstroity? I guess not. This is a other thing that makes the plot very captivating, the prejudice and the fear that the humans have for both youmas and claymores(even if they are half human) and you somehow you feel sorry for the claymores because you see that some of them are not really bad or even deserved to be treacted like this, is not like a fantasy anime where everyone root for the main character, praying for him/her to win, this one, they must support everything in their backs like the fardue of fightning monsters and hate of everyone. Claymores may not express any emotions in most of the scenes, but you can see inside their eyes, the sadness and the melancholy of their fates. There a lot of things that makes the plot enjoyable such as the background stories(principally claire's) of the characters that somehow locks you into the character and you can't do nothing than root for him/her complete his/her goal. By everything i say, you may disagree of note as 7, since by what i said, is a very good dark story BUUUUT lets not stick only to the good side. There also some bad points aswell, the story itself is not original and like many animes, the events on it makes enjoyable, but also the anime have somethings that disappoints. Unfortunally, i really wanted to give a higher rating since the anime somehow is loyal to the manga with very few things changed or deleted, but i must say that the final of the anime is what affect the anime and makes it bad. I'm not saying you shouldn't see the series, but for you be prepared, since the manga ended in 2014, and the anime finished in 2007, there was a lot of things missing and hopes are increasing for a second season but unfortunally it was just a illusion, since with the alternative ending of claymore, the hopes just turns down because is very different from the manga. You can watch it and trust me, you will enjoy it, but be prepared since in the last episodes, you will see something different from the manga and it may make you a little frustrated since we all want a anime with a decent adaptation. If it actually adaptated pretty well and made into two seasons, it could have been better, since we could expect to understand more things if does have a second season but since it doesn't have, there a lot of things missing in the story.
Art: 8/10
I Really like the art of claymore, principally the eyes of the claymores that is really beautiful, the facial expression is not that "BEST" thing you have see, but is really good, plastic and in some parts very detailed. I also like the designs of the characters and their details principally the armor of the claymores, and also the effects in the fight moments, its all beautiful. What i really missed is some more details in the face expression, since there were a lot of panic and despair moments of the anime, just for cause some reality and feel in the character's expressions, but overall, is very good.
Sound: 9/10
One of the best things of the anime are,no doubts, the OSTs, I love the OP that gives that melancholy theme of how sad the characters are and the fardue that they carry on their back involving in a lot of situations, risking their lifes for the humanity's sake, and also i loved the ending that makes everyone hype that somehow describe the stories/fates that most of the characters had. Thats something i really liked of the show, the epic soundtracks like the rocks/guitar mixed themes in fight scenes and the melody and compositions flutes, violins, hornpipe, piano etc., that give that medieval feeling, creating a amazing atmosphere for the anime and also describing some sad events involving all the characters.
Characters: 7/10
This is will be a mixed point. The good side of claymore, in terms of characters is all of them are unique and somehow memorable in every scenes that they actually appears. They react very well in most of the scenes, showing reality in their faces and you can see and feel the despair, sadness, fear and horror when they are facing somthing. You will feel bad for them for most of the things that have happened to them like loss, traumas etc. The problem of claymore is, most of the background stories are very repetitive and annoying with a character losing someone close(friend, parents, brother etc). 1 or 2 characters having the same fate is understandable but a lot, is very weird and i know those monsters are the principal responsable for the horror and despair of the characters but i think they could have worked more in with BG stories of the characters and turn them more enjoyable to watch, because is pretty annoying when them went into flashback and show parents or anything like that dying and they complain about it.
Enjoyment: 8/10
Claymore overall, is a pretty good anime. The story may be unorginal and there are some predictable things but you can't do nothing than just keep going enjoying and wanting to see more about the everything in the world of claymore and the events that helps building a story with memorable characters where you will always root for them and feel bad/frustrated when something happens to them.
Overall: 8/10
Claymore is a very good anime and if you plan to watch, you won't regret it. Unfortunally, the anime itself had potential to be one of the best ones with a very good adaptation but somehow, disappoints near of the final. I Recommend you after finishing the anime, read the manga since there are things different and more things to show after the ending of the anime. Do not read it in the chapter where you stopped in the anime, read from the start.
Pros:
+Amazing Soundtracks that fits with the atmosphere and enviroment of the anime
+Memorable Characters
+Epic Visuals Effects with Decent Animations
+Amazing Horror/Melancholy/Action Atmosphere and story.
Cons:
-Most of the background stories of the characters are repetitive
-Disappointing Final Episodes
