-Story-
Sticking several fairy tale characters from various stories together is by no means an original premise ('Fables' comes to mind) but it can still be enjoyable to watch old characters in new ways. The story is mostly episodic, following the staff of the Otogi 'Favors' Bank from case to case as they work to sort out various problems around the school. However, it suffers from badly handled tone shifts between scenes covering main heroine Ryouko's relationship to the main antagonist, and the parts where it's the just the main cast solving problems (without spoiling too much, roughly halfway through the series we learn something about Ryouko's past that fundamentally increases the seriousness of the series- but the show still tries to revert to the same comedic tone shortly thereafter). Also, the story misses its chance for a conclusive ending both dramatically and romantically, punting on both accounts and settling for making the final episode effectively filler (I realize this is an adaptation of only part of a series of light novels, but unless a show has a guarantee of a second season, giving open-ended finales just screws the fans over. Come on, how often does a show that ended inconclusively in the hope of getting a second season ACTUALLY get a second season?). The episodes can be enjoyable, but botched tone shifts and the "Maybe Ever After" ending keep the story from being anything special.
-Art-
Go take a flying leap, narrator, Ryouko looks great without two cantaloupes strapped to her chest! VIVE LE PETITE MADEMOISELLES!!! Ahem... now that THAT'S out of the way on to more serious matters...
The art is bright and colorful, but it's nothing we haven't seen before. I'd say aesthetically it was pretty similar to Toradora! (J.C. Staff produced both shows, so that's not unthinkable). I can't think of much to say beyond how quality is good and the style fit the show. Character designs incorporate elements from the fairy tale character each cast member is based on, with varying degrees of subtlety, creating fine designs but nothing that will go on lists of 'Most Originality'. Ryouko was a little unique in that the fan-service focused largely on her legs ( not the most common part of the female form to center on ) but didn't subvert any tropes beyond that. Main male character Ryoushi has an entirely generic and forgettable look. Main antagonist has the 'white haired pretty boy' design that stopped being original sometime around when Griffith sacrificed the Band of the Hawk to gain demonic powers.
-Sound-
Brina Palencia seems have a certain knack for playing wolf-girls (she gives them a certain 'spice' you might say). Her performance in the English dub can cover a variety of emotions and tones well and is the best performance overall. Narrator Luci Christian provides a great deal of comedy with her often sarcastic take on the on-screen events ("Oh look! A fan-service shot!") None of the other voice truly stood out, but I can't find faults with them either. The OP and ED are catchy, but nothing to go buy and download, and the OST is mood music without a standout track.
-Characters-
Male lead Ryoushi is a character I connected with very quickly, but largely due to personal reasons (I also spent a good chunk of my high school days as a shy, cowardly guy in hopeless pursuit of various serious, talented, energetic girls who weren't going to swoon for just any random bloke) not because his arc is overwhelmingly unique or well-done. His storyline is undermined by constant resets after each time he does something cool in order to maintain status quo. By the end of the series I was able to actually time these character resets ("OK, he's going to do something cowardly in 3, 2, 1..."). The "Cowardly Push-Over Becomes A Heroic Badass And Saves The Day" is a character arc I love, but the series was never willing to let him stay in Badass mode for long. Female lead Ryouko knows how to Tsundere with the best of them, as her alternating between bitter and sweet attitudes actually has some justification: she's struggling between her natural personality and the personality she developed in response to past events. I even thought there was bit of chemistry between her and Ryoushi that a proper ending could have exploited. Most of the supporting characters are serviceable but fairly forgettable, having one main personality trait that doesn't really develop (or again, just resets if it does).
-Enjoyment-
I enjoyed this series, but once I caught on to the dependable character resets and realized there wasn't going to be a proper ending I felt disappointed. It's the kind of disappointed you feel when you see something you think could have been very good trip and fall into mediocrity ( I need to review something I think did well soon, this trend of writing about anime that fumbled a good chance is getting depressing), not the kind of disappointment you feel when you watch something bad which you never thought had a shot to begin with.
-Overall-
Alas, comedy and chemistry between the main characters is squandered in the hope of getting a second season. A proper ending could have made this series endearing, but as it is it's just a bit above average. Doggone it anime industry.
