Story: Well, it's a black/white story of a group of characters being thrust into a dire situation that has a bit of mystery and a good dose of psychological trauma, all presented with a sort of sugary glaze of "moe," art, dialogue, and interaction. It can be freely argued that this mix doesn't work out well, but as a fan of David Lynch and Todd Solondz styled films, I can easily say I like the staggered mix of normality and trauma; it's not perfect, but the comedy is there as a set-up for a newer serious bit. I like that. The formula works for me.
Art: It's "moe," style throughout; nothing else to really say about that. The characters are drawn lively and the occasional moments of "service," which do happen, (I will not deny this,) are, in my opinion, easily disregarded if you are watching this open-minded and looking for story. Animation is good, period.
Sound: The intro is a trap, haha. I like that juxtaposition. The outro's vary, and I think there are about four different ones; each corresponds with ending emotion of the parent episode. I would like to point out that there are some moments, (helps to watch with head-phones for this effect,) that the music or sound corresponds with the viewers emotions. Think, "Eyes Wide Shut," piano notes, though obviously not as profound. Just good arrangement, overall .
Character: Well, with a group of girls, in anime, you get the usual mix, but I think that Yuki and Miki are the ones you should focus on. Miki is a natural foil to Yuki and it's interesting to watch their relationship evolve. The other supporters are good, and do also add the development and understanding of the relationships between characters, but if you are looking for a good contrast focus on the former two.
Enjoyment: I like trasngressive film, I like deconstruction, and I like nice characters being tossed into difficult situations. I was satisfied with this showing. It almost brought back memories of,"When they Cry," with the fun art and dark story. I find that this show delivers on surprise value when you go in oblivious. The last 3 episodes, if you like the characters, should help elicit some emotion; tears may be too much, but I definitely felt a lump in my throat during the last episode, especially.
Overall: This series was a surprise. I knew after previewing the first episode that I would want to watch this in my usual binge style and at the end of the day I was satisfied. The ending may feel a bit of a drag, but just put your feelings in the passenger seat and enjoy the last scene that leads towards hope and the future. Sure, nothing is concrete, but someone in the grand, outside word received a touching sentiment, and in the end, isn't that enough?
