This show has some superpower elements as seen in Joukamachi no Dandelion, where the kids could teleport and fly, and borrows character traits from other shows such as the Fruit of Grisaia in which a girl is possessed by someone who is already dead. However, the plot in this show is quite unique, and the whole expansion of the main conflict, while not like the repeated eye-opening and exploding nature of Gurren Lagann, is pretty good considering that they managed to cram the entire thing into a single season. Mind you, this work combines the storytelling brilliance of Key with the recently ridiculous production quality of P.A. Works. That fact and the engaging story make this a show that your really ought to give a try. So stop staring at the stars and dive into Jun Maeda's latest work.
Animation:
As with other recent P.A. works, expect extremely detailed backgrounds and vivid colorizations. The animation sequences in the OP and the vivid nightscapes of the ED are particularly well done- seriously, don't even bother looking for wallpapers as the credit less EDs suffice and then some. There is a huge array of settings in this show, allowing P.A. Works to demonstrate equal mastery of day and night scenes; the dark, rainy scene in episode seven left a particularly positive impression. Compared to Glasslip, there is less of a natural focus, and the overall mood is a bit more melancholy- especially in the latter episodes. As for the characters, I feel the drawing style is a bit more mainstream compared to P.A. Works' prior works. Though everyone is distinctive and all, the emotions aren't as expressive as what I've come to expect of P.A. Works, though this particular work is also a bit more story-driven.
This is quite a segment shift for P.A. Works as there is a fair amount of action associated with everyone's superpowers. Furthermore, there are significant amounts of blood and violence, especially in the latter episodes. Though the early episodes are quite humorous, don't expect much ecchi.
Sound:
The show opens with an energetic work by Lia; though it takes a few plays to grow on you, it's a pretty good and fitting piece, especially with all the timed animations. There are two EDs, one main and one special. The main one is a calming and melodic piece that likewise fits perfectly with the animation. The special ED ends Misa's episodes and is fittingly rock based. Though the BGM isn't as special as that in Glasslip, it does its job well- humorous and entertaining at moments and dark in depressing at others; there are specific themes that become recognizable by the end of the show.
There's a lot to say about the VAs for this show as well. Ayane Sakura does a great job giving Nao a tomboyish feel but even more impressive is Maaya Uchida's double take on Yusa and Misa. Furthermore, Momo Asakura does a great job voicing our protagonist's kawaii imouto. The supporting cast is pretty good too including a fairly large role for Daisuke Ono. Expect a great performance overall from a fairly large cast.
Story:
So what if, instead of having to deal with parents and acne, you were sent to a boarding school under a full scholarship with a chance of developing superpowers? That is the initial premise in Charlotte, where our protagonist is reluctantly taken to after abusing his power to get revenge on others and claiming his prize girlfriend. There, he acquiesces and joins the student council body, which every so often is sent to stop others from abusing their powers.
The story progression is actually very similar to that in Angel Beats, the show starts off as a sort of episodic, comedic slice of life. However, around midpoint in the show, a pivotal event occurs that sends shockwaves throughout the show's universe and reverberates in your brain. This leads to a much darker second half with a bit more emo than I really would have liked but, nonetheless, makes this show rather unique. This then builds to a pretty large climax in episode twelve. Technically speaking, they probably could have ended the show right there- sort of what they did with Glasslip. However, this time they spend a full additional episode as an epilogue and rather torturous journey for Kouki Uchiyama.
The show overall was very engaging and entertaining. The early episodes had just enough humor and story to keep my interest, and the later episodes just begged to be chained with tense rising action.
Character:
As I already stated, the character focus feels less than in previous P.A. Works. However, there is still a healthy amount of development, mostly centered on the protagonist, Yuu. They did a pretty good job convincing the viewers that he's a good for nothing cheater who uses underhanded tactics to get what he wants. In that way, this show may be off-putting to a fair segment of the viewer base. However, this also allows for him to grow and change (if albeit just a bit) through the show; this may seem pretty gradual but is pretty if you go back and re-watch the earlier episodes again. I was less satisfied with the character treatment of Nao, she's never developed enough for the user to really relate to- negating the impact of some scenes later in the show. The other supporting cast is likewise only minimally developed, though their personalities are nonetheless entertaining.
Value:
If you're looking with a show with a good dosage of humor and plot depth, one that for once doesn't involve a harem, give Charlotte a try. The show is definitely one of the more interesting shows of the season, and one with decent re-watch values as well; there are plenty of foreshadows to catch on a second viewing. Though it isn't the strongest P.A. production character-wise, this is still definitely a solid show, definitely don't miss this one!
