The writing is fantastic, with small details brought up throughout the series, addressed briefly, and dismissed--only to become main elements later on. For example, a bird mentioned in a story told to flesh out a pivotal side character becomes final key to fulfilling the characters' mission, etc. The use of foreshadowing is beautiful, and there was absolutely no "Deus Ex Machina" in terms of how the setting and world, or how the plot moves forward.
The main protagonist, too, was a breath of fresh air. Far removed from the trend in most animes to objectify female characters, Seirei no Moribito was realistic and empowering right up to the very last scene. The protagonist is a strong, female warrior whose gender rarely, if ever, has any bearing on her actions or the story itself. Opponents didn't seek her out for revenge because they lost to a woman, but because they were spared by someone so strong. Clients didn't shy a way from hiring her because of who she is, but rather flock to her services because of her skills. Even the one brief scene in a hot springs is handled exceptionally well, with the women wrapped in towels so the viewers focus is pulled exclusively to the emotional dialogue.
Even the pacing is done well. The series takes places over a long period of time, so naturally there will be moments of peace in the characters lives. But even these "slice-of-life" moments move the plot forward, offering the writers a unique opportunity to build the characters' relationships, characterizations, and personal strengths. And episodes that in any other series would be plot-irrelevant fillers play key roles is driving the action. For example, the oft-used anime "festival" filler becomes a pivotal moment in the characters' lives, bringing about an urgent need to abandon their home and move forward to find the next answer to the series' overarching questions.
The animation itself is absolutely stunning. Every landscape is beautiful, and the series as a whole is an aesthetic masterpiece. The fight scenes, too, are unparalleled. Unlike many action series, there is no "movement blur" used to make battles more "intense" without animating the fight itself. In Seirei no Moribito, each individual movement is animated and realistic, each character has a unique fighting style that is seen rather that "told", and each battle is still as emotionally-charged as any high-intensity overpowered shounen showdown--perhaps even more so.
Overall, this series is unmatched. I have never watched anything like it in terms of overall quality, and I doubt I will in the near future.
