The actual narrative is somewhat unique, and takes a big turn at some point going in a direction most people probably wouldn't expect. Some loose ends are left untied, and the viewer is left with far more questions than answers, but the ride is plenty fun. World building seems at first to be taking place, but is very quickly shut down before you can get any real understanding from it. I would still give the story 7/10 for being unique, interesting, and somewhat emotional.
Okay, let's tackle the sound and art in the series. I watched this series in dub, so I'll be talking mostly about the dub here. All of the VAs for the main characters seemed to fit the roles very well, and the voice acting was nicely done. From an objective standpoint, I can say that there wasn't quite as much energy or emotion in a lot of the voice acting as there could have been, but it still works out alright. Lots of VAs that you'll likely be familiar with such as J Michael Tatum.
Both the opening and ending themes capture the feel of the show well, and I personally found them enjoyable. The animation in both was very well done, and the opening comes out especially visually pleasing. The animation for the series as a whole was pretty average, having some nice fight scenes here and there, but also using still frames in scenes where budget required. The artistic style however was very nice, and remained solid through the entire series. Art I'd give 8/10 mainly for the style, and sound 8/10 for its lack of any noticeable flaws, and an A-list VA cast.
The characters I'll only touch on very quickly. They were all very interesting, but they weren't as fleshed out as they could've been. Some character were very 2-dimensional with obvious motives, others were more complex but never given a chance to shine. Overall the characters were well done for how fast paced the show became, and for that I'd give the show 7/10 for characters.
The overall enjoyment in the series comes more from style of the show, and how all the elements really mesh together. There's no easy way to describe why this show is as enjoyable as it is, but in the simplest word, it's fun. This show reminded me of why I loved Soul Eater, and if you enjoyed Soul Eater too, Blood Blockade Battlefront is a must see. The manic pace and atmosphere in this show play off of each other until you can't help but give in to its wacky nature. The entire thing feels like a roller coaster.
If there's one qualm I have with it, it's the last episode. The final episode is extra length, slower pace, and goes in a much different direction than I had expected. Don't get your hopes up for the finale to be the best part of the show, it's not. Still, there wasn't a single scene in this show that I didn't like, so I'll give 10/10 for the enjoyment.
Overall this show gets 8/10 from an objective standpoint, and from a personal standpoint I'd give it a 9/10.
If you liked the pacing in Baccano or Durarara, you'll enjoy this show. If you like the style in Soul Eater, you'll love this show. If you're not sure, give the first episode a try, it encapsulates the feel of the series nicely.
If you read all of that, thanks for your time. I hope this review was helpful.
