Do not be afraid.
Story-8
Although the plot itself it not exceptionally original, the "twist" in the first 2 episodes opened up some new opportunities for this show- really, it kind of reminded me of a Disney movie sometimes. The pacing felt a little slow at first, picked up, died back down, and picked up again- all over the place but never boring. The final few episodes really shine and have one of my favorite scenes ever.
Art-8
Personally, I really liked the character style- especially the eyes. All characters were pleasing to look at. The backgrounds I felt really seemed real- from a secluded shrine to a mountain village to a cave to a bustling city all seemed like actual places. One thing that was especially awesome were the fight scenes- fast paced and fluidly animated. You could definitely feel the power when a certain blue-clad glaive wielder fought. Another thing to be praised in the fight scenes is the camera work, which always allows you to see what is going on without making the fights seem boring.
Sound-10
Where do I start with this? I would honestly rate this a 10/10 if they just played the 1st OP over and over. It's that good. The song doesn't need words in order to feel epic. The 2nd OP is by no means bad but not as good as the first. I don't have a lot to say about the 1st ED, but the 2nd was pure awesome due to the choir work in the background. I wish more shows would pick out OPs and EDs that would fit the theme of the show so well as these do.
Character-9
Akatsuki no Yona did so much right in this category. Jeaha is always calm and nonchalant- an always flirting. He also cares deeply about those around him and arrears to have a strong sentimental connection with his pirate crew. Yun is the responsible one of the group- cooking the meals, managing finances, and scolding for misconduct. In the manga, he's even referred to as "Mom" a few times. Kija never really struck me as unique but I enjoyed his squabbling with the aforementioned "blue-clad glaive wielder". Zeno regrettably didn't get enough screen time but stole the show while he was there. Shin-ah is the one character I just don't get- maybe I just don't like the silent type.
AND NOW
Our leads
Yona- Wow, totally didn't see that coming. Yona starts out as a character a show should never hope to have- whiny, complaining, clingy, and doesn't understand what she's doing. However, this all changes. Gradually, Yona becomes strong and independent, willing to make important decisions or put herself in danger to prove herself. Her transformation is really something.
Hak- What would this show be without Hak? Not nearly as good IMO. Hak is my very favorite character in this show full of great characters. He's a total badass and is funny as hell. What's not to like? However, the decision he makes to ******* *** ****** (no spoilers) really shows how much he cares for Yona and how serious he is about her safety.
Enjoyment-9
At no point did I ever find this show boring or annoying, and I absolutely loved 2 of the arcs. Bottom
line is, I enjoyed it every step of the way.
Overall-9
No matter what your experience is or what shows you like, Akatsuki no Yona is a much watch. Even if you don't like Yona at first, she'll grow on you- and the manga series is fantastic. This show deserves so much more attention than it gets.
Thanks for reading my long review!
