There are many animes where you could say you're not really sure how to rate the show, in a good or in a bad way, but I think DanMachi is special at this.
To start with the basics:
On the one hand we have too much ecchi in this show, in terms of boobs and some fan service scenes like the typical bath thing, or struggling who's getting the main char and "pressing" his arms over this (they should've added harem as tag). The background story of many side characters is left aside even though it would've made sense to show why they're acting the way they're doing and not only showing a short retrospect at best, leaving some very potential characters who could've told a nice story in the dark.
We also, beside this described fanservice have "goddes" Hestia, which will, I guarantee it, get on your nerves as soon as you've passed half of the story.
On the other side we have very nice couple, consisting of Aiz and Bell. Bell, the main protagonist is drawn out okay, and believable as the person he's shown to be. Aiz's background is never shown during the whole 13 EPs, but I really started to love her as a person, though you never get to know what's really going on in her mind. Aiz seems to be an airhead at least for romances, because every time things like dates are mentioned she's asking what's meant. I think she would've been a good main char.. (you see the problem ?)
The problem with the love story here is that this annoying little brat Hestia, always interferes, when there would be a chance to progress like visiting a god damn town together. Though Hestia itself is presented as a 14 year old brat which is supposed to be a god, with cup size D. So besides them congratulating each other about their progress, there's no real thing that, thanks to Hestia, could happen or really develop.
So the love story never really settles down, what's left then ?
Only the progress in getting better in skills and strength, and a never really explained god, level and dungeon system.
Even those gods, sticking to the facts, *shouldn't* use their powers on earth, and you're never getting to know why their even existing or for what they or their powers are good.
In the end I've to ask JC Staff what they wanted to present here.
A love story ? Well it never really develops any further. A story of progress ? Or the kind of plot that pops up during the last 2-3 EPs and some new characters, besides a grand "villain" who's never explained or shown doing more then laughing.
At this point I've to compare DanMachi with SAO, I'm sorry for people of both sides, but this has to be done.
SAO and this show are delivering a rank up and skill system in a fictional world, though DanMachi's world is real for the chars. Both are having a fighting couple and both are rushing in terms of their story.
DanMachi also shows very good fight scenes and does it even better then SAO, because pain is existing in this world and shown as such, making it easier to feel for the characters. The main couple in DanMachi is also older then in SAO, at least I would guess so according to their way of acting and things said in the show, while SAO shows 16 and 17 years old teenagers, I can't really feel with that good.
So there are some things DanMachi really does better then SAO. Even more the fact that the main hero isn't better or getting better by interfering with the fights of the heroine, leaving her in the dust, but by letting him trying to catch up.
BUT SAO has A: a finishing love story, B: a finishing storyline besides and C: throws more light on the side characters (I'm judging based on SAO I, I've dropped II halfway.)
(24 EPs SAO vs 13 EPs DanMachi, I'm sorry JC Staff that you got only granted that much for the show!)
Conclusion:
Some very well drawn fights, a growing up story, too much ecchi and some annoying characters. Mixed with some poorly drawn out side chars and an unknown point of what the show really wanted to deliver.
For one part I would watch a second season, hoping for more Aiz and Bell, but being honest and honest to myself this show kinda f*cked up midway. I would still recommend it, but don't expect too much.
Probably, if you're reading up the information on MAL (there seems to be more information about the world, origins etc), the show simply would've been better with more EPs, not trying to stuff all of this into 13 episodes.
I really would've wished for that, the idea, setting and especially the couple has some potential, which *could* be kinda fixed with a second season.
