(10/10) Right off the bat, the plot from just the synopsis will catch pretty much anybody's attention if they have interest in the supernatural/thriller genres. While the supernatural aspect is only really important at certain points in the story, it doesn't take away from the experience in any way. From the very first episode, any watcher will be gripped by the story's atmosphere, it's rapidly moving plot, and it's mysterious approach to a genre that is not always executed well. It handles serious and psychological tones very well and injects a shocking amount of realism into a seemingly supernatural scenario, which can be appreciated by fans of almost any genre. Each episode ends of a cliffhanger, which will likely make you want to watch the entire series in one go if you had any interest. The story, in my opinion, keeps a set of well done story arcs contained nicely inside the twelve episode limit and ends with an impeccably satisfying conclusion, and doesn't once falter with it's tones and genres. The pacing is excellent and there is never a sense of confusion or a feeling that some events were too rushed throughout.
(9/10) The art is very good. The character design and style is done in a unique but very visually appealing way that is certain to not deter anyone from watching. The backgrounds are done well and manages to keep a very isolated and lonely atmosphere, which I found very effective. The animation is also excellent and there aren't any notable instances where it was plainly bad or awkward. The only reason I wouldn't give the art a 10 is because it could be considered bland and doesn't have any real outstanding value.
(10/10) The sound in this anime is excellent. The music choices and overall sound design was just spot on, I found myself constantly being entranced by the amazing soundtrack and great sound effects when it came to the supernatural aspects of the show and even the cinematic expositional portions that tie together certain events.
(8/10) I feel that the only real place the show is lacking is with it's characters. I just felt that there wasn't any really interesting personalities that stood out, or were unique from the general medium of archetypes. As the show leans heavily on the story portion, the characters themselves are good and they certainly won't make you stop watching. In fact, there aren't any overly annoying or unrealistic characters per-se. They were still largely well developed and good enough to earn an 8 from me.
- The protagonist, Satoru, starts off as a broody, solemn and relatively depressed 29 year old man who works as a manga artist. Thanks to numerous publishing denials, he finds himself relying on working at a pizza place to make a stable income. Once the plot kicks in and Satoru is suddenly reliving his life as an eleven year old, he becomes intent on saving his three classmates that are set to be murdered by a loose killer in the future. There are a few problems regarding Satoru's personality, the largest being that although a clear sense of maturity is established in his eleven year old state, Satoru still acts largely childish and thinks that he is the only one who can stop the murders from taking place. His inner personality, one that wasn't fully portrayed in his 29 year old self, appears to be completely based around acting as an agent of justice, an aspect which is continually developed as the show progresses. By the time the story arc had ended, there was almost no trace of Satoru's former self that could be found. Although I don't find this to be a particularly unrealistic character progression, I found it rather annoying and archetypal as it essentially was carbon cut from other "heroes of justice" portrayed in anime. Overall, I liked Satoru's character but there are evident flaws that needed to be addressed.
- Kayo Hinazuki is the first victim of the murderer, thus the first person which Satoru needed to save. Kayo herself is a "loner" type character, one that purposely distances herself from making relationships with others due to some kind of personal reason. This archetype is commonly used in the medium, and thus didn't help towards making her a likable character at first glance. However, as Satoru builds his relationship with the mysterious girl, she starts to open up and become a lot more likable. Satoru discovers that she was being beaten by her abusive mother, and that she was simply acting apathetic in hopes on one day becoming so. Her character arc is very good and is commonly considered the high point of the show by it's viewers.
- Kenya Kobayashi is Satoru's classmate, and can easily be considered a genius by both adult standards and his friends. He is a reoccurring character that contributes largely to Satoru's motivations and eventually the outcome of the story. While Kenya himself doesn't have many particularly interesting personality quirks, he tends to be far smarter than it's realistically possible for a ten year old to be which is sometimes jarring and just outright annoying. He regularly advances the plot and generally is a large help to Satoru as he embarks on his quest.
- Airi is Satoru's co-worker at the pizza place he works at. While she isn't a particularly important character in the show as it largely takes place in the past, she brings important character development to Satoru and is generally a likable, confident, and independent high school girl.
- Sachiko is Satoru's mom, who is an important character throughout the series. She constantly proves to be a brilliant mother that genuinely cares for her son, and knows him so well she can easily predict what he's thinking and what he's planning in any given situation. She's a very good and well developed character that is a crucial element in the story.
(10/10) The conclusion and my overall enjoyment of this show are good enough for it to earn a 10. It has a captivating, thrilling storyline that describes a very realistic struggle despite an unrealistic prerequisite. It is certain to keep anybody entertained for the amount of time it takes to watch it, warranting my recommendation to definitely check it out. The conclusion manages to wrap up almost all unresolved plotlines, while leaving few plotholes and unanswered questions. It is very well established that the story is complete, leaving zero room for a continuation. While again, it may not be 100% perfect, it is definitely good enough to be placed on anybody's watchlist, whether they're a fan of the genre or not.
