Apparently, the creators of Charlotte believe that drama is synonymous with over-the-top theatrics. Every emotional beat in this anime is cranked up to eleven, with characters flailing about like they're auditioning for a kabuki performance. I get it, drama is supposed to make us feel something, but the unrealistic and forced nature of these reactions only serves to pull us out of the story.
And speaking of characters, Charlotte is a prime example of how not to write them. Emotional depth? Forget about it. These characters are about as deep as a puddle after a light drizzle. It's impossible to care about their struggles when they are so poorly developed or simply unlikable. The anime attempts to create emotional moments, but they fall flat because we have no investment in these cardboard cutouts masquerading as characters.
The grand finale that was supposed to tie everything together and leave us with a sense of satisfaction. Well, spoiler alert, it failed miserably. The lack of meaningful progression or character development throughout the series culminates in a lacklustre ending that feels as satisfying as eating a dry rice cracker. There are no real consequences, no growth, and no impact. It's like hitting the reset button and pretending that everything that happened before was just a fever dream
The premise of people being able to read each other's minds is intriguing. It has the potential for psychological exploration and complex storytelling. Unfortunately, Charlotte squanders this potential with its subpar execution. The show drowns in its own clichés and fails to offer any fresh perspective on the concept.
As for the characters themselves, well, let's just say they're as two-dimensional as a piece of paper. Except for Nao Tomori, who inexplicably undergoes a sudden personality shift that feels forced and out of character. It's as if the writers realised they needed some semblance of character development and decided to throw it in randomly without any rhyme or reason. Character development can be a good thing, but only when it's executed properly, and in the case of Charlotte, it's just jarring and poorly timed.
The animation is decent, I'll give it that. But the character design? It's as generic as it gets. We're treated to yet another parade of moe-style characters that blend together in a sea of unoriginality. It's like the creators went to a factory that churns out generic anime characters and bought them in bulk. And don't even get me started on the soundtrack. With the exception of the opening and ending themes, the music is forgettable. Can we at least get something that stands out?
In summary, Charlotte: Strong People is a useless OVA that lacks significant plot development and meaningful drama. It relies on tired clichés and poorly executed emotional moments that fail to resonate with the audience. The characters are as shallow as a puddle, with the exception of a forced and poorly timed character development for Nao Tomori. The art and sound are generic and forgettable, doing little to elevate the overall experience. It's not worth your time.
