Reviews

Summary: This is one of those anime that you will shed a tear over finishing. It was just SO damn good. I am not a huge manga fan but I am most certainly going to figure out where the anime left off and read the rest of the manga because they've setup such an amazing story I absolutely need to know where it ends. That unfortunately is the one major flaw with this piece, it was so good but stopped too early. There is a ton left uncovered and though it ended in acceptable place I think they could have wrapped it up a bit better. One thing I will say is the big reveal in the final episode... I saw that coming from the second episode and were glad they through it in because I feared you would never know.

Story: 10/10
It's epic, hands down. There is a ton of mystery, lots of amazing concepts, and a cool and mysterious concept. How does Alice relate to the Will of the Abyss. How does Jack play into everything. What are the true motivations of the Baskervilles. What is the deal with Vincent? There are just a few of the many questions you will learn about. If you like a slowly unfolding mystery with a hint of fighting and a splash of darkness you will enjoy this. Also, the fact that a lot of the themes are slight homages to Alice and wonderland (expect to see Alice, Chesire Neko, the Mad Hatter and others) is interesting, even if the story really isn't about Alice in Wonderland.

Art: 7/10
It's good but nothing amazing. I liked the diversity of character models but the art is a bit dated for how epic the show is.

Sound: 10/10
I am a HUGE fan of metal intros (think Absolute Duo, Trinity Soul) but this is the best intro song an anime has ever had. I found myself watching the intro at least twice between every single episode. The OST is enchanting and I suggest checking it out. They use the music to very strongly amplify the mood of important scenes; kudos to the sound director this is epic.

Character: 9/10
I liked them all. They each had their own unique personalities and quirks and I loved getting to know each of them. Each character grows and evolves substantially and even though they are often lighthearted and silly that just helps to get to know them better.

Enjoyment: 9/10
I looked forward to every episode. I had quite a few VERY late nights watching this after work. I actually stopped at 23/25 for about 4 days because I was going to be so sad it was over. The story paces itself well, unfolding bits and pieces of mystery and character development at a very nice pace. There is shocking twists spread throughout, even up through the last 10 minutes of the final episode.

Overall: 9/10
I loved it. I highly suggest if this genre even remotely interests you that you give this a chance. It was a LOT of fun and I am looking forward to unfolding the rest of the story via the manga. Enjoy!