Now for the longer version. This anime is incredibly strange in that it is almost impossible to classify exactly what genre it fits in. It weaves in and out between horror, mystery, romance, action, social commentary, and even some elements of science fiction. If I had to choose a specific genre though, I would say it is a coming of age story. It captures the pain and beauty of growing up over the course of several decades of life, dealing with everything from fear of the outside world to the bonds of friendship to loss of a loved one to sacrifice in saving one's people. After watching, I felt like I had invested year of my life into the characters and that I had known them for much longer than the 25 episode run time.
Perhaps the most impressive accomplishment of the anime is its handling of the antagonists. Every character who could be classified as "evil" has near perfect justification for their actions, and make you question what the true correct path should be. It deals with themes such as hiding the truth for the betterment of society, eliminating potential psychopaths for the safety of others, and killing innocents in the name of freedom and liberation. You clearly see why each of these sides do what they had to, and are left to your own judgment whether or not their actions were justified. If I have any complaints however, its that while many of these questions are presented, few of them are answered, leaving you rather unfulfilled at the end. If you are looking for resolutions, this anime is not the place. But the philosophical depths this anime explores are something that should not be ignored by anyone looking for something deeper than your average shounen anime.
So here's the funny thing, I would not consider this an enjoyable anime. Its deep, its beautiful, but do not expect to feel any sense of fulfillment or real happiness by the end. It felt rather like reading a George Orwell or Ray Bradbury novel rather than something like Tolkien. There were also a few places the anime took me that I would rather wish it wouldn't, but ultimately cannot fault it for pushing my bounds a bit. Despite my misgivings, I feel the journey was still worth it. I highly recommend watching and judging it for yourself, it is a true overlooked gem, and you don't see anime like this every day.
