Reviews

I don't think "Texhnolyze" really counts as an anime; I prefer to think of it as an incredible idea that happens to be animated. I admit this is because I don't want all of my favorites anime to be replaced because it's just that good. I need to mention right up front that this is a highly dark anime that will make any watcher depressed or frustrated, and by the end you WILL be in tears no matter who you are. It's painfully slow and nearly every episode is full of faded,drab colors and endless conversation; but, if you're the type who can stand to listen closely, your patience will be richly rewarded. There is absolutely no waste in the show. Every word, color, emotion, and especially sound has an important part in getting the show's message across. This results in a highly dense anime that you will probably have to see at least twice just to understand everything that happens in the complex world.

The art is just my personal taste (more rounded and soft) with excellent movement and color that supports the story. The sound is incredible. It is so believable that I felt a sense of nostalgia by the end of the first episode and felt comfortable in the story's world by the third episode. The sound alone pulls the watcher into a total submersion because everything you hear coincides perfectly with what you'd expect to hear in a specific scene down to the annoying grate of a slow moving ceiling fan.This submersion means that the watcher will be subject to horrifyingly real screams as well as ambient mundane sounds, but it's there for a reason: the watcher feels like he knows the world almost as if he or she had lived there at some point.

The characters are vast, complex, and, best of all, adaptable. The viewer sees every character reacting to the events of the story in their own unique ways changing the way humans really do. I believe that any person could find a character they can empathize with. Personally, I found bits of myself in nearly all of the characters and felt an extremely strong connection with several of them.

I gave enjoyment a 7/10 because this is an anime that cannot truly be enjoyed. I would rather say that I am in awe of it. It's brutal to watch and definitely depressing, and by the end you will either have felt a piece of you die, found redemption, or be crushed by both. It a good pain though the kind that makes you appreciate life.

Before I forget, I must warn potential watchers the first episode is purely to introduce you to the world and begin the immersion process. As such, it is a total trip that is very difficult to get through. PLEASE DON'T SKIP IT! In fact, I suggest watching it at least twice before moving on because it's more informative and dense that any other episode. The rest of the episodes follow what you expect in anime as far as speech to action ratio.

For my own peace of mind, I give it its own pedestal at 11/10. Be wary though it is not for every one. People tend to love it to death or hate it with a passion.