Art/Characters: The art style of this show is pretty similar to the rest of shows in today’s anime. Being able to see the way the outfits of each individual character really made the world come alive. Even the characters that wear the same outfit each time they are seen, they still have a uniqueness to them that makes it seem non-repetitive. The colors here are also one of the most vivid and bright in any show that I have seen. The use of rainbows and different colors to focus on different characters make them really stand out. As for each of the individual characters, they each had very real and very unique personalities that made the show really fun to watch. With Subaru at the helm and main characters like Rem, Emilia, and even Julius to some degree give the show a depth that is unmatched by any show I have seen thus far. I also really love the detail that the illustrators put into the little things, like being able to see the reflections of a person in another characters eyes. Subaru’s character concept, a NEET being ripped out of his life and placed in somewhere completely new, but is a little reminiscent of something like Familiar of Zero.
Sound/Music: The music of Re:Zero is some of the most memorable and enjoyable that I have heard this season. Being able to recall that stinger sound when every the moment was heavy and terrifying still brings a chill down my spine. There are also a few songs that stir emotions in me, but in the interest of no spoilers, I won’t say when those songs appear but there are songs that are so amazing that I still listen to them and I will continue to listen to them for a long time after. As for the rest of the sound throughout the show, it made the world so expansive and so fulfilling that I felt like I was truly part of the world of Re:Zero.
Story: In a phrase: one for the ages. I really had no idea what I was getting into when I watched the first episode of Re:Zero but the concept of a person, much like myself, could get removed from his life and dropped into a new place filled with new people, it just blows my mind. I have seen it done before, but not quite to this scale. The plot device of return-by-death is really interesting and really does a great job of blurring the line between RPG and Anime. Once Subaru has been dropped into this world, he happens upon a woman who has had her insignia stolen, and upon trying to help her find it, Subaru and the woman are very brutally murdered. As if that would be the end of the story, Subaru snaps out of a trance to speak with someone he spoke to upon arrival. Confused and lost, he isn’t sure what has happened to him, but he will do anything he can to change his future.
Personal Reflection: When you sit down to watch a new show a few things are taken into consideration. The poster art, the PV, how many episodes, the art style, etc. But for this, I knew next to nothing. I saw the art, “that looks cool” and that the first episode was split into two parts, “alright”. I anticipated it to be something similar to a show like Sword Art Online because of the fantasy setting, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. The emotions that I felt while watching this show; the moments where my jaw would DROP because the credits began to roll at a cliff hanger. I was so invested and I loved it so much that I wasn’t able to shut up about it. The colors, the music, the sounds, the characters (I’m on Team Emilia by the way, haters gonna hate), and ultimately the world that I became a part of. I felt for Subaru because I have been in situations that make one susceptible to falling in love and doing absolutely everything possible to keep the ones you love safe. When things happen that break my heart, I go numb and can’t take my eyes away from the screen. There were literally times when the credits would roll and I couldn’t skip past them because I was in shock. While I absolutely loved this show, I would say there are a few plot holes and I am a little upset that they didn’t develop some characters as well as they did others, but I am hoping and praying for a season two to be announced soon. Please, please, please, if you haven’t already seen Re:Zero, watch it, love it, experience it.
Overall Score: 9.9/10
