Therefore I strongly encourage you to read the guide to this series by destination of fate on tumblr first to make the anime experience all the better.
Story 8/10
Mekakucity Actors is about a unique group of friends who call themselves the "Mekakushi Dan," or otherwise known as the "Blindfold Gang." They possess strange powers and abilities. Shintaro Kisaragi, a NEET, is forced to venture out of his room on one particular day where he meets the Mekakushi Dan. Due to a flurry of events, Shintaro is indebted to the gang and is forced into joining the group. The gang investigates the mysteries of their powers which brings forth their painful memories of the past.
A complex plot sometimes hinders the adaptation, and this is certainly the case in Mekakucity Actors. Due to the fact that the show is only twelve episodes, it did not have the time to truly scratch the surface of the Kagerou Project's plot. As a result the story is rushed, lacks direction, and things are not explained, leaving the audience to do the guessing game if they have not yet read or watched the videos produced by Jin. During my first watch of the anime I was certainly confused as the plot moves along so quickly that I didn't really have the time to process each scene's meaning. The ending, as well, feels incomplete and fans are always in need of closure. In order to appreciate Mekakucity Actors fully for what it is, I recommend that you start by watching and reading the music videos and manga of the Kagerou Project. If you have done so, the plot of Mekakucity Actors will make much more sense and more enjoyable. The show spoke in a lot of visual metaphors and long dialogue that causes details to be missed and subjects not fully explained. Everything in the show is connected, and nothing is there without a purpose. The excess flashbacks all contribute to the plot, and much of them might not make complete sense if you haven't done any backup research.
Art 6/10
Again, Shaft has delivered once more with it's unique art style. The style of the animation really aligns itself with the plot and creates a mood that matches the setting very well. Despite this, there are still some slight problems. For instance, some CG was used in the show that did not have any justification for being there and totally ruined some scenes that were incredible during the manga but shit on during the anime. Honestly, it's a disappointment.
Sound 8/10
The vocaloid music throughout the anime matched with the theme and characters. Ene is a cyber girl inside Shintaro's phone, making the vocaloid music seem like it could have been sung by her. The art of the show goes hand in hand with music, as both have a futuristic theme to them. If you listen closely to all the lyrics, they all have meaning and are a part of the plot. The OP for the show, daze, is extremely catchy and one of my favourites. Jin has really outdone himself.
Character 7/10
Mekakucity Actors has a fairly large cast that all have their quirks and interesting backstories. All of the characters are connected to one another. During this adaptation, I felt that the anime did not expand on each of the characters and kept them static, which was a letdown as all of them are likable and fascinating in their own ways.
Enjoyment 8/10
This is the rating I give Mekakucity Actors after re watching it and getting deep into the lore of the series. After gaining a better understanding of all the characters and important events in the plot, I was able to watch the anime with ease without worrying about why this and that happened.
Verdict: Watch it after you have read the manga and watched the music videos.
Overall: 7.4
