And with this story, it spans motion media: like notably Disney 1951 color animation film and later this year 2010 Tim Burton version of Alice (here we call Alice in Horrorland! LOL)
Speaking of childhood and movie experience, time for my review on my experience with Xebec anime adaption of Pandore Hearts.
For short intro, Pandora Hearts is create by mangaka Mochizuki Jun; and the manga is base on Alice in Wonderland with the only thing is that: Alice is not the main lead, though she is the main female lead.
The story is about Oz Vessalius, the heir of the Vessalius Dukedom who going to become 15 and is undergo a ceremony to celebrate his coming age. Unfortunately, his little party was crash by the Basketville Dukedom. So he was send to the Abyss (something like the deepest level in hell) for his 'so-call sins' for out of no reason. Down there, he got out with the help of Black Rabbit Alice. As she also want to got out to find the fragment of her past memory.
Just as i start watching it, i happen to compare another anime/manga which somehow similar to Pandora: That's Nabari no Ou. Here's why:
-The main character is a helpless whimp, a plot device
-They are searching something together with the other main lead
-Supporting character are powerful character, the main character is a weakling
And luckily, Pandora is not another Nabari.
The story plot in Pandora is not device driven, but character driven. At the start of the series, you were introduce mostly the basic in Pandora: the Abyss, the 4 Noble Dukedom, Chain. But as the series goes, you were introduce even more of the character. Plus, you find out that mostly the character that Oz come across are some how tie in to the most important event that was set way back ago. Means you will get fragment by fragment, pieces by pieces from the character back stories and put them together in your head. It can be annoying and confusing, but you will start questioning what is going on. That's Pandora strong point but also one of their weakness, because mostly these character you seen are involved and then later come and gone. You might forget the last character you seen and focusing the new one. So pay attention if you don't want to get mess up.
The character in Pandora were a least better than Nabari, actually the main lead. Oz from start was a happy go lucky fellow, accept what was here now; with a fake smile. He was a useless whimp from start but starting a least episode 19, 20 that's where FINALLY he become a real main character, changing from motion less device to a moving device. Of course he couldn't done it alone to get here, you also get other like Gil, Sharon, Break and other. But for Break, though he just a supporting character, but he play out being a very fun making but yet wise with some past agenda character. I also like seiyuu Ishida Akira how he make Break a fun looking man. One of my favorite character in Pandora. Other i find completely annoying and needless like Oz uncle, and Alice; the character i though is gonna be cool but yet annoy. Though Kawasumi Ayako put a good work on Alice voice role but her character felt like only knows how to bitch around that she is great and powerful (Sorry, no offense), but she is powerful and cool too. Mostly when you come across the series; you find some of the character from the classic Alice in Wonderland are being stylize by the hand of Mochizuki-sensei. The Rabbit, Alice, Mad Hatter, Cheshire Cat, by so far is the character i know from the classic Alice that are related or appear in a different form.
And overall on the character, only i see Oz who have good change on his personalty while the rest are just taking a few step for change.
Visual presentation for Pandora should be vital because we talk about 'English Gothic Visual', something like Kuroshisuji. Mochizuki-sensei was able pull up the 'light version' of Kuroshisuji in the manga, but Xebec was able to pull those pretty visual in it. From the character clothes, Chain, even the house was good enough presented here. Is like 'Alice in Fantasy-Manga-land' unlike Tim Burton version.
Visually disappointed was the action scene, to watch the whole series with poorly animated action is like torment in my boring-ness. Xebec, maybe not the type of studio that's is well animated action; is watching Naruto: they cross blade for 10 sec. then later enter a whole minute of needless talk (in Naruto, WORST! the whole god-damm 10,15 minute) and they fight for a few sec. or enter another desperate talk scene or whatever annoying stuff they can put. But luckily to say a least is that normal character animation was decent enough to watch and some of the gimmick in show was good and funny. Enough to keep you entertaining.
Music, no need to say: KAIJURA YUKI-SAMA!!!!!!!!! FICTION JUNCTION!!!!!!! SAVAGE GENIUS!!!!!!! need review on that?......OK, maybe some commented:
Needless to say Kaijura-sama who knows doing Kara no Kyoukai OST is here being the main composer for Pandora. You get nostalgic feel from hearing Kaijura-sama trademark symphony music with modern music fusion and of course a perfect music to fit one of the gentle/sadden/other good moment in Pandora. The opening by FICTION, though i admit is not my favorite but i applaud their vocal. So i skip that every time is start. (Sorry...^^) The 2 ending by Savage Genius was enough to put a ring on my ear. The 1st ending was a bit rush but with with the keyboard in the music makes it catching in my hearing; the 2nd ending was smooth and sentimental, makes a perfect ending to the whole show.
The enjoyment of the show is like time machine ride where you travel to the past and present and the unthinkable. As you gone through those time you collect piece of the puzzle and you put them together into picture. Unfortunately, that picture is incompletely. Pandora anime left out some of mysteries that are yet to uncover. But thankfully no, as to follow and respect the original manga story line (I don't know Xebec are following that). And a least Xebec is a smart ass to wrap the whole anime with their own anime conclusion.
Pandora Heart anime was not a great anime, but a good anime that should decent to watch and enjoy. Though the boring action scene, Alice bitching around, or some left out conclusion. But the story about the boy who fell and meet 'Alice in the Abyss' was something you might find it fantasize and don't forget the pretty visual that are shown through the series.
