This however, cannot be applied to Panty and Stocking With Garterbelt. Even the name has this ridiculous double entendre that pretty much describes the zaniness and quirckiness of the show.
Panty and Strocking follows the two titular characters, a pair of angels with a racy behaviour that are buying there way back to heaven being guided by Garterbelt, an over the top priest. They all locate these creatures known as ghosts to cleanse Earth from evil.
The story itself takes the structure of a normal cartoon, with one episode having two different segments each one with a different plot. This works for the advantage of the show, because it allows for more self contained stories that can be put in their own different canon; allowing for really creative stories along its run. The problem with these structure is that almost all of the development is taken away from the characters, the last moments of the show being the exception. This is a huge misunderstanding of cartoons, because even the ones made for kids use development to the strenght of the plots. All in all, the story isn't the most attractive thing in the world but it's execution through the offensive yet playful dialogue is masterfully done, the banter between the characters and the way they interact with each other is both clever and funny on its own.
Although the writing can be quite funny at times, it can also stumble in some pretty cliché ideas overused in 90 percent of cartoons. It can also be, to put it plainly, quite disguting at times; using farts, vomit and other shit like that as focal points for an episode. Other major flaw of the show, is the lack of interest it presents on turning its two main characters into something likeable, it's pretty common feeling as if the show was trying to make you hate the pair because of their horrible behaviour towards the people around them which can get annoying in some parts of the show where the issues they're dealing could be solved easily if they weren't complete assholes, trait that is emphisized by the limited traits the pair has.
Strangely enough, that doesn't stop the show of being really entertaining. Besides the quirky dialogue, the show packs a really stylized art that's oozing with some style(see the main characters for further proof). Every frame in the show comes to life using some visual onomatopeia and using an attractive combination of colours. This is accentuated, or ruined depending on how you see it, with a smooth change of art styles throughout the episodes or segments (with varying degrees of quality), which can make the art feel a bit inconsitent. The only department where the art can be guilty of being poor is during some of the animation sequences that look either rushed or unfinished.
When the art department and the animation sync in the right way, the show can be a blast to watch and it gives the audience the show's most memorable sequences, each accompanied by an ost inspired by J-pop that, while it's limited and not that varied in sound, it's quite delightful in it's own right.
In conclusion, when the pieces are working well together the show can be an exciting and really entertaing show just to watch but due to technical limitations caused by a really apparent low budget, some poor writing decisions and characterization can really be an annoying experience to watch. That being said, if you want an anime with a unique style and an accelerated pace, and can handle racy or flat out gross writing or imagery; you'll probably enjoy Panty And Stocking With Garterbelt.
Note: I saw the dubbed version and its used as the basis of this review. Please don't kill me, that version is absoulte gold.
