Animation – 7
I wasn’t very fond of the CGI-only animation but it actually sort of worked here because of the otherworldliness of Yaha and Kado and the CGI emphasised their alien qualities nicely. In the case of the human characters, it would have been great if they had been animated the old-fashioned way. Maybe a mix of both with a heavier emphasis on CGI would have been good but since the CGI was actually pretty well done a 7 it is.
Story – 5
Kado is about First Contact and in the beginning, the show does so many things right that I could have shed a tear. I wondered why it was compared with “Arrival”. They are not really similar but both “Arrival” and “Kado” are about communication and language and so much more. It debates the pros and cons of natural to sudden technological advancement. How would the media handle a first encounter with aliens? How about the political and economic impact of technology that is so far removed from what we know? The show was smart, the pacing was great, the ideas were fascinating but halfway through something changed. Maybe they ran out of ideas, maybe some people wanted to have a say. I don’t know what happened but whatever it was, it was not good and the show suffered massively and received a very stupid deus ex machina ending.
When it comes most of the episodes, especially the first arc (8 episodes), the show would receive either a 9 or 10 but that ending deserves nothing less than a big fat zero, so all in all 5. This is why this show is so frustrating. It had so much potential but Yaha, who had been cool and composed suddenly became downright human and emotional. I adored the developing relationship (in a way undefinable – Friendship? Love? Something more profound?) between Shindou and Yaha and in my eyes, it was not just a simple friendship and then the finale happened. Talk about badly handled.
Music – 10
The music is utterly gorgeous and it is my favourite score of the year so far (and this also includes scores like “Mary Magdalene” by Jóhann Jóhannson). 岩代太郎 already did a great job with A.I.C.O. but outdid himself with the help of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. The OP and ED did not only fit perfectly with the images but are also very, very beautiful. There is even a beautiful operatic Aria included (ヤハクィザシュニナ伝 ~Diva Version~). Do buy it. It is totally worth it!
Characters 6
Again a solid ten in the beginning but with an ending like that- 6 is generous.
I hate this show. I love this show. I loved it so much but I hate it for being such a massive let-down at the end.
