The story really picks up around episode 60 (?) and gets quite interesting. It's almost as if it were a different anime from the previous episodes.
I just want to say that the characters are pretty one dimensional. Even Reborn. his appeal is basically he's a chibi badass. what more is there to him? even less for all the other characters. one dimensional take everything easy guy, one dimensional super extreme guy, one dimensional grumpy loyal guy, one dimensional "i love the school, i'm an aloof guy" their catch phrases are basically repeated every freaken episode.
The one character that i really like and is fresh is Lambo. His voice actor does one heck of a job too. Granted he may be one dimensional too, but it's not boring in the way the others are. His mannerisms are likable. It's mainly the voice acting that I fell in love with =]
(It has been brought to my attention that the original manga was a gag series, and then was adapted by the anime. Possibly the reason why it suddenly got much better, idk. So that's sort of an excuse for the one dimensionality of the characters. Yet it still detractcs from the enjoyability of the anime, and I don't think it was impossible for the anime adapters to just give them more personality either)
The previous episodes serve as an introduction, but it is seriously way too long. it's like the first 3 episodes of a 26 episode series dragged out for 50 episodes. But still they're not too bad. You'll just definitely notice when the real story arc starts.
After being on that exciting new story arc, you'll find it kinda slows down in some parts. Especially "training arcs". Training arcs are basically one by one character episodes that follow each element. During this time, you really notice the one dimensionality of the characters and you just know it's a mini filler for acquiring new power/upgrades. And they're not substantial like the challenge arc for the Vongola X seat, just a nuisance. If the training arcs were removed or made more enjoyable from the series (they're sort of like mini fillers imo), the pace would be quite solid. Still, i stopped watching every newest episode b/c the pace was too slow at 1 episode a week. I'll maybe come back to it months later, after "buffering" a few episodes.
One other note is about elements. Wind water fire earth lightning, or other combinations of that have been done to death, BUT YET! Katekyou i think executed the most fresh take on elements in a very long time. Sky elements of cloud, sun, rain lightning etc? that by itself would not have gotten it so much points, but they way they weave it in to themes and stuff blends in smoothly.
So i have mixed feelings... im not raving about the fact that elements was used again in a shounen, but it's the best twist on elements done in a long time... possibly ever will be. So i give it props for doing the fullest potential of elements.
Final Thoughts: the good parts are really good, especially when they drop the new-setting bomb (ep 60) on you. I shave off points for for having such a long intro arc and characters being one dimensional thus making it feel kiddy, and the boring training series.
But the good parts are pretty darn good. highlight mini arcs are Yamamoto's ssword series, the introduction of the new setting around ep 60, and the roots of the weaponry. The main plot is of course epic.
still, it's a bit immature of a shounen for me, but i can't deny the things it's done well (which i really didn't talk much about here did i? haha). Maybe i'm just growing up.
oh, some of the openning songs are just goosebump-inducing, like around ep 165...EYUGHH, soooo no-TY. But for sound rating are OP's and ED's even considered part of the anime series? the sound effects and music in the actual series aren't bad at all. I just really don't like some of the OP songs.
