The anime is about a futuristic world where humans don't walk out in the sunlight by themselves, but instead they control non-solid apparitions that are called "doppels". Even the world that these doppels move in are mostly apparitions. All this is controlled by 'Fractale', a system which encompasses the whole world that they live in. Some groups are against this system, saying that the system takes away their freedom. While others are for it, because it can give them all the benefits that they want (which causes them to be to dependent on the already failing system).
I give the story an 8. Why? Because the story, while very engrossing, will only start to become so at the later half, when more things are explained to the viewer. At the early part of the show, you will keep asking yourself: "What's going on!? Hurry up with the explanations already!". Still, when things are finally explained to us, the story redeems itself. For this reason, this show will probably be more suitable for those who are patient enough to wait through unexplained scenes and later realize "Oh, so that's what that meant."
The art is crisp and clean, and it has a refreshing feel to it. The details that the animators put into every frame is amazing. Still, I can't give it a perfect score for the reason that the pacing of the animation can be very slow at times. Sometimes, I wonder how even just the wave of a character's hand can be so slow. They did a good job putting a lot of detail into each frame, yet they didn't seem to put into account the real time of every action, which can be unnerving and unrealistic at times.
The show has a good soundtrack, and the songs that they use are fitting. However, I don't appreciate the techno feel of the opening song, and the blinding colors that come with it.
This anime showcases a variety of personalities, albeit some of them are very stereotypical and unrealistic. Clain, the main character, is what I would described as "flat". He seems to have two reactions: weirded out (by something said or when he's thinking about something), and surprised (when a girl character embarrasses him). Most of the other characters are the same as well. They are given a main trait, and they stick to it for the rest of the show. However, in a show with only 11 episodes, they somehow managed to make the three main characters -- Clain, Phryne, and Nessa -- memorable as a group.
The reason I only give it a 7/10 might be because I'm an impatient person. This show is incredibly slow-paced, and for the first half of the series, it can really get on your nerves if you want to find out just what the heck is going on. Towards the end, it becomes better, but I feel like they cramped most of the action and the explanations in the finishing episodes. Since the show has only 11 episodes, I think it would have been better if the excitement was spread out more evenly.
Aside from that, the writers seem to have a difficult time looking for a good punch line. They seemed to focus on calling Clain a "pervert" for the smallest actions. It wasn't funny the first time, nor did it become funny at all. I think what I really enjoyed was Nessa, the character who seems to bring out the good and bright aspects of this show.
I wouldn't say that this is a show for everyone. I think those who would enjoy it the most are those who like shows with characters fighting for what they think is right: freedom to choose, or the ability to have everything while being watched? In the end, the show doesn't really tell us which side was "right", and they leave that to the viewer. To get your own opinion about what should have been done about the Fractale system, then you have to watch the whole series to find out!
