Be forewarned: The first episode is a huge red herring, as this is one of the most depressing anime of all time.
The story is about this kid named Shu who runs into a girl named Lala Ru and is teleported to a strange future where water is scarce. Sounds like typical fare however the story is much darker than it looks.
Themes in this show include: starvation, rape, abortion, murder, child labor, desperation, suicide, and sacrifice, oh and genocide.
The characters are not mere charicatures of people as you may find in many anime, these are real people, the main character Shu is as vulnerable as any other character, and his ability to survive is aweinspiring so much so he inspires other around him.
Story is a 10, beautiful, will make you reflect on what it all truly means when you finish it.
Art is a 10, simplistic, but the little nods to this sad sad future like the taped up guns and the ratty clothing add to the style.
Sound is a 10, the dub is great, japanese VAs are great, and that music fits the distraught tone of the show amazingly well.
Characters is a 10 as every single character has so much personality and add so much substance to the story.
Enjoyment is a 10, so unique its ridiculous, and when you rewatch, if you feel so inclined after crying so hard after your first viewing, you will appreciate some of the symbolism hidden throughout.
overall: 10/10, any anime fan should watch this, no matter who you are.
