All the mecha parts are realized with the aid of some pretty dated 3D graphics. Even though the models themselves look rather rough, there is still some proper weight to their movement and the environmental destruction feels tangible, even if the action and fight choreography ain't spectacular. I think the studio did the best they could with the limited time and money given to them, but if mixing 2D and 3D animation is something you absolutely cannot stand, there's your fist reason to pass on this.
My first big gripe would be the soundtrack. I think they were going for something minimalistic and experimental, but it mostly just ends up sounding awkward and distracting. There are tracks that flow a little better, but they aren't anything memorable. Over all, a very mediocre soundtrack, which is a shame.
Bokurano is a torturous psychological drama and that is where the emphasis lies. If you are looking for giant robot action that gets your heart pumping, this is definitely not for you... But I think most people are able to figure that out just by reading the synopsis. Bokurano is ultimately a show about the end of innocense and childhood and about coming to terms with death. About how extreme situations can bring out the best qualities in some people or dredge up the worst qualities in others. I was afraid that the show would have some childish message along the lines of "everyone is shitty" and all these kids would turn out to be terrible people, but that is luckily not the case. There is a lot of variety in how the characters end up dealing with the awful, awful situation that they've wound up in. As the story progresses and the full gravity of what is going on dawns to these characters, I'd be willing to bet some good money that in any kind of realistic scenario, these kids would absolutely break down into a weeping, useless mess (I know I would)... But that wouldn't make for a very good story, so I can let that one go.
What bothered me more than some of the character reactions, was the way the government and the society were reacting to what was happening. A lot about the handling of a crisis of this scale just made me scratch my head in confusion. I did not feel like the adult world of the series functioned very logically or credibly. That being said, there is a pretty convenient story reason why the world of Bokurano doesn't necessarily operate along the same lines of logic as ours, so once again, I'm willing to overlook this aspect.
I have to admit that this show hit a very specific sweet spot for me. Once the merciless nature of the story started to fully dawn on me, I was hooked. I was simultaneously filled with dread and excitement with the reveal of every new pilot. Seeing the chair roulette land on a character you had really started to like - in the best way possible - felt like a punch to the gut. I haven't felt as giddy or anxious about anything in an anime in a long time. If you are willing to overlook some pretty big flaws, Bokurano is a wonderfully awful experience.
