This is an anime that you have to watch twice, and go through it. Originally, I stopped at episode 13, and I picked back up from there. It's a good thing, because episode 13 is a review episode.
This anime basically correctly deconstructs Shoujo anime and fairy tales, much like Princess Tutu. I wonder if Princess Tutu was inspired by this anime.
Basically, it's a feminist message that the characters have to learn. None of the men are really good. They're all misogynistic, but broken into two camps. The 'harmless' simps, and the abusive playboys. The 'harmless' simps want to be the abusive playboys, but they don't wield enough power or charisma to do so. So they put on their nice guy act. Even the audience falls for it, ironically enough! It also shatters the lesbophobic myth, where two women have to have a man in between them. Throughout the show, men try to come between lesbian relationships, and try to sabotage them. Though the conclusion is that both relationship cut the man out, and they go on to have a relationship of their own. It isn't perfect, and they each have a lot of growing to do, but what relationship IS?
It also deconstructs fairy tales, by juxtaposing them against reality. Women who aren't princesses, have to be witches. Basically, if a woman doesn't marry her prince when she's young and beautiful, then she's doomed to becoming an old witch. This anime basically shatters that nonsense. Women don't need to be princesses, or witches.
Characters: 10/10, but that's through development and lessons. The funny thing is, I initially thought it was the weakest aspect of this anime, but it's actually the strongest. The characters represent the roles to play, and what's expected of them. Yet the characters all shatter that nonsense, and go on to become new characters, or leave the fairy tale altogether! A lot of people initially don't care for Anthy, or they see her as a doormat. Though towards the end, she becomes an independent character in her own right! That's what this anime is about. Playing the role of a princess and prince is nonsense, and needs to be done away with. No one should have to shoulder all the responsibility (prince), and you don't want to be passive and waiting on a rescue (princess).
Though with the pros, come the cons.
I really don't like the episodic nature of the anime. It follows that "villain of the week" thing. That's one aspect of Princess Tutu that I felt was weak, and it's weak in this anime as well. It makes it repetitive, but not in a good way. Like, some repeats are great, because certain episodes sum up the theme of the show. Yet the repetitive duels were the weak aspect of this anime.
Old Review of mine, that you can't totally skip.
Dark skin
As someone with dark skin, this anime doesn't speak to me. Dark skinned characters are either evil or don't have a voice of their own. Seriously, the only dark skinned woman in this anime is constantly abused and viewed as a prize. WTF?! The only dark skinned person with their own agency is evil. Nice symbolism there... Authors of old and new, I promise y'all that dark skin is not bad. Good grief! The only slightly good point is that the dark skinned characters are considered beautiful, which is a rare concept, even today. So credit to this I guess...
Revolutionary and feminism?
The main character chases men who she thinks are her prince. Not only does she chase them, but she's a fool for them. Simply handing a woman a sword and having her win a few fights does not make her a good female character. A reverse harem in Shojo? Groundbreaking! Love triangles in Shojo? Groundbreaking! Guys, there's nothing revolutionary about a reverse harem or a love triangle in a romance story. Here's something revolutionary: a love story that doesn't have a love triangle or a "the family of my beloved hates me!" plot line. A lot of the female characters are vain and jealous witches who torment a girl because of the male gaze. This is feminism? Anthy is a doormat who let's everyone abuse her until someone rescues her. Nice message there...
Characters
The worst thing about this are the characters. You do have a few characters who are sort of okay. Juri was okay, and I liked the plot twist of her romance story. Wakaba and Miki are also decent. The rest are straight trash.
Anthy: this is a doormat. I find myself feeling pity for her in every scene that she's in. She's not a particularly enjoyable character, but she does tug on your heartstrings when you see the abuse she goes through.
Main Girl: not like other girls that's actually like other girls.
Nanami: She's evil and unlikable. She slaps women and tries to fight them and torment them because she's jealous of them. Wonderful character there... Of course, she does
Saionji is another terrible character. As soon as he pops up I think "do we have to be subjected to him?" He's so overbearing with his abusive actions and obsessive tendencies that I don't enjoy his scenes at all. In fact, I hate every scene he's in, save for the funny scene of him and the monkey. Tragic thing is, he had potential. He's delusional about the world he's in and he's obsessive. I still don't like his scenes, but there's a smidge of fascination with him. The problem is, the author doesn't utilize him properly.
Touga: This is the worst character as far as enjoyment (I finished episode 13, so spare me folks). Nanami is awful, but I can at least be mildly entertained by her delusions of grandeur and laught at her. Saionji is overbearing and you can't relax with him, but there is a sort of fascination that I have for his delusions and obsessive nature. With Touga, I feel absolutely nothing for him, except annoyance. Not only is he an annoying character, but he has nothing worth liking about him at all.
Overall, this anime didn't hit for me. It was a slog to get through, and I dropped it. I couldn't stomach more of this. It feels like this is praised due to nostalgia.
