As far as films covering a backstory goes this was greatly done. I appreciate most of what happens here is spoken about in various episodes of the existing anime beforehand but at least here it is all put together and also has a visual viewing rather than a story on its own.
The art is the same as the show always is, I love this. It doesn't change apart from being more polished which again I love. Some shows change art between seasons from different companies and it kind of ruins the feeling unless it's epic. Take Attack on Titan, the art style changes so much that you can always tell when a new studio took over.
The sound is great and fills the room. Voices are the same as always and welcome.
Characters, we know them, love them, hate them, whatever. If you are watching this just to learn who the characters are then this is not for you. Watch the rest and come back.
I would say it could be higher than an 8 but it just isn't. Since I paid attention and read the manga related this is just a re-telling of a story we have been told throughout various episodes done visually. This is fine, but being that it's not totally new then it's an 8.
