The story is pretty interesting, but it's definitely not the most captivating or interesting one I've seen. But the characters meld together nicely and provide some nice comedic relief. The story is pretty easy-going, and is similar to Samurai Champloo in that it's more of a "take it as it is" animation. Not everything is explained, and they very effectively use sound to convey mood instead of pure dialogue. But I do sometimes wish they could be more clear. I've never been lost, but I do think that certain parts could be conveyed more clearly. Even though I've only seen about 12 episodes, each one has been pretty predictable. I'm sure down the road there will be more plot twists, but for now it's a pretty easy-going show. Most of the episodes have followed the same archetype, like Pokemon, where we know how the conflict will end. So far, it may not have been very challenging, but it's still enjoyable. I give the story an 7.
I really know nothing about animation. But I do like the art in this show. It's clean and colorful and you can tell they spent some money on the animation, especially in episode 9. I would give it a 9, but compared to say Samurai Champloo, the characters aren't as individualized, which is a really big thing for me. If I change the hairstyle of one character, I want to be able to still tell who that character is. I give the art an 8.
The characters are nice as well. Using the same story archetype for each character is a pretty easy yet effective form of characterization. But it kind of irks me how easily definable each character is. The characters aren't cliched, per se, but they are quite predictable. They lack mystery, and it feels as though there isn't much left to their pasts. But that's a really nit-picky thing to say. Probably the most interesting character for me is Narukami, but that's because his character hasn't been defined as clearly as the others. I know I complain a lot, but one thing I do enjoy is that even though the characters may be a bit predictable, they are consistent. Through the dialogue, the characters help more firmly define each others personalities, and help provide for this consistency. Overall, the characters get an 7.
I've personally enjoyed this anime so far. It's not even close to being one of my favorites, but it is pretty funny at times. I like how laid-back the show feels. Even if there is a murderer out on the loose, the show doesn't feel to urgent. This also has to do with the pace of the show, which was done very well. Enjoyment gets an 8.
Overall I would have to say this show gets a 7. I say this because while it was enjoyable, and the majority of my scores were 8's, it's just not as good as others I've seen. So far at least, it hasn't drawn me in as some other shows that may not have been ranked so highly. I know that this entire show is a mystery, but I don't stay up at night wondering who the killer might be. Maybe that is due to its laid-back nature, but this show in general was pretty basic. It was in general, good. And a 7 is good, but not a "stay up all night and watch this show because it's life-changing" kind of good.
