"Less is more" is a great way to describe this anime, since the story is condensed and fast-paced, yet there's enough for the viewer to construct a tangible plot with compelling characters that feel real. This anime is also deep, exploring complex themes (e.g. revenge, brotherhood, redemption, duality) using many instances of symbolism and parallelism that could be analyzed for hours upon hours. Furthermore, every detail matters, as it hints at either an important plot point or character trait. Thus, Migi & Dali is uniquely thought-provoking, and it is enjoyable to dig at the deeper mystery of the twins themselves as well as the mystery of their mother's death.
On the other hand, this brevity also leaves quite a few gaps to be filled, so the viewer might not fully understand the story and its greater points and themes. As a result, this isn't the best work I've ever seen, yet with some polishing and additions to the story, Migi & Dali would have been a much richer story and a true 10/10 masterpiece.
I am truly grateful to Sano for writing this story, and may her soul rest in peace. Though this was only her second major work, it is in my eyes her magnum opus and one of the best stories about twins I've seen, and it feels very reminiscent of a fairy tale that is (mostly) grounded in reality. I was lured in by the surreal comedy and mystery elements, but then stayed for the complex characters, relationships, and deeper meanings and themes.
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What to Expect
Genre:
As the story evolves, it frequently shifts between genres such as comedy, drama, mystery, suspense, etc. Many seem to treat this as a comedy like Sano's earlier work Sakamoto Desu Ga, but it's not really that. Many also say that it's a mystery because of the twins' quest to avenge their mother. While these are both integral aspects of the story, they should really be treated as devices to advance the twins' character development; after all, the title is literally called "Migi & Dali." This anime should really be viewed as a psychological and character-driven story about the evolution of the twins and their relationship as they pursue revenge. Thus, any new viewer should pay close attention to the twins and their dynamic before analyzing anything else in order to experience the story fully.
Themes (in no particular order):
1. Revenge vs. moving on
2. Deception, manipulation, and betrayal
3. Brotherhood, family, love, and codependency
4. Coming of age and self-discovery
5. Sin, guilt, and redemption
6. Duality and balance
7. The curse of perfectionism and high expectations
Similar works (in no particular order):
1. Sakamoto Desu Ga: Sano's earlier work, and there are also many over-the-top moments in this anime.
2. Oshi no Ko: Blonde twins seek revenge while juggling their own lives and relationships.
3. Jojo's Bizarre Adventure (part 4): 90's Americana setting in Japan with a mystery element and many over-the-top and dramatic Jojo-esque moments.
4. Monster: One of the twins is somewhat reminiscent of Johan. Plus, there are moments where this anime could have made very dark turns.
5. Code Geass: One of the twins is somewhat reminiscent of Lelouch.
6. Shadows House: Twins with different personalities work together to unravel the mystery of their circumstances.
7. The Promised Neverland: same reason as #6
Pros:
1. The characters, particularly the twins, are interesting, and their silly antics and character development are enjoyable to see.
2. The frequent dark or bizarre moments are shocking, but in a good way.
3. The roller coaster of moods and emotions as the story balances between creepy, funny, sad, and wholesome will never leave the viewer bored. Every episode is unique, and the story gets better and better.
4. The surprising depth and density of material leaves the viewer thinking and wanting more.
5. This anime is truly unique and memorable, and there really aren't any quite like this.
Cons:
1. Some of the dark moments may be a bit too much for some viewers and could make one hesitant in recommending this anime to others.
2. This anime is quite fast-paced and can be difficult to understand. Viewers should take their time watching this, as I do NOT recommend binging this anime.
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The Actual Review
1. Characters (10/10): This is the strongest element of this anime. Each character, especially Migi and Dali, is carefully constructed for a specific purpose, and not only do they feel real, but digging into their psychology and their development gives greater meaning to the story.
2. Plot (8/10): The plot of solving their mother's murder is compelling enough to get the viewer hooked, but there could have been more details and subplots added in to make it more complete. There are also some plot holes that aren't explained, and it's clear that character development took priority over ensuring a spotless plot. The anime itself also adds in a few holes to the original story due to cutting/changing several chapters.
3. Art (9/10): The art is excellent. All the characters look great, the settings look great, and the food looks tantalizing, but there were a few moments where I thought the art (particularly the twins) was a bit inconsistent.
4. Animation (7/10): Not the best, but good enough since there aren't many scenes that really demand a high quality of animation. However, better animation would have definitely made this anime more enjoyable.
5. Sound/music (8/10): Some of the soundtracks are very good, including the twins' theme. However, in my opinion some of them are a bit overused, but it's not really a big deal.
6. Voice acting (10/10): Absolutely phenomenal. Voicing the twins is already a very difficult job, yet Horie and Murase execute this flawlessly every time, and it's hard to imagine anyone else doing a better job. I also really enjoyed Romi Park (Edward Elric's VA) voicing Reiko Ichijo.
7. Enjoyment (10/10): The many surreal moments and the roller coaster of emotions I experienced ensured that I was never bored with this anime. The amount of depth in this story made it fun for me to explore the characters and the greater messages of the story.
Overall: 8.8/10
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A Final Note on Anime vs. Manga
I would fully recommend reading the manga before completing the anime, though I also recommend watching the first episode just to get the toes wet, as it's fun imagining the voice acting while reading. Reading the manga is also easy as it's only 44 chapters, and the anime unfortunately cuts many important scenes and chapters that characterize the twins. By the first 10 chapters (or first 3-4 episodes), the reader/viewer should be able to identify Migi and Dali almost instantly, though anime-only viewers may have a hard time doing so midway in the series. Ideally, this anime would be around 20 episodes and would cover all of the manga and maybe more, but what's done is done. The manga itself is already quite fast-paced and dense, which means that an anime-only viewer might not be able to properly enjoy the story. Nonetheless, the anime is beautiful, including the art, the music, the voice acting, and of course the story, so any reader should still watch it even after finishing the manga. However, I will give the anime credit for for adding/reordering some scenes to make the story clearer.
