First, concerning the somewhat "off-putting" animation style, it's really not as bad as it could be--IF you're used to 80s and 90s animes. I'm not talking about well-known ones like Bepop and Lain; I'm talking about the majority of anime series that were buried amidst the 2000s wave of really influential household anime names. It definitely takes some getting used to, but not enough to be an eyesore. (And it's still not as bad as its sequel with their razor-sharp chins.)
The biggest problem for me is pacing. And I get it--only 45 minutes to shove in a few chapters from the manga. But it does play a part on how this anime is perceived. Takuto in particular comes off as overly cagey and defensive. Then, three-fourths in, after Kouji sacrifices yet again for Takuto, he suddenly switches to warming up to Kouji, which leads to the finale.
On the other hand, Kouji is pretty stable throughout; he's true to his desires through and through. He's obsessive and possessive, and his desperation increases as the story goes on. Although Takuto is technically the one with the sad backstory, it's easier to sympathize with Kouji.You see the sacrifices he makes to Takuto without any prompting, and you feel for him each time he gets rejected.
Their messed-up relationship is supposed to set the stage to mirror Takuto's past, allowing him to make a crucial decision in the end that...is left to our imagination. Because they cut it off right at the end. I guess it's good they decided to air the sequel so we're not constantly wondering what's going to happen next.
Overall, Zetsuai is an anime with a good premise, but doesn't leave much of a lasting impression (except for a character study). Because I was interested enough to go to the sequel, I could find some resolution with this anime and say I wouldn't mind watching it again. Rated by itself, though, this OVA's performance is average at best.
