BEFORE READING MANGA
first thing first, i loved this anime, especially the characters. everything was done extremely well and i couldn't stop watching it, when i reached episode 22 i was had to wait a day before i could finish it and i couldn't stop thinking about it.
STORY
the first half or so was brilliant, easy to follow and very enjoyable to watch. the story behind Clare becoming a claymore was amazing and the character development in just those few episodes was possibly the best in any anime ive seen. the story starts to get crazy after about 2/3-3/4 of the way through (as a lot of animes do[can you say "animes"?]) and it kept reminding me of Dragon Ball Z, but it was still very good.
i also liked how nothing was just black and white, the further in you get the more there is to it.
i only gave it a 9/10 because i think everyone became a bit too powerful, this was why it reminded me of DBZ, where there power levels start out reasonable and then get ridiculous the further you get. this was no where near as bad as DBZ for that but that aspect of it was still there.
ART
very well done and well animated, the fast moving fight scenes where similar to DBZ where the characters arent visible, just the various explosions, but it is fast paced and flows well. the only thing i can say that wasnt that good is the delay between a sword cut and the blood splashing out, but this only minor and almost every anime with fights like this does that.
SOUND
the music was very good at all times, from fast paced rock to the slower epic music. the music always suited every scene perfectly.
CHARACTER
possibly the best part of the anime was the attachment to the characters and character development, especially with the story behind Clare and most of all Teresa. usually when i get attached to characters i get sad when the show/manga ends, but i wasnt in this case, i liked the ending.
ENJOYMENT
enjoyed every second of it, not much else to say really. 11/10
OVERALL
10/10 for sure, i liked how it started where anything could happen with the story, within the first few episodes i had already become attached to the characters and i liked how there was no black and white goal right from episode one, it was just their (Clare and Raki) journey and i couldnt predict what might happen.
the goal became clear about half way through and it was exciting watching them try to achieve it.
AFTER READING MANGA
the anime barely scratches the surface of the plot in the manga (because it finishes less than half way through), as much as i enjoyed the anime, the manga is much better when you read past where the anime finished, i really wish there would be a second season but sadly i dont think there will be, they changed the story to end the anime, but the manga continues slightly differently.
i said earlier that everyone got "too powerful" but i dont think so anymore, everything works perfectly in the manga, the way the story continues after the anime is amazing.
