If there is one thing that I want to emphasize more than anything, it is this-- do not let the first movie discourage you. If you do, you will be throwing away a chance to watch an amazing anime. I am guilty of putting off watching the rest of the series because I didn't like the first movie. I saw several reviews saying that there was no link whatsoever between the separate movies, and after watching the first movie I was disappointed. "Where was the much needed character development?" and, "Where was the beginning, or even the end of this story?" I felt like I was thrown into a story that could have been something great, and then kicked out before it reached fruition. I'm sure thoughts similar to mine will be racing through your head after the first movie. Due to these thoughts, I stopped watching this movie series because I thought each movie would be like this one- an underdeveloped short story attempting to be something original.
However, due to some heavenly information received from a trustworthy friend, I decided to pick up where I'd left off. This was one of the better choices I've made in my life. All that the first movie could and should have been, developed right in front of my eyes. All the character development that such an original story needs, was given to us in creative ways. You get see the story in a different way then most stories are projected. Almost exactly like the star wars movies, the first episode is actually near the end of the story. The second episode is at the beginning, and the last one is the end. Instead of seeing cause and then effect, we see effect, and then cause. For a lot of people this will spice up the story and give a much needed push in the plot. Even if you aren't one of these people, I believe everyone should watch series in the traditional sequence. If you don't, you won't get the full experience that you should get. Also, you'll miss some clever scenes that seem random in the beginning, but mean everything in the end.
Some people will put off this "series" because it's a sequence of movies. Don't. If you do, you will be making a grave mistake. Honestly, I didn't even view this anime as a series of movies. I viewed it as an anime series spanning 21 episodes and 7 arcs- each about 3 episodes long but some up to 6 episodes long. If you view it this way, you will realize that you get everything you get while watching a series- and more. Due to the fact that movies can take up bigger budgets, everything is better. The art, of course, is superb. Kara no Kyoukai has some of best art I've ever seen present in an anime. Only short to '5 centimeters per second', any artist will be instantly drawn to this show. On par to the art, is the sound department. Brilliantly dramatic, the sound is just what these movies need to give them that extra beefing up that was required to attain a 10. Due to the fact that you will be on the edge of your seat for most of the eight and a half hours, music will not be given much recognition. However, even if you don't notice it, the music is playing a big part. Due to a broken link, I had to watch a whole movie with no sound. To say the least- this was my least favorite movie of them all.
Even though a lot of what this series has to deal with is suicide and murder, many of us will be able to relate and feel for the characters in this story. Most of these principles are down scaled, and play an important role in part of our everyday lives. Kara no Kyoukai is an anime that many people will be able to relate with, which is what you want in any story. Few will regret watching six movies to be able to experience what the last movie gives you. If nothing else, please watch the seventh movie, because it really is something else.
