One of the most original anime ever……
Trying to sum up a review for this anime has proven to be quite a difficult task. Eureka Seven is a daring anime that subsequently ignites a new form of imagination through a near unparalleled form of originality. The studio BONES has given us an anime that is fresh and inspiring in the rather old and overused Mecha genre.
Story: The idea and story fueling this anime is its true hero. It’s highly original and tries it’s best to refrain from a delving into that familiar feeling of predictability. The main plot revolves around the central protagonist; Renton Thurston, a boy coming from a rather boring town who wishes to find true meaning in his life. After meeting Eureka; an attractive young girl who crash lands into his house, he decides to join the anti-government group Gekkostate of which Eureka also belongs to. Renton hopes that by joining Gekkostate, he’ll be closer to Eureka and finally be able to find meaning in his life. Unknown to him however, are all the hardships and struggles that he will have to face and endure.The problem with Eureka Seven’s story is the inconsistencies in its narrative structure. Many parts of the anime are left to the viewer to interpret and leave minimal explanation. Hardcore anime fans will thrive on this form of pacing but casual viewers however, might feel off by how the story explains itself and quit watching after the first 5 or 10 episodes.
Animation: The animation of Eureka Seven is a mixed-bag. On one hand, one can see the artistic inspirations the anime draws from it’s cartoon counterparts. On the other hand, the animation looks rather plain and the colors seem as if they don’t resonate well with the anime’s deep and somewhat intricate plot. The action set pieces seem exciting at first but feel like a letdown once it’s done. The action of the anime is done fluidly though.
Sound: Eureka Seven has a unique and diverse soundtrack. There’s cheerful music, sad music, romantic music and downright depressing music. Unlike the animation, the music does a great job with assisting the anime. It heightens the experience and brings out the emotion of the characters and the unique feel of the anime. The dialogue is good and interesting. Both the English and Japanese voice acting are done rather well.
Character: This is one of the true highlights of the anime. The amount of character development that the central protagonists go through is of high quality. I was amazed at how Renton’s character changed so much near the end as opposed to his personality in the first few episodes. The romance aspect of the anime is also excellently done. Some characters however, albeit a few, do feel left out which makes it feel as if they served no purpose. This isn’t a problem however as it doesn’t really affect the anime.
Enjoyment: Eureka Seven can be enjoyed immensely if you are willing to give it the chance it deserves. At first, it might appear boring and dull but trust me, this is one of the most interesting anime you will ever see.
To Sum Up
Ups: Great sense of originality, excellent and intricate plot, enjoyable soundtrack, unique characters, high character development
Downs: Inconsistent narrative structure, lackluster animation, some characters feel left out
Final words: Eureka Seven is an anime that takes risks. These risks however, pay off greatly to create one of the most original and interesting anime ever. It’s an anime that deserves to be watched by all fans.
