Rg Veda is set in a complex, beautifully drawn, fascinating world. Some of that is translated to the screen. The main characters are strikingly done, and the main, if not only, enjoyment of watching is seeing them come to life in full color. The nameless soldiers and mooks? Seem to have been done on more of a budget, prompting flashbacks to 80's morning cartoons.
I watched this having read only the first five volumes of the manga, as my public library never bothered to obtain the other half of this series. So I can't say how closely the second part of this anime comes to the original, that part must take place in a later volume. As to the first half, it isn't so bad as a 5-minute version of the story, but we're definitely in Cliff'snotes' territory. Also, Ashura's sex change lends a disturbing, Lolita-esque quality to some of her scenes with Lord Yama.
Honestly, there are better things to do with an hour and a half.
