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Like Puella Magi Madoka Magica, first appearances can be deceiving when you watch Uta Kata. What starts off as a slice-of-life/ mahou shoujo title with hints of dark elements to come becomes increasingly dark and serious as it dabbles into coming-of-age and life-threatening dilemmas that our female lead Ichika comes to face and some focus on touchy issues like eating disorders and child abuse. The series takes its time with building up its plot dropping hints that those close to Ichika have some form of connection to the trials she is facing, some of whom aren't as they would seem on the surface, and more details on those trials eventually come to light as the series progresses. Being a coming-of-age title, Ichika's abilities to call upon the power of the djinn expose her to the joys and pains of adulthood as she becomes exposed more to their power and finds herself increasingly losing control of her power to control them and coming to doubt herself in the process. Outside of Ichika, other characters get a good amount of focus on this series as they have their roles to fulfill in further pushing Ichika's developments or revealing what connection they have to the trials she undergoes. There are elements of fan service in this series with panty shots, clothes changing scenes and Ichika and Manatsu's transformation scenes. Fortunately, these aren't really intrusive to Uta Kata's plot as they just breeze by throughout the series and only more conservative-thinking viewers may take offense to such moments.
That isn't to say the show's all perfect though. There are elements to the trials faced by Ichika that are left unclear such as why she was chosen to undergo them and who Saya was reporting to. Also, the show's slow buildup may turn off some fans as the lighter elements to its storytelling that Uta Kata starts off with may lead folks to think it's just another typical mahou shoujo title catered to the otaku crowd.
In terms of visuals, Uta Kata employs a standard visual style with the design of its characters that doesn't do much to stick out, yet is decent in details and sports bright vivid colors. Scenery shots are pleasant on the eyes and while animation isn't a prominent element to the series, there were no choppy moments or noticeable shortcuts I noticed. The soundtrack consists mostly of beautiful yet haunting tracks that do rather well at accompanying both light and serious moments that occur throughout Uta Kata's run, especially when its more serious second half comes about.
While having some issues, Uta Kata's still a worthwhile mahou shoujo title to look into as it breaks the typical mold of the genre with its more serious later episodes leading to Ichika's coming-of-age dilemmas and realizing the reality of her situation with the djinn.
