It seems to me...

... as if I've been rather complimentary these past few reviews. I've given a few high ratings, and generally not had many bad things to say about series. I don't want to come across as one of those people who just praise anything that's anime, so I had better point out that for most of the series I watch, it's because I enjoy them. Therefore, the majority of series that I watch will probably receive a good amount of praise.

Anyway, I'm currently putting together a review of Clannad ~After Story~ (I'll have it up sometime after the final episode has aired), and it's yet another huge block of praise. I'll say now that it's one of the best series I've seen in a long time. So if you're fed up of my handing out the love (edit: if you actually read this blog at all, and are fed up of...), you may want to skip it ;)

Don't worry, I've also picked up a few dodgy series (Tytania springs to mind), and specifically gone after an extremely poor OVA (Twin Angel, if you were wondering), so don't worry, I'll be hating on some stuff soon enough.


Oh, and as an aside, I have recently experienced firsthand that Virgin Media suck ass. This week I've had my connection speed cut between 4PM and midnight, supposedly because I have made "excessive downloads" which have "detrimentally affected other customers". They claim to have cut it to 80kbps, but I'm not even getting 20.

For one thing, this is going against their advertising, which claims unlimited downloads. Also, if I'm downloading so much it's affecting others, they could just have cut my bandwidth until I finished the download. Not too hard. Recently, the service in the area was drastically improved, and I achieved over 200kbps for the first time ever (shows you how crap my connection was before, huh?). So how can you blame me for downloading more, if I have a better connection?!

Unfortunately, I still live with my parents, and they are perfectly happy with Virgin (although not so happy at me for buggering their connection). So until I move out, I'm stuck with restricting my speeds to the crap I had before. Oh wait, I'll be going to uni, where torrents are blocked altogether >_<

If you are a customer of Virgin Media, I suggest you leave them as soon as possible. If you aren't, then for goodness sake, don't join.

Bokurano review

GONZO have come under a lot of flak recently for what many have seen as a severe drop in standards in their work, and resorting to fanservice, in shows such as Strike Witches. But what most people forget is the fairly impressive standard from which they fell. I am still a fan of many of the studio's earlier works, and shows such as Last Exile really show off their prowess. Another older title that is perhaps not so well known in the West- but deserves to be- is Bokurano (which translates as Ours).

There may be a few spoilers, but I won't reveal the (awesome) twist that comes around the middle of the series, or any subsequent events.


If you've seen Neon Genesis Evangelion, the beginnings of the two shows have a similar feel. Bokurano opens on a small island in Japan (where else?), where a group of 15 children have gone for a summer nature school. After a brief scene that serves to introduce the various characters, one of them suggests that they venture into a nearby cave to explore. Inside, to everyone's surprise, they find some computers, and it looks as if someone is living there. Just then, a white-haired man enters, and introduces himself as Kokopelli. He tells the group that he is creating a video game, and asks them to try it out for him. The idea behind the game is that 15 huge beings will attack the Earth, and a giant robot, piloted by the children, will fight them off. If they fail, the Earth will be destroyed. The children agree, and all place their hands on a strange plate, completing the contract to seal them into the game.


As soon as that is done, the children wake up on the beach. Assuming it to have been a strange dream, they start to return to the house, but at that moment, the giant robot that Kokopelli had told them about appears right beside the island. After teleporting them into the cockpit, Kokopelli teaches the children how to pilot the robot, and demonstrates by defeating the first enemy. It's not long after this battle that they meet the strange floating creature Koemushi, or Dung Beetle, who takes care of the robot, and the cockpit is fitted with a chair for each child. The second battle is also close, and a pilot is chosen.


Up until this point, it's a pretty cool, if seemingly generic robot show. However, events soon take a turn for the mysterious, as the first pilot dies soon after his battle, and suspicions are raised about another of the group. It is revealed that piloting the robot, named Zearth by the children, comes at a cost- that of the pilot's life.


With these dark overtones to the series, comparisons to Evangelion are well-founded. Zearth has a rounded, more organic design than "traditional" giant robots, and the enemies also vary wildly in shape and abilities. The pilots also have different approaches to their role, and the range of characters is one of the best points of the series. Despite not reaching quite the dizzying level of complex theological conspiracy that Evangelion manages, Bokurano also takes an impressive turn around halfway through, evolving from an above-par giant robot show to something altogether more interesting. I genuinely didn't predict many of the revelations in the plot, which is fairly unusual for me, and really shows the strength of the writing.


Although the overarching plot is exceptionally good, the real attraction of this series lies in its characters. With 15 children, not to mention other side characters who are later introduced, you would probably expect the show to fall apart under its own weight. But impressively, it manages to give a good insight into all of the children, and their many different backgrounds and motives. Early episodes follow a similar formula, in which we delve into the life of the chosen pilot, view some significant flashbacks and a bit of their daily life, before they take the controls of Zearth, and pass away. All of the characters are interesting, and although some of them are inevitably a bit stereotypical (the politician's daughter, the emo kid, the caring orphan who looks out for his siblings), they are portrayed in a way that doesn't feel too old. Also, the show is unafraid to kill off characters. This is fairly unavoidable if your plot revolves around people paying with their lives, but there are more deaths than just the contracted children, and fortunately they serve to enhance the story.


Given that they advertise themselves as creators of "digimation", you would expect GONZO's CG work to be fairly impressive. Zearth and its opponents are all quite obviously rendered digitally, and show a good amount of imagination and detail. Fight scenes are fairly well animated, although mostly consist of Zearth bashing its foe in a strangely comical manner. You would expect a giant robot to have some sort of guns or lasers, but the beams are only used occasionally. The rest of the animation is solid, maintaining a level of fairly average detail. The odd scene (especially when showing cars moving) is a bit shoddy, but it's always made up for by a particularly good scene, usually within the same episode. The art style itself is slightly unusual, and some have accused it of being overly basic, but I found it appealing and fitting for the series.


The sound in Bokurano is again solid. My favourite bit is the "woo" sound that Koemushi makes as he flies around, although I'm sure it's the same sound Chise makes in Saikano (another GONZO series, so that's probably not a coincidence). Background music is fine, though not really memorable. The only piece that really stands out for me is the opening, Uninstall, by Chiaki Ishikawa. It's a pretty funky song with downbeat, yet oddly uplifting lyrics (or maybe that's just me...) and sets the tone for the series pretty well. Also, make sure to pay attention to the opening animation, because it's composed almost entirely of clips taken from the show, although some are slightly edited to avoid spoilers. If you're watching the show and think "now where have I seen that image before?", it was probably in the opening.


I haven't read the original manga, but the ending of the anime deviates from it. The director, Hiroyuki Morita (you might know him as the director of The Cat Returns) disliked the original story, and requested permission from the author to alter the ending. In my opinion, the show ends in a slightly predictable, but fitting way, and I'm definitely going to seek out the manga to see how that goes.


As far as I know, Bokurano hasn't been licensed for distribution in the West (although FUNimation sent out C&D letters regarding it). It's a real shame, as this is a series with intelligence, warmth and originality. If you have the chance, I would definitely suggest that you check it out.

Overall rating:
4 - 4 - 5 - 2
15/17 - Fantastic

Xam'd: Lost Memories review

There's something about adventure series that really appeals to me. Perhaps it's that the technical aspects are generally impressive; imaginative locales, sweeping musical scores, and usually a couple of well-detailed fights thrown in. Or maybe that the viewer is usually presented with a wide, varied cast of characters, whose plights and agendas, whilst conflicting, are able to provoke empathy and understanding. Or perhaps it's just that, well, everyone loves a good adventure, and no matter who you are, deep down we all wish that we could just leave our everyday lives and set off on some grand adventure of our own.


Regardless, I knew as soon as I heard of it that Xam'd: Lost Memories was going to be a show that I'd have to at least check out. After hearing a little more about it- and having it compared to such titles as Last Exile and Eureka Seven- there really didn't seem to be an excuse not to look at it any more.

If you want the short version of this review, then my advice is this: Xam'd is one of the best adventure series I've seen in a while, and you should seek it out. If you want a little more detail, read on.

Please note that this review will contain spoilers, all the way up to the end of the series. If you want to avoid them, please skip to the ending paragraph. And I advise that you do; it's a pretty good story.


The story opens in a strange hall, with ponds and waterfalls running throughout. A group of white-haired children stand before an old lady, who fishes a strange green object from a jar, and feeds it to one of the children. It soon cuts to a ship, flying through the clouds. A red-haired girl seems to be conducting some sort of experiment on board, growing strange creatures from seeds. A woman sits reading poetry, until she notices a fleet of ships coming up from behind. The ship- revealed to be a postal ship- prepares to take action, but they opt instead to land and avoid any hostilities. The nearest suitable location seems to be Sentan Island, and the crew prepare to land. The red-haired girl, Nakiami, mounts a smaller craft and takes off to scout ahead.


Next, we see a teenaged boy, Akiyuki, getting ready to leave for school on Sentan Island. As he leaves, his mother reminds him to deliver his father's lunch. It seems his parents are separated, but they still remain on good terms with one another. He delivers the lunch to his father, the island's doctor, and runs to catch the bus to school, managing to arrive in the nick of time, much to the consternation of his friends Furuichi and Haru. In the queue ahead of him is a white-haired girl, who isn't wearing the regular uniform, nor the armband that is required to board the bus. Akiyuki manages to trick the guard, and the girl gets onto the bus. As they are travelling along, we hear a little about the world; Sentan Island is essentially a neutral zone between the warring North and South continents.


Soon they reach school, and people start to disembark, but the girl pulls out a bomb and detonates it, exploding most of the bus and sending people flying. A strange light hovers above the wreckage, and shoots into Akiyuki's arm. He climbs into the wreckage of the bus to search for the white-haired girl, and finds her dying at the back of the vehicle. The wound on his arm grows into a blue jewel, and as the dying girl touches his forehead, a white mask envelops his entire face. His arm suddenly expands, becoming white, and a white liquid gushes over his entire body, as spines erupt from his back. Within moments, he has completely transformed into a monster, coloured white with orange markings- Xam'd. As Haru and a soldier clamber aboard to come face-to-face with Akiyuki's new form, a group of ships hovers overhead, and releases giant, house-sized objects that fall down towards the island.


And so the first episode ends, with a sizable chunk of plot to digest and a fairly gripping cliffhanger. In the next episode, the airdropped objects are revealed as giant "Humanform" weapons, and they target Akiyuki. But just as Akiyuki is destroying the Humanform, Nakiami appears and spears him through the arm. As he reverts back to his original form, she carries him back to the ship, and there begins to treat his arm.

I won't go into too much detail with the story, as there is so much to cover. We follow Akiyuki, as he travels the world, learning what it means to be Xam'd, and what his new purpose is. Losing his identity, and finding it again, he realises what he has to do in order to defeat the Hiruken Emperor, the mysterious leader of the North.


Sentan Island becomes occupied, and Haru and Furuichi join the military. Haru is determined to find Akiyuki again, and devotes herself to his memory. Furuichi is certain that Akiyuki won't return, and, as Haru fails to respond to his advances, begins to harbour hatred towards his former friend. Furuichi was also embedded with a Hiruko- a seed that grows into Xam'd- but nurtured with hatred, it turns him into a crazed monster. This leads to a fantastic showdown between Akiyuki and Furuichi, which ends with Furuichi recognising his sins and worthlessness, and choosing instead to end his own life. Without sounding overly morbid, this particular scene was fantastic.


Nakiami eventually returns to her home, Tessik, hidden away in the North. Here she meets her half-sister, Kujireika, who became the head of the village in Nakiami's absence. Kujireika has developed a way to artificially become Xam'd, and demonstrates it to devastating effect, but it still is not enough to save Tessik when the South invades. As with Furuichi, hers is a story of downfall, although this time with redemption in sight.

As for Nakiami herself, her journey takes her to the same place as Akiyuki; the Quickening Chamber. This vast cavern is filled with people waiting for their souls to be saved, and they all await the arrival of Lady Sannova, the mysterious woman whom we saw right at the start of the series; the originator of all Xam'd. We learn about Nakiami's past, and how she found that she was unable to serve Sannova.


Honestly, I've only started to describe the amazing sequence of events that Xam'd: Lost Memories presents us with. I haven't even mentioned the stories concerning Akiyuki's parents; about how his father comes to terms with the man whose life he saved becoming a cruel killer, culminating in another fantastic scene. The story of how his parents learned to see past their differences, and returned to one another was also touching, because it didn't feel contrived or forced, it was just a story about ordinary people getting past a difficult time in their relationship.


In fact, I would probably say that the scene in which Akiyuki's father finally confronts Commander Kakisu (the aforementioned man whom Akiyuki's father saved; also the head of the occupying force) contains one of my favourite parts of the series. A very simple shot, of the lone man walking amongst gravestones in the early evening light, overlaid with simple piano music, somehow becomes strangely powerful. It's a fantastic cut leading up to the inevitable conflict, and I rewound it several times.


The story climaxes in a battle between Akiyuki- whose soul finally merges with the Hiruko to produce a proper Xam'd- and the revived Hiruken Emperor, in the skies above the Quickening Chamber. After a brief but fierce battle, the two stand face to face, and Akiyuki gives the Emperor his own name. In doing so, he frees the Emperor from his loneliness and confusion, but sacrifices his own identity to do so. Lost once more, he falls down to the top of the Chamber, and his body turns to stone.


In the epilogue, we have a "nine years later" scenario, which reminded me of the end of Gurren Lagann. This is because it gives a good sense of resolution to most of the characters, but also because it delivers an ending that people will either understand or hate. Having passed the stone remains of Akiyuki's body, Haru reaches the top of a hill overlooking Sentan Island. Here she discovers Akiyuki standing there, and is they are finally able to tell one another "I love you". Now, since we have already seen Akiyuki's death (and indeed, his fossilized body moments previously), this scene is clearly open to many different interpretations. Was it Haru's imagination? Did Akiyuki somehow come back to life? Did his memories take form? However you interpret the answer, it is a fitting end to the series (and there may be a small clue nearer the start of the last episode).


Comparisons, then, with Last Exile seem well-founded. There is the same sense of grand adventure, with flying ships and mysterious white-haired groups presiding over a world split between two warring factions. However, again like Last Exile, there is a lot that isn't explained in Xam'd: Lost Memories. If you want closure on everything you see in a show, then this will definitely irritate you. But as for me, I think it is to the show's credit. After all, the people we follow aren't gods or even leaders; they are just everyday people, caught up in events far grander than themselves. How can they be expected to know about every last detail of their world? It's a show about their personal stories, their struggles and triumphs; not a story about the world. Although there were a few things that left me confused, I've been able to reflect on this show for hours, and it is the hallmark of a such a great series that I myself have put- have wanted to put- just as much into my experience of this show as the creators have. Something that can keep you thinking long after the ending credits roll- now that is surely a fantastic series.


The art in this series is at once arresting and appealing. Animated by BONES, the studio responsible for such series as Fullmetal Alchemist and RahXephon, the style is refreshing, shunning stereotypical "big eye" anime styles for something a little more mature and realistic. Well, as real as flying ships and people turning into giant monsters can be, but you know what I mean. Characters are varied and easily distinguished, without being too over the top (about the most outlandish feature is Nakiami's red hair). The background art is similarly impressive, with detailed, imaginative scenery. It's clear that a lot of work has gone into designing an entire world, and it is always a joy to watch. Recurring images and visual themes further reenforce the messages of the series, and the careful thought that went into the overall presentation is evident.


I was similarly impressed with the musical aspects of Xam'd: Lost Memories. First off, the opening theme (Shut Up And Explode, by Boom Boom Satellites) is fantastically catchy and really sets the mood for a fun, exciting show. The ending theme isn't quite as awesome, but still fits well with the series' themes. Background songs range from pleasant but forgettable, to a particularly lovely simple piano theme, which accompanies the most emotional scenes. It's not the best song ever, but it works very well with these scenes, and I'm currently seeking out sheet music so that I can learn it myself.


I can't really find any major faults with this series, yet somehow, it doesn't feel as if it deserves a perfect score. It's one of those series that has been extremely well made, with obvious love (and high production values) from its creators, and I loved every second of it. Each week I was really looking forwards to the next episode, and when it ended, I was sad to have it finish, but I also felt a sense of resolution and satisfaction with everything I had seen. And, as mentioned above, it's one of those series where half the joy is figuring things out for yourself.


Xam'd has so far only been available over PSN, in Japan and the US. I guess this probably means that Sony have the US rights to DVD distribution as well, and I really hope they or someone else bring us the DVDs of this series very soon. High-grade adventure stories such as this are always popular, and I'm sure it'd do very well.

Overall, Xam'd: Lost Memories was a truly fantastic series. Although not destined for a place in the pantheon of anime classics, it is one of the best series of the past year, and I honestly cannot find any major faults with it. Epic and sweeping, yet still personal and intimate, it shows us the wonders of both a world and a person; the joy of living; the pain of loss and the light of redemption; the importance of self and the power of self-sacrifice. But more than anything, at its heart it is, like all great stories, a simple tale of love, and ordinary people. Something that will remain with me for a long time, I fully recommend it.

4 - 5 - 5 - 2
16/17 - Fantastic

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya review

If you're reading an anime blog, chances are you've heard of Haruhi. One of the biggest recent hits from Japan, the series appeals to pretty much everyone, and has been released in fairly awesome LE sets in the US and- for once- the UK. It's big- very big. But is it actually any good?

Short answer: yes. Yes, it is very good. If you haven't seen the series yet then there's a fair chance you won't be particularly bothered, so I guess there's not a whole lot of point in my reviewing it. Regardless, here is what I think.

There won't be any spoilers beyond what you can glean from the back of the DVD cases.


The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya was originally just one of a light novel series, which became popular enough in Japan to merit an anime adaptation. Having not read any of the light novels, I don't know any of the story beyond the anime, so for all I know it might make a lot more sense if the "bigger picture" may be seen.

I'll rephrase that; the story does make sense, but feels lacking somewhat. The basic premise is that Haruhi, a high school student, is searching for aliens, time travelers, espers, anything that can alleviate her boredom. To help achieve this end, she sets up a club, naming it the "SOS Brigade", and engaging in all sorts of wacky activities. Little does she know, however, that in the SOS Brigade itself, an alien, a time traveler and an esper have gathered to monitor Haruhi.


It sounds like a lot of fun, but our protagonist, Kyon, finds it anything but. Dragged into the SOS Brigade and all of Haruhi's crazy schemes, at times it seems to him that he's the only "normal" person there- which ironically is actually the case. The truth about the others in the club is revealed to him early on, which I found refreshing- to reveal the major plot twists at the START of the story?! Having gotten the premise quickly established, the series is able to move on to more wacky hijinks and adventures, which it does with great style.


Although there is an overarching plot to the series, it mainly comprises one- and two-episode stories. They're all well done, and despite being stand-alone, frequently reference events from previous stories. With a basic explanation of the characters, you could easily sit someone down to watch Remote Island Syndrome, for example, and they would still be able to enjoy it.

However, this is also where the series falters slightly. Originally, Haruhi was broadcast with the episodes in non-chronological order. By breaking the series into many smaller stories, it would have been much easier to shuffle them up. But this also leads to a slight lack of drive and focus when the series is watched in chronological order. Episode seven was originally the last episode of the jumbled-up series, and so at that point, the awesomeness has happened and the series has reached a natural conclusion. Except you're only halfway through. The rest of the series is fun, and still worth watching, but given that you've already seen the "end" of the series, it's not as compelling as it so obviously could have been.


But you'll keep with it, if only for the fantastic cast of characters. Haruhi is loud, enthusiastic and generally a little irritating, but still a likable and fun to watch character. She finds her antithesis in Kyon, a perfectly normal boy who'd rather be left alone and not have to take part in whatever Haruhi has lined up next. It's through Kyon's eyes that we view the series, and much of the humour comes from his dry observations of the goings-on around him. The other club members- cute and innocent Mikuru; silent and detached Yuki; and the knowledgeable and intelligent Itsuki, are all rather stereotypical types to portray in this kind of show, but are played off well against one another, and rarely do they annoy too greatly. As support characters, they fit the bill perfectly, and although there is the odd situation where you're left wondering why this person didn't do something you know would have made more sense, it's never a problem.


If you're wondering about the art in this series, it's by KyoAni. If you're sitting there thinking "so what?", this means it's very good. Character designs are unique and appealing, whilst the environments are rendered in pleasing detail for a TV show. Sometimes the show breaks out what is obviously CG (I'm sure that computer effects are integrated more subtly throughout the entire show), but fortunately these moments are those that really demand something a little more out-of-the-ordinary, and end up looking spectacular. It's a first rate job, but it's a shame that the transfer on the DVDs I watched was less than perfect.


The sound in this series is also very good, with catchy, if fairly generic opening and closing credits. The ED, of course, is the famous Hare Hare Yukai, and the dance performed by the characters in the credits has become a worldwide internet phenomenon, but the song isn't all that great. Insert songs are generally good, and you'll know what's coming up whenever a certain piece kicks in.


Overall, The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya has become a huge fan favourite, and it's not hard to see why. Firmly supported by impressive technical achievements, the story is let loose to have fun and is always a pleasure to watch, even if it's not really that compelling. If you haven't checked it out yet, I would definitely recommend it.


For this review, I watched the standard edition UK DVDs released by Beez. Funky packaging immediately sets them apart, with some neat designs on front and back covers. The menus are also well designed, and the range of extras is impressive compared to some modern releases, with promo films, picture galleries, "making of" films and original TV adverts accompanying the obligatory Beez trailers. However, these discs did suffer from a less-than-perfect transfer, with colours looking a little faded at times and a fair amount of detail lost in fast-moving scenes. Despite the box art being nice, there were no physical extras at all. On the one hand, a special edition release was made to cater for that audience, but on the other, it would have been nice to have a leaflet or something in the case. There are 4 volumes, and they retail at £20 each.

Overall rating:
4 - 5 - 4 - 2
15/17 - Fantastic

Special thanks to Max in his White Room, who lent me the DVDs ^_^

ChäoS;HEAd review

A visual novel adaptation with slight harem elements that quickly develops into a low-key psychological thriller, ChäoS;HEAd is one of the more interesting series to air this past season. But despite the ambitious plot and occasional striking visual elements, it falls a little short of what it clearly aims to achieve.

This review will contain some spoilers; if you want to avoid them, please skip straight to the concluding paragraph.


Our protagonist, Nishijou Takumi, is an MMO otaku with a social life to shock even the most hardcore of anime fans. He spends every possible moment holed up in his room- which happens to be a converted shipping container on top of a high-rise block- even to the extent that he has calculated exactly how many lessons he can afford to skip and still graduate. On top of that, he has frequent delusions, the most common of which is that an anime character, Seira-tan, lives with him as his wife.

Pretty soon, however, strange events start happening in Shibuya. Several mysterious deaths have been dubbed the "New Gen" (short for New Generation) events, and most have fairly disturbing details. One evening, Takumi is playing games as usual when an unknown user called Shogun starts talking to him, and tries to send him several image files. Accidentally opening one, Takumi is horrified to see a picture of a man, nailed to a wall by dozens of cross-shaped spikes. He quickly tries to forget about it, but some time later, as he walks down an alley, a strange sound leads him to the very same murder scene he had already seen a picture of. The murderer is there too; a beautiful pink-haired girl, about Takumi's age and covered in her victim's blood.

Again, he flees, but the next day, Takumi is disturbed by the arrival of the pink-haired girl- Rimi- in his class. What's more, everyone seems to know her, and they all insist that she and Takumi have been friends for a long time.

So it continues, and more characters are brought into play. It turns out that most of the girls whom Takumi meets are known as Gigalomaniacs, meaning that they have the power to feed "delusions" into other peoples' minds, and even to make them reality. They often summon swords known as "Di-Swords" into existence, sometimes to fight with but generally for no real reason. We meet an evil organisation, Nozomi, who plan to use a machine known as Noah II to create artificial Gigalomaniacs and take over the world, and learn the terrible truth about Takumi- that he himself was brought into existence through the delusions of the original Takumi- a sickly, wheelchair-bound man who also goes by the name Shogun. Takumi must allow his Gigalomaniac powers to awaken if he can ever hope to defeat Nozomi for good.


It's very ambitious and often confusing, but most questions have been resolved by the end of the show. What started as a really interesting murder mystery with the twist that reality and memory may not actually be real, unfortunately degenerated into a "stop the evil corporation" type of plot. It still entertained, but by pinning all the blame onto one evil figurehead, a lot of the interesting setup from the start of the series was squandered.

The characters that drive the story are a mixed bunch. Takumi is understandably freaked out and wants nothing to do with the Gigalomaniacs or their fight, but it starts to grate a little when he's screaming to be left alone even when his powers and importance have been explained. Granted, most people would react in the same way, but this isn't the kind of anime you watch for realism; you watch it for the mind games and fighting.

Given the show's visual novel roots, you may forgive it for the fabulous array of stereotypes we have in the female leads. We have the old friend (even if Takumi can't remember her); the quiet, bespectacled upperclassman; the mysterious, vengeance-driven girl who gradually opens up to others; the transfer student (who can only speak to people through their minds); the shadowy but attractive girl who moonlights as the singer in a popular band; and the little sister. However, despite the painfully generic setup, they all become genuinely interesting, fairly well-rounded characters by the end of the series, and none feel unnecessary.


The art in this series is pretty average, with the occasional pretty and dodgy scenes balancing out. The character design is well done; all of the girls are easily identifiable without having any particularly outlandish features, save for Rimi's pink hair. I also really like the variety and imagination in the Di-Sword designs, most of which were fantastically impossible but great fun to watch.

As for the sound, again, it's utterly average. The OP and ED are quite catchy the first time you hear them, but by the end of the series I was skipping both. Insert songs are also fairly unmemorable; I can't remember any of them. Compared to two other visual novel adaptations this season, Clannad ~After Story~ and ef - a tale of melodies, the music is fairly lacking.

Despite these flaws, ChäoS;HEAd is still an enjoyable series to watch. I was genuinely looking forward to each new episode, and wanted to find out what would happen to everyone. Although it has several generic elements, it still strives to be original, and this sometimes helps lift it above average.

Overall rating:
4 - 3 - 4 - 1
12/17 - Decent.

Apologies for the lack of decent pictures in this review; I've lost most of the earlier episodes :(

My ratings system for reviews

This is how I will be rating the series I review:

Story / plot / characters - out of 5
Pretty obvious. The originality of the plot, the quality of the writing, how compelling it was, how engaging the characters were... these will be rated from 0-5 (with 5 being the best).

Technical aspects (art, music etc.) - out of 5
Again, it should be obvious. How nice is the art style to watch? Are the characters appealing or freaky? Is CG integrated well? Does the music fit? Is it catchy or memorable? Again, these are rated from 0-5 (with 5 being the best).

Personal enjoyment - out of 5
Even if the technical aspects of a show are fantastic, it doesn't make it an enjoyable show to watch. Poorly-animated shows with naff plots can still be great fun. So my own enjoyment of a show is rated on 0-5 (with 5 being the best).

Should you buy it? - out of 2
There are three categories here. If you need to own this, it will be rated 2. If it's worth a rent or fansubs, it will get 1. And if it's not really worth your time, it gets 0.

The score will be given as a breakdown based on these categories, and as a total out of 17.

e.g. my favourite film, 5 Centimeters Per Second, would score:
5 - 5 - 5 - 2
17/17 - Absolute perfection

Here are the general categories that will be given based on ratings:
17 - Absolute perfection - it doesn't get any better.
14-16 - Fantastic - a very good show with no major flaws.
11-13 - Decent - a good show, but by no means essential.
8-10 - Poor - there are far better ways to spend your time.
5-7 - Dire - not worth stealing. Not even so bad it's good.
<5 - Unmentionable - not worth acknowledging.