My goodness, what an interesting show this was to watch. Had many good qualities and bad qualities and plenty of fan service. I can't say that I am disappointed in the slightest, especially with the great ending it had.
Shy, timid Himeko happily attends school with both the popular and beautiful Chikane and her childhood friend, Souma, blissfully unaware of what's in store for her. Howeve, the destiny of these three changes on Himeko's 16th birthday when the mark of the sun appears on her chest. What does this solar mark represent? At the same time, why has a black aura of agony burst forth from Souma? Who is enemy? The legend of the eight-headed beast returns to Japan! Once again sounds like a very interesting story and it really was. Fantasy Meets Mecha, with a touch of Horror and plenty of romance, and enough melodrama to make it a soap opera. Now I thought the romantic intrigue was a very nice touch but what I didn't like was the beaten down love-web, which seems to be so persistent in romantic Anime. In a romantic comedy it can work but Kannazuki is a dark romance drama, which means adding the love web and throwing in the maid to be apart of it, is a pathetic attempt to add comic relief when it's really not needed. It is important to try to add some light material but not so much that you scream botched writing and desperation. Despite some of the over-dramatic dialog even for a show like this, it's really a wonderful story and a decent one, pretty clever. The genre mixes went well, even when you throw in the giant robot, it seems to work.
Acting for the most part is quite mixed, decent and mediocre at the same time. Now Himeko's voice sounds a little spacey and a little scratchy at times as well. Almost like the VA's is trying to do a high voice. While Jennifer Sekiguchi certainly makes for a lovable Himeko acting skills is something to be desired for her. However her co-star Michelle Ruff does wonders with Chikane. Ruff brings out Chikane's many characteristics in the best way. The sweet as honey Chikane, the elegant Chikane even the dark and evil Chikane. Ruff once again proves her self to be a voice actress of many talents, and as I said before she did wonders with this character. The other cast is also fairly mixed, decent and mediocre at the same time. With some notables such as Sandy Fox, Melissa Fahn, Kate Higgins, and others, they shine in their roles as the evil orochi. Steve Staley makes for a great Souma Ogami, who brings out the words of compassion for Himeko.
The musical score was one of the finest scores for an Anime series of this genre that I have heard. With all the places it could have gone including ditching out altogether, it was refreshing to see a lovely score. However there were some minor problems with it. The cues were a tad predictable and like some of the dialog made it feel very melodramatic. But really that was the only flaw to it, so non the less it had a wonderful feeling to it. The themes I think were somehow fitting. The opening was a very heavy techno-j-pop style and it just seemed to work. Overall my hat's off to Mina Kubota for writing a wonderful score.
The animation and style was very beautiful in this. Dark tones and bright tones all mixed together splendidly. The giant robot to each character (with the exception of Miyako and Gorochi) are beyond wonderful. Chikane's eyes also stand out to me, they are like two deep pools full of thought.
Overall this is a worthwhile series, so give it a shot.
Shy, timid Himeko happily attends school with both the popular and beautiful Chikane and her childhood friend, Souma, blissfully unaware of what's in store for her. Howeve, the destiny of these three changes on Himeko's 16th birthday when the mark of the sun appears on her chest. What does this solar mark represent? At the same time, why has a black aura of agony burst forth from Souma? Who is enemy? The legend of the eight-headed beast returns to Japan! Once again sounds like a very interesting story and it really was. Fantasy Meets Mecha, with a touch of Horror and plenty of romance, and enough melodrama to make it a soap opera. Now I thought the romantic intrigue was a very nice touch but what I didn't like was the beaten down love-web, which seems to be so persistent in romantic Anime. In a romantic comedy it can work but Kannazuki is a dark romance drama, which means adding the love web and throwing in the maid to be apart of it, is a pathetic attempt to add comic relief when it's really not needed. It is important to try to add some light material but not so much that you scream botched writing and desperation. Despite some of the over-dramatic dialog even for a show like this, it's really a wonderful story and a decent one, pretty clever. The genre mixes went well, even when you throw in the giant robot, it seems to work.
Acting for the most part is quite mixed, decent and mediocre at the same time. Now Himeko's voice sounds a little spacey and a little scratchy at times as well. Almost like the VA's is trying to do a high voice. While Jennifer Sekiguchi certainly makes for a lovable Himeko acting skills is something to be desired for her. However her co-star Michelle Ruff does wonders with Chikane. Ruff brings out Chikane's many characteristics in the best way. The sweet as honey Chikane, the elegant Chikane even the dark and evil Chikane. Ruff once again proves her self to be a voice actress of many talents, and as I said before she did wonders with this character. The other cast is also fairly mixed, decent and mediocre at the same time. With some notables such as Sandy Fox, Melissa Fahn, Kate Higgins, and others, they shine in their roles as the evil orochi. Steve Staley makes for a great Souma Ogami, who brings out the words of compassion for Himeko.
The musical score was one of the finest scores for an Anime series of this genre that I have heard. With all the places it could have gone including ditching out altogether, it was refreshing to see a lovely score. However there were some minor problems with it. The cues were a tad predictable and like some of the dialog made it feel very melodramatic. But really that was the only flaw to it, so non the less it had a wonderful feeling to it. The themes I think were somehow fitting. The opening was a very heavy techno-j-pop style and it just seemed to work. Overall my hat's off to Mina Kubota for writing a wonderful score.
The animation and style was very beautiful in this. Dark tones and bright tones all mixed together splendidly. The giant robot to each character (with the exception of Miyako and Gorochi) are beyond wonderful. Chikane's eyes also stand out to me, they are like two deep pools full of thought.
Overall this is a worthwhile series, so give it a shot.
