I went into this one excited. I had heard that this anime series had a reputation. Although I didn't know much more than that. I was expecting a dark cyberpunk story with some over the top gore and violence, and I was even kind of looking forward to that. Upon completion of the series however, all I can do is sit here and ask myself what the hell did I just watch?
I'm not saying that because I'm shocked. The shocking parts were actually some of the better parts. No the question arises from the fact that between those brief moments of cool scenes and well animated insanity, is a story and plot that less unfolds so much as, oozes. For most of what I've sat through I was just sitting there staring at the screen half bored and half wondering what it's actually going on? And why is it happening?
The story is completely jumbled & disjointed to the point of being entirely incoherent. It just doesn't make sense. Things just seem to happen for no reason at all. The action scene seem to come out of nowhere. And you'll be happy for them because you'll hear that exciting theme music play And you'll see some cool stuff, but even the action sequences seem to just jump all around and kind of happen way too fast.
In short, well there are some forward-thinking and compelling aspects to the story, none of that ever gets fleshed out and in fact what we get is told to us in little bits and pieces that are never even connected directly. Characters just enter and leave the story. There's no real character growth or depth or meaning to anything. There's no sensible arc from the first part of the series to the end. And I have no idea what even happens in the end. I literally just watched it and I have no idea what happened. The good news is, you can expect that there will be no spoiler in this review. The bad news is is that maybe that's a spoiler in and of itself: surprise this anime is about 80% confusing nonsense.
And it's too bad. Because even the stuff that's good here comes across as just hollow and pointless. There is some truly disturbing scenes of body horror that makes Akira look tame by comparison. Even the parts of the story that feel like they could have been lifted out of Akira had some fresh twists that could have been The foundation of an interesting story. But there really isn't much of a story. Let alone characters to drive said story.
Sadly, I would never want to rewatch this. Although if I were ever in a conversation about some of the most messed up things ever animated there are a couple things in here that might make me search for a scene on YouTube. But otherwise this whole thing was like a fever dream and not in a good way.
Oh well.
I'm not saying that because I'm shocked. The shocking parts were actually some of the better parts. No the question arises from the fact that between those brief moments of cool scenes and well animated insanity, is a story and plot that less unfolds so much as, oozes. For most of what I've sat through I was just sitting there staring at the screen half bored and half wondering what it's actually going on? And why is it happening?
The story is completely jumbled & disjointed to the point of being entirely incoherent. It just doesn't make sense. Things just seem to happen for no reason at all. The action scene seem to come out of nowhere. And you'll be happy for them because you'll hear that exciting theme music play And you'll see some cool stuff, but even the action sequences seem to just jump all around and kind of happen way too fast.
In short, well there are some forward-thinking and compelling aspects to the story, none of that ever gets fleshed out and in fact what we get is told to us in little bits and pieces that are never even connected directly. Characters just enter and leave the story. There's no real character growth or depth or meaning to anything. There's no sensible arc from the first part of the series to the end. And I have no idea what even happens in the end. I literally just watched it and I have no idea what happened. The good news is, you can expect that there will be no spoiler in this review. The bad news is is that maybe that's a spoiler in and of itself: surprise this anime is about 80% confusing nonsense.
And it's too bad. Because even the stuff that's good here comes across as just hollow and pointless. There is some truly disturbing scenes of body horror that makes Akira look tame by comparison. Even the parts of the story that feel like they could have been lifted out of Akira had some fresh twists that could have been The foundation of an interesting story. But there really isn't much of a story. Let alone characters to drive said story.
Sadly, I would never want to rewatch this. Although if I were ever in a conversation about some of the most messed up things ever animated there are a couple things in here that might make me search for a scene on YouTube. But otherwise this whole thing was like a fever dream and not in a good way.
Oh well.