'K', an anime with Ups and Downs but ultimately enjoyable.

Written by Lord_Shiki on January 5, 2013 at 7:58 AM

Taken from my account sttaarr on Anime-Planet.

***Warning, this review contains spoilers!***

[Subtitles] 4/10

Anime-Koi is a total joke. For the entire season they got the first line of the OP wrong, and lines from the chorus. There were probably things wrong in the dialouge, too. BAD SUBBERS.



[Story] 8/10



Somewhat generic to start with (mysterious power? Sudden magical girl appearance! People attempting to kill the main character for seemingly no reason?!)

But soon enough twists and turns and various other cool things to make it interesting.

Especially in the final few episodes (11, 12, 13), where it really got going!



Negatively, however, there was some fanservice, some blatant (nude scene with Neko on Shiro's bed) and some more subtle (casual shot up all the school girls' skirts...)



While I think nearly all anime will have some form of fanservice (take Final Fantasy legend of the crystals for example) I don't think there was really a need for there to be a naked girl. Neko could have been exactly the same ditzy kawaii catgirl she is, with clothes on... I felt that was completely pointless!



Also, the fact that Shiro kept blushing at Kuro is annoying.

Either make it Shonen-ai, or don't put that kind of thing in there. Because many people will see that and say something along the lines of 'EW gay anime they're all gay ew' and will then not watch the anime, and also may very well tell all that they encounter about this supposed 'gay anime'.

(and the misinformation will just go on forever)



[Characters] 8/10

At first, Shiro really annoyed me. (Especially because his VA is the same as Italy from Hetalia, that bugged me a lot). But his happy go lucky and carefree attitude grows on you.

Neko, seemed like nothing more than a nude catgirl, for fanservice, and she didn't have a very large role until about halfway, and then again near the end... I think she could've have a stronger role than she did.

Kuroh was a very interesting character. At first, he seems like your generic, cold, badass guy with a sword, but then you see him chasing after Neko and Shiro, and cooking, and with his recorder listening to the quotes of Ichigen. In a way, it's kind of cute.

Mikoto, Munakata, and all of HOMRA and SEPTER 4. There are many small tales and stories woven through all these people, their relationships and interactions, etc.



[Art] 10/10

Not going to skirt around it; Easily, the art is the best part out of the entire thing!

And certainly I'm not going to deny that it was one giant piece of eye-candy; what with the rich backgrounds, detailed, well... everything, and the nice coloring.

There was one thing, though, that did get on my nerves.

Every fight scene involving the psychic energy. They dimmed the screen down.

Why? It seems rather pointless, and for me, it ruins the flow.



[Sound] 8/10

The background music was very nice. There were a few themes that got repeated, but they weren't repetitive or boring, so that was alright.

The opening and ending themes were both very nice (Angela <3), but the ED was pure fanservice; I felt it was unnecessary.



[Ending] 7/10

I felt that the ending was kind of weak. It was left pretty much open with a cliffhanger, and some things were just flat out left unresolved.

(HOMRA? Colorless King? Shiro? Neko? Kuro? And what of the other two kings that weren't even shown, yet must exist because there are seven kings total?)

I do think, however, that it was entirely planned for there to be two seasons. They couldn't possibly have left so many different loose ends and not have planned for another season.



[Overall] 8/10

Overall I really enjoyed the first season of 'K'.

It had it's ups and its downs, though for me the ups were greater than the downs. I look forward to the next season, whenever it is released.