There comes a time when I watch a series so inspiring, so encouraging, so well written, that I can simply just watch it and enjoy the pureness and goodness of the show. Eureka Seven is surely that show, at least for me, and I can consider it my number one anime of all time.
I believe that many of the anime watching community has been calloused by the incredible amount of new titles coming out ...
There comes a time when I watch a series so inspiring, so encouraging, so well written, that I can simply just watch it and enjoy the pureness and goodness of the show. Eureka Seven is surely that show, at least for me, and I can consider it my number one anime of all time.
I believe that many of the anime watching community has been calloused by the incredible amount of new titles coming out every month, and we've become very jaded by the complexity, ridiculousness, and just overall length and quantity of series out there for we the consumer/viewer to partake in and enjoy. Eureka Seven does one thing well that I have seen many anime series do well, and that is be consistent with its content each episode, yet also at the same time moving the story along in a timely yet effective manner to get the most significant emotional response from the viewer.
Now for the specifics of this review when it comes to Storyline, Music, Characters, and Animation.
Storyline:
An intricate love story between two fantastic characters Renton and Eureka. One is a simple human being who is essentially picked up in the beginning, and one is an incredible new being, a foreign presence that is learning by its interactions in this new world that she is in, their relationship culminates in an incredible storyline that paces well with the length of the show, and also brings humanity and the viewers back to a simpler time of love between two partners, a love that is not hindered by the standard "like like", "likes" "like like likes", and the ridiculous back and forth interaction that you see in modern romantics. This simplicity gives the a viewer a new perspective on how love should be, a love that is established by intimate interactions and expanded upon by efforts of heroism, bravery, and courage from both of the two main characters.
Combine this with mecha, incredible drama, a war between humanity and aliens essentially, and you got Eureka Seven. The entire pacing of the show is fluid, and each new episode is an expansion on a character, the whole Gekko crew is filled with color and life, and each person on the ship has their own life and mystery that gives you a curiosity to find out more about each crew member. Despite it being an organized guerrilla movement in essence against the world, the interactions between the characters do not show its seriousness that much, many times humor is well placed and gives solace to the viewer that the show has a balance of elegant drama that moves along the plot, while simple comedy and minor laughs are good breaks during incredible times of solemn and serious moments in the story.
However Eureka Seven does not just focus on storyline, but it heavily pushes boundaries in the fields of this review.
Music:
The music in Eureka Seven is one of the key highlights of the entire series. In fact almost every episode in Eureka Seven is titled with a song name whether by a Japanese artist or foreign artist. The focus on good music really drives this show along, the somber tones that are heard during serious moments, or the light hearted sounds that create a sense of peace for the viewer just establishes this show as one of the best musically. Each opening and ending fit well according to the storyline at the time, and personally I've even downloaded and bought each of the songs for my own personal enjoyment.
The focus on music in Eureka Seven is very encouraging for me, the fact that many anime series in 2011 and possibly in 2012 will have incredible storyline, characters, and animation, but will fall flat on its face when it comes to music discourages me heavily. It's incredible that this anime released in 05 hit all the key essences in music, and incorporated it so well to make the series even more convicting and more heartfelt for me as a viewer just brightened my day every time I sat down to watch the series. Essentially the music is incredible, you will not regret the sounds and tones heard not only by your ear, but also felt by your heart.
Characters:
I somewhat elaborated on this in the storyline section of this review, but I will hit on some key points. Each character has their own personality, while true Eureka and Renton are the focal points throughout this show, some of the characters in the story have deep pasts that are explored every now and then throughout the series. While I would've preferred a much more in depth analysis of Holland and Talho, Eureka Seven ends their story on a somber note, you know enough, but you want to know more, but it is not a necessity for the viewer, and that's when you know that this story has hit perfection, when for a viewer you are satisfied, but would like more if there was something out there.
This perfection attained is an incredible thing, and is only built by the colorful cast of characters, and they are truly a driving point throughout the series and will remain a memory in any viewer.
Just seeing Eureka grow as a person from this quiet and serious individual to this vocal, loving, and caring young women that she was meant to be as she spends time with Renton is incredible. Her interactions with Renton build her as a character, and the story moves so well with her progression as a new life form that has so much more to learn about this new world her creators put her in, and Renton grows from a young child into a man who realizes that Eureka is his other half, the other half that he needs to live well, and he would sacrifice anything for her well-being. Their story alone should be enough, but Eureka Seven goes much more beyond that, and the storyline is impacted so heavily by the incredible complexity and details incorporated into this fantastic show.
Animation:
Bones is incredible, animation is fluid even for its time, action is solid, and its beautiful. What else can I say it looks great for what you got, and with the series having been animated since 05, and Bones' track record for its anime, I have full confidence in saying even for new viewers in these years of 2011 and 2012, you will regret nothing picking up this show if its for the animation.
Final Say:
I loved this anime, maybe I am a bit biased, but you will enjoy it. If you want something that will touch your heart and potentially even teach you a life lesson, WATCH THIS.
Thanks for reading and I hope this was helpful.
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