Aldnoah.Zero

The eleven-episode series raises doubts about its association with Urobuchi, as it presents a simplistic mecha battles with a primitive premise, lacking the intricate themes, well-developed characters, and unexpected deaths often found in Urobuchi's works. It is only in the final episode, during its last minutes, that the distinct Urobuchi elements finally emerge, leaving me with a sense of fulfillment. Unfortunately, this revelation comes too late, as the preceding episodes were tedious and filled with unnecessary mistakes. As mentioned earlier, the show's plain and basic theme, along with its linear storyline, prompts the question: Couldn't they have expanded the narrative or introduced some plot twists? Why were only a handful of teenagers, along with a few adult Japanese characters, tasked with saving the entire Earth? Could they not have crafted more engaging characters? Instead, the characters conform to familiar archetypes: the fearless and "overly expressive" tough guy protecting a noble yet naive girl, destined to experience romantic sparks; the avenger seeking justice for a loved one's death; and the undecided character torn between joining different sides.   The abundance of action scenes, although excessive, often lacks clarity and suffers from choppy execution. The production studio attempts to generate suspense through characters mumbling orders and pleas, but this approach misses the mark. The soundtrack fails to enhance the tension, relying on recycled ideas or music reminiscent of the composer's previous works, other anime, or Hollywood action films. Hiroyuki Sawano's instrumental compositions often feel repetitive or recycled, reinforcing the notion that his strengths lie in writing for his select group of singers, as his instrumental pieces often lack originality. Despite these flaws, the series does have a few commendable aspects, such as the impressive opening theme song by Kalafina, a couple of vocal tracks from the OST, well-designed characters, captivating artwork (with the exception of occasional jarring CGI), and an intriguing ending. Out of curiosity, I may check out the beginning of the second season in January, hoping that the creators successfully build upon the ending of the first season; otherwise, I will be greatly disappointed. Update: Unfortunately, my hopes were dashed. The promising cliffhanger at the end of the first season turned out to be a mere ploy, as the first episode of the second season indicated that it would likely continue the same uninspiring and lackluster trajectory as much of the first season. Consequently, I am officially done with this show, and I give it a one-star rating. I strongly advise against watching it unless you are a fan of simplistic and uninteresting anime that features poorly developed characters in mechas trying to save the world from an alien threat. (04/10/2014)