Reminiscence, a prequel OVA (of sorts) to the Rurouni Kenshin series (a.k.a. Samurai X) happens to be one of the highest rated animes of all time. AnimeNfo has it ranked at the No. 1 spot (for quite some time now).
Is it a surprise then, that I find it to be one of the most overrated? Never mind the high ratings and the fawning reviews. I think Reminiscence has its fair share of flaws.
But first the good things about it, or why it is rated so highly: It's visually brilliant. Animation wise, it's exceptional and probably the most beautiful anime I have seen yet. Then again, it's easy to put so much concentration into this series since it's quite short.
Character development is a plus here too. I found that the main characters were developed quite well (considering the short time). The music is quite nice too. If not a little too dramatic, at times.
And what of the story? Plotwise, it has its moments. But overall, one can't help but feel how unoriginal (or perhaps, unremarkable) this whole thing is. I won't reveal the plot, but suffice to say it uses a lot of overused story elements.
This is not bad if you can make good use out of those cliched formulas. But the show in a sense struggles to do so- at times it succeeds, at others it just sinks into formula.
A few other notes: Lots of graphic violence here, certainly more graphic than the other Rurouni Kenshin series. As for swordfights, don't expect any elaborate ones (including all sorts of esoteric fight moves we've come to see from that other series). That said, it has its fair share of battles. I must say, it's not that bad. But it could've been better.
Oh yes, and there's a convoluted romance. Supposedly to make it more interesting. All it does is to make it a little more complicating, as one tries to figure out who loves who (and hates who).
And while Reminiscence is good, it is not that good.
Is it a surprise then, that I find it to be one of the most overrated? Never mind the high ratings and the fawning reviews. I think Reminiscence has its fair share of flaws.
But first the good things about it, or why it is rated so highly: It's visually brilliant. Animation wise, it's exceptional and probably the most beautiful anime I have seen yet. Then again, it's easy to put so much concentration into this series since it's quite short.
Character development is a plus here too. I found that the main characters were developed quite well (considering the short time). The music is quite nice too. If not a little too dramatic, at times.
And what of the story? Plotwise, it has its moments. But overall, one can't help but feel how unoriginal (or perhaps, unremarkable) this whole thing is. I won't reveal the plot, but suffice to say it uses a lot of overused story elements.
This is not bad if you can make good use out of those cliched formulas. But the show in a sense struggles to do so- at times it succeeds, at others it just sinks into formula.
A few other notes: Lots of graphic violence here, certainly more graphic than the other Rurouni Kenshin series. As for swordfights, don't expect any elaborate ones (including all sorts of esoteric fight moves we've come to see from that other series). That said, it has its fair share of battles. I must say, it's not that bad. But it could've been better.
Oh yes, and there's a convoluted romance. Supposedly to make it more interesting. All it does is to make it a little more complicating, as one tries to figure out who loves who (and hates who).
And while Reminiscence is good, it is not that good.
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