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D.Gray-Man

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Discuss the completed anime or post full reviews here. Post format and full rules can be found here.
__________________________________________

Another slight edit, sorting out a few more bits.

Story: 7/10

Like all standard action-packed shounen shows, D.Gray-Man focuses on the age-old struggle between good and evil – nothing new there then. In this case, evil arises in the form of the Millennium Earl who intends to use his army of ‘Akuma’ – demons – and the powerful Noah Clan to bring darkness upon the world. Fighting against him are the Exorcists of the Black Order, who each play host to a fragment of the ‘Innocence’ – mankind’s only weapon capable of defeating the akuma.

The series starts out slowly enough, following its central protagonist, fifteen year-old Allen Walker, from his arrival at the Black Order and through his various assignments. Initially the show centres on fighting akuma and investigating paranormal occurrences linked to missing Innocence fragments. Though the beginning of the series had me hooked, only when its central plot emerges, does D.Gray-Man truly get a chance to shine.

D.Gray-Man creates a feeling of unease by including surprising plot twists, which shatter the preconception that the ‘good guys’ will always win. Removing the certainty of the protagonists’ victory creates a more compelling narrative, allowing the series to maintain its viewers interest. Unfortunately the series’ best material only manifests itself during the second season (episodes fifty-two onwards). One or two less than stellar filler arcs precede this and, in particular, I found myself regularly stalling during the Lulubell storyline. However, make it through the twenty-odd episodes of filler and a reward of the impressive Edo and Noah’s Ark saga prove well worth the wait. One reason for this comes from the fact that none of the battles drag on for longer than two or three episodes, a stark contrast to other shounen series like Naruto, Bleach, and especially One Piece. By condensing the action into fewer episodes, each fight creates a more intense atmosphere and makes for captivating viewing.

The balance of comedy and kick-ass action demonstrates another positive aspect of D.Gray-Man. From the jokes surrounding Allen’s relationship with Cross to ‘Komurin II’ rampaging through headquarters, in allowing the drama of the story to mix with some genuinely humorous moments, the series succeeds in providing all-round entertainment.

D.Gray-Man’s biggest disappointment is its lack of resolution. Though it is foolish to expect a full conclusion considering that the manga is still ongoing, as a viewer I felt the series left too much unexplained. Adding to my frustration, I found that even during the final set of closing credits I was adding to my number of queries! While it guarantees that I will watch any future series, this does not excuse the lack of fulfillment it leaves.

Animation: 8/10

With splendid animation such as the activation of Allen’s cursed eye and the realistic movement demonstrated in fight sequences, D.Gray-Man’s characters receive an added vibrancy. The series’ visual design, while pleasant to behold, remains standard and provides no innovative style. Nevertheless with its smooth motion and agreeable character design, D.Gray-Man provides a pleasing ocular experience.

Sound: 8.5/10

The voice acting perfectly fits each character and brings out the various aspects of their personalities.

D.Gray-Man’s handful of opening and ending themes work nicely with the series, often choosing an upbeat rock track to open and a soft, gentle song to close. This nicely mirrors the harmony between action and emotion portrayed throughout the series. Accompanied by a wonderfully orchestral score, the series’ soundtrack leaves very little to complain about.

Characters: 8/10

D.Gray-Man’s cast improves upon an already captivating (well, for the most part) plot. Displaying a medley of different personalities, the majority of the characters are complex. Most demonstrate contradictory personality traits, such as sociable Lavi who bears the lonely fate of a ‘bookman’. This makes them more intriguing, with the exception of Lenalee who, as the series’ weakest character, takes on the role of ‘the nice one’.

The Millennium Earl is one of the most intriguing characters in the series and on the surface he merely resembles a portly old man. This harmless façade makes him appear a feeble villain, but this is where D.Gray-Man’s excellent characterisation comes in. While his grandfatherly exterior encourages a sense of security, the occasional glimpse of his terrifyingly evil eyes, which hide behind glasses, remind viewers not to get comfortable.

Alongside D.Gray-Man’s impressive characterisation comes equally impressive development. Throughout the series, most of the protagonists face their own personal hell. These individual struggles allow each person to evolve and while demonstrating nothing new, this development effectively executes itself within a limited time rather than stretching across two to three hundred episodes. Following these gruelling trials in a more condensed time frame results in a greater emotional investment in this small group of exorcists.

While these concepts of contrasting personality traits, personal improvement and the seemingly harmless antagonist feel exactly like the clichéd cast expected of any action-based series, the show’s characters do not seem that generic. By not overemphasizing their flaws or traumatic pasts, and incorporating them into the series’ laudable plot and darker tone, D.Gray-Man’s characters gain an unexpected freshness.

Overall: 8/10

Though not perfect, this anime has many positive attributes, which compensate for the tedious filler episodes and the series’ lack of complete conclusion. Sure, D.Gray-Man conforms to the basic formula for its genre, but with its sumptuous myriad of characters, stimulating plot twists and striking battles, it stands as one of the better shounen series out there. So while easy to rest on the belief that ‘seen one shounen series, seen them all’, I would advise at least giving it a chance.

@_@

Holy shit.

You really did internalise all the advice. There are a few cuts and things I need to recommend when I get back from work, but on first read, it's very good. About five times better than your first reviews.

Right, done. In this review I started to focus a bit more on content.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassiesheepgirl (Post 503913)

D.Gray-Man

Synopsis, screenshots, recommendations ~ Add Recommendations

Discuss the completed anime or post full reviews here. Post format and full rules can be found here.
__________________________________________

Story: 7/10

Set during the Victorian era, D.Gray-Man focuses on the age-old struggle between good and evil. <--- So do a million other anime. Since this sentence could open a thousand other reviews, it's as useful and interesting as someone saying 'This anime has a plot'. Amend. In this case, evil arises in the form of the Millennium Earl who intends to use his army of ‘Akuma’ – demons – and the powerful Noah Clan to bring darkness upon the world. Fighting against him are the Exorcists of the Black Order, who each play host to a fragment of the ‘Innocence’ – mankind’s only weapon capable of defeating the akuma.

The series starts out slowly enough, following its central protagonist, fifteen year-old Allen Walker, from his arrival at the Black Order and through his various assignments. Initially centring on fighting akuma and investigating paranormal occurrences linked to missing Innocence fragments, only when its central plot emerges, does D.Gray-Man really get a chance to shine. The Millennium Earl aims to find and destroy the ‘Heart’ of the Innocence, thus annihilating all other pieces in one fell swoop. To do this he plans to target the Exorcist Generals – the more probable candidates for possessing the Heart. After learning of this, Allen and his group are charged with the task of locating his old master, Cross Marian. Unfortunately General Cross has no intention of letting anyone find him and in their search for him, Allen’s team stumble into several perilous situations.

NOTE: See all the bit in bold? Cut it. All of it. Not only does it interrupt the flow of your analysis, it's dry fact that the viewer will discover in due course and won't need to know beforehand. Notice, how, once cut, the 'chance to shine' links in nicely with 'DGM's narrative bears a strong capability...'?

D.Gray-Man’s narrative bears a strong capability <--- 'is capable' OR 'DGM maintains its viewers' interest with engaging fights and surprising twists.' But again, that's so generic. of maintaining interest with its engaging fights and surprising twists. Unfortunately this higher quality <--- what higher quality? You just said it has engaging fights and surprising twists, you didn't say they were better than the trillion other action-oriented shows around, nor can you claim engaging fights and surprising twists are found only in DGM, nor does engaging fights and surprising twists 'higher quality storytelling' make of storytelling only materialises itself during the second season (episodes fifty-two onwards). One or two less than stellar filler arcs precede this and (COMMA) in particular (COMMA) I found myself regularly stalling during the Lulubell storyline, which failed to capture my attention. <--- cut 'which failed to capture my attention - by saying you stalled, you already imply strongly that it failed to capture your attention However, make it through the twenty-odd episodes of filler and a reward of the impressive Edo and Noah’s Ark saga prove well worth the wait. Part of <--- cut 'Part of' or replace with 'One reason' the reason for this comes from that <--- the fact that none of the battles drag on for longer than two or three episodes, a stark contrast to other shounen series like Naruto, Bleach, and especially One Piece. By condensing the action into fewer episodes, each fight exhibits a more intense atmosphere <--- a fight can't exhibit an atmosphere. You're saying 'a fight showed a more intense atmosphere'. Perhaps a fight can lead to a more intense atmosphere and makes for captivating viewing.

The balance of comedy and plenty of <--- cut 'plenty of' kick-ass action demonstrates another positive aspect of D.Gray-Man. From the jokes surrounding Allen’s relationship with Cross to ‘Komurin II’ rampaging through headquarters, in allowing the drama of the story to mix with some genuinely humorous moments, the series succeeds in providing all-round entertainment.

D.Gray-Man’s biggest disappointment is its lack of resolution. Though (it is) foolish to expect a full conclusion considering that the manga is still ongoing, as a viewer I felt the series left too much unexplained. Adding to my frustration, during the final set of closing credits, which show the fallout from the series’ final battle, I found that instead of reducing my number of queries, I was adding to them! <--- very bitty, makes for awkward reading. You could swap fragments around to avoid the commas: 'By the end, I found that I had more questions than I did at the beginning!' OR 'By the end, instead of reducing the number of questions I had, DGM left me with more!' While it essentially <--- cut 'essentially' guarantees that I will watch any future series, this does not excuse the void of unfulfillment left by an abundance of unanswered questions. <--- cut 'by an abundance of unanswered questions'. Maybe end the sentence with: 'does not excuse the unfulfillment/void of fulfillment/lack of fulfillment it leaves'.

Animation: 8/10

With splendid animation such as the activation of Allen’s cursed eye and the realistic movement demonstrated in fight sequences, D.Gray-Man’s characters receive an added vibrancy. The series’ visual design, while pleasant to behold, remains standard and provides no extraordinary, distinctive or innovative <--- cut two of these adjectives - they are too similar to require all three style. Though overall with smooth motion and agreeable character design, D.Gray-Man provides a pleasing ocular experience. <--- 'Nevertheless/On the other hand/However, with its smooth motion and agreeable character designs, DGM provides a pleasing ocular experience.'

Sound: 8.5/10

The commendable <--- cut 'commendable' voice acting demonstrated in this series <--- cut 'demonstrated in this series' perfectly fits with <--- cut 'with' each character and enhances the various aspects of their personality. <--- There's something odd about your mix of plural and singular, although I'm having difficulty placing it. Also, voice acting can't enhance the various aspects of their personality - it can SHOW it. I recommend: 'The voice actors perfectly fit the characters and bring out the various aspects of their personalities.' [NEW PARAGRAPH] D.Gray-Man’s handful of opening and ending themes, <--- cut comma work nicely with the series (COMMA) often choosing an upbeat rock track to open and a soft, gentle song to close. This nicely mirrors the harmony between action and emotion portrayed throughout the series. Accompanied by a wonderfully orchestral score, the series’ soundtrack leaves very little to complain about.

Characters: 9/10

D.Gray-Man’s cast improves upon an already captivating (well for the most part) plot. Displaying a medley of different personalities, very few of the characters feel two-dimensional. Most demonstrate contradictory aspects of themselves such as lively and sociable Lavi who bears the lonely fate of a bookman, which helps add a more intriguing bearing to the series. <--- more words i.e. convolution does not make better or more intelligent English. I suggest: 'Most demonstrate contradictory personality traits, such as sociable Lavi who also bears the lonely fate of a (librarian?). This makes them more intriguing.' By the way, by saying none of them feel two-dimensional, I assumed you were saying there were so many of them that they were all one-dimensional. And yet you're actually complimenting the characters. Either change to 'one-dimensional' OR put it in the positive: 'most of the characters are complex'.

The Millennium Earl presents himself as <--- cut 'presents himself as, replace with 'is' one of the most intriguing characters in the series. On the surface he merely resembles a portly old man. He holds familial dinners for the Noah, treats Road like his mischievous grandchild, <--- who is Noah? Who is Road? and he likes to sit in his rocking chair and knit. This harmless façade makes him appear a somewhat <--- cut somewhat feeble villain, however this exposes D.Gray-Man’s adept character design <--- characterisation? to its fullest. <--- to be fair, this is a poor sentence entirely. You expose something FOR something e.g. 'this exposes DGM's characterisation for the hidden genius it is', but this would just read awkward. It's simpler to say: 'This harmless facade makes him appear a feeble villain, but this is where DGM's excellent characterisation comes in.' While his grandfatherly exterior encourages a sense of security, the occasional glimpse of his terrifyingly evil eyes, which hide behind glasses (COMMA) quickly re-iterate that the Millennium Earl earns the title of D.Gray-Man’s antagonist for a very good reason. <--- awkward 'While his grandfatherly exterior encourages a sense of security, the occasional glimpse of his terrifyingly evil eyes, which hide behind his glasses, remind viewers not to get comfortable.

Alongside D.Gray-Man’s impressive characterisation comes equally impressive development. Throughout the series, most of the protagonists face their own personal hell. In these situations, each character must gather strength and face their fears, often learning valuable lessons along the way. This allows each character to evolve, and following their gruelling trials results in a greater emotional investment in this small group of exorcists.

NOTE: And this is where I have great difficulty understanding your 9/10 rating. This sounds exactly like the cliche and generic cast you could get in any shounen show. They have contradictory personality traits, there's a bad guy who looks harmless but has evil eyes, and they have to gather strength whilst learning lessons along the way. There's nothing here that says these are the most original, most outstandingly developed, most unique and fascinating characters with such complex facets that they seem almost real. THAT is a 9/10. Either your analysis is too weak to show what makes them deserving of a 9, or you need to lower your rating.

Overall: 8/10

Though not perfect, this anime has many positive attributes, which compensate for the tedious filler episodes and the series’ lack of complete conclusion. In my opinion, with its sumptuous myriad of characters, stimulating plot twists and striking battles, D.Gray-Man stands as one of the better shounen series out there. So while easy to rest on the belief that ‘seen one shounen series, seen them all’, I would highly <--- cut 'highly' advise at least giving it a chance.

Thanks for the feedback, you really brought up a really good point about my characters rating. Thinking about it further, it's more the combination of likeable character with the situations they're in that made it good, not so much the actual characters. I got a bit muddled up on that one. I'm having another edit and i'll post the newer version up when I've done. :)

Besides the unnecessary summary of the plot, which, as VivisQueen suggested, should be completely cut, I enjoyed the review.

I did, however, think you were incredibly generous. You waded through 50 some odd episodes of filler to get to the good stuff and you gave it an 8/10 overall? You are much more forgiving than I am! Supposing I willed myself through it, I would easily be down into the 6 range. I've stalled the anime at around episode 18 and would probably give it a 6 or a high 5 if I rated it now. I enjoyed the manga much more. Given your review, it might be wise to just skip ahead the Noah's Ark... arc.

Perhaps the fight scenes aren't as long, but I would assert there are many more details that make D. Gray Man a generic shonen than set it apart from the Bleach/Naruto/One Piece stereotypes, even having read through the best parts in the manga.

I heartily agree with your discussion of the Millennium Earl, who is a refreshing, outgoing, and even silly take on the ultimate villain, a take that brilliantly serves to emphasize the moments when you can see the true evil in his eyes. However, my love for the characters of D. Gray Man halts very abruptly at that point, and I think your 8/10 rating is very generous indeed. I've seen all of the main characters of D. Gray Man not only in many other places but developed much better.

EDIT:

VivisQueen, I agree with most everything you've said except on one point. In the second paragraph of characters, you state "Who is Noah? Who is Road?". This seems rather contradictory after asking for a cut of the plot summary at the beginning. It seems cassie made the correct move of assuming the reader would already know the characters and not spending unnecessary time on plot. In the case the reader hasn't watched the anime yet, the point cassie makes is that in treating some group named Noah and some person named Road with kindness and familiarity, the Earl casts over himself a deceptive shell which enhances his character. We don't need to know who they are to understand the point of the discussion, and rather then weaken the point I believe they strengthen it by providing specific examples of what cassie is getting at.

I do see that including the names is unneeded to make the point, but in my own admittedly OCD style of writing, I always try to find examples and details of some nature to back my assertions. Without a supporting fact there is no argument. Then again, maybe that's just me.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassiesheepgirl (Post 503913)

Story: 7/10

Like all standard action-packed shounen shows, D.Gray-Man focuses on the age-old struggle between good and evil – nothing new there then. In this case, evil arises in the form of the Millennium Earl who intends to use his army of ‘Akuma’ – demons – and the powerful Noah Clan to bring darkness upon the world. Fighting against him are the Exorcists of the Black Order, who each play host to a fragment of the ‘Innocence’ – mankind’s only weapon capable of defeating the akuma.

The series starts out slowly enough, following its central protagonist, fifteen year-old Allen Walker, from his arrival at the Black Order and through his various assignments. Initially centring <--- centering on fighting akuma and investigating paranormal occurrences linked to missing Innocence fragments, only when its central plot emerges, does D.Gray-Man really get a chance to shine. <--- the last sentence is a little clumsy, it seems like you start saying one thing, and then restart what you're saying in the middle of it. Just read it over and expand a little.

D.Gray-Man creates a feeling of unease by including surprising plot twists, which shatter the preconception that the ‘good guys’ will always win. Removing the certainty of the protagonists’ victory creates a more compelling narrative, allowing the series to maintain its viewers interest. Unfortunately the series’ best material only manifests itself during the second season (episodes fifty-two onwards). One or two less than stellar filler arcs precede this and, in particular, I found myself regularly stalling during the Lulubell storyline. However, make it through the twenty-odd episodes of filler and a reward of the impressive Edo and Noah’s Ark saga prove well worth the wait. One reason for this comes from the fact that none of the battles drag on for longer than two or three episodes, a stark contrast to other shounen series like Naruto, Bleach, and especially One Piece. <-- italicise show names By condensing the action into fewer episodes, each fight creates a more intense atmosphere and makes for captivating viewing.

The balance of comedy and kick-ass action demonstrates another positive aspect of D.Gray-Man. From the jokes surrounding Allen’s relationship with Cross to ‘Komurin II’ rampaging through headquarters, in allowing the drama of the story to mix with some genuinely humorous moments, the series succeeds in providing all-round entertainment.

D.Gray-Man’s biggest disappointment is its lack of resolution. Though it is foolish to expect a full conclusion considering that the manga is still ongoing, as a viewer I felt the series left too much unexplained. Adding to my frustration, during the final set of closing credits, which show the fallout from the series’ final battle, I found that instead of reducing my number of queries, I was adding to them! <--- seems a bit of a stop-start sentence with a lot of commas in it While it guarantees that I will watch any future series, this does not excuse the lack of fulfillment it leaves.

Animation: 8/10

With splendid animation such as the activation of Allen’s cursed eye and the realistic movement demonstrated in fight sequences, D.Gray-Man’s characters receive an added vibrancy. The series’ visual design, while pleasant to behold, remains standard and provides no innovative style. Nevertheless with its smooth motion and agreeable character design, D.Gray-Man provides a pleasing ocular experience.

Sound: 8.5/10

The voice acting perfectly fits each character and brings out the various aspects of their personalities.

D.Gray-Man’s handful of opening and ending themes work nicely with the series, often choosing an upbeat rock track to open and a soft, gentle song to close. This nicely mirrors the harmony between action and emotion portrayed throughout the series. Accompanied by a wonderfully orchestral score, the series’ soundtrack leaves very little to complain about.

Characters: 8/10

D.Gray-Man’s cast improves upon an already captivating (well comma for the most part) plot. Displaying a medley of different personalities, the majority of the characters are complex. Most demonstrate contradictory personality traits, such as sociable Lavi who bears the lonely fate of a ‘bookman’. This makes them more intriguing, with the exception of Lenalee who, as the series’ weakest character, takes on the role of ‘the nice one’.

The Millennium Earl is one of the most intriguing characters in the series. On the surface he merely resembles a portly old man. <-- two very short sentences, maybe run them together? This harmless façade makes him appear a feeble villain, but this is where D.Gray-Man’s excellent characterisation comes in. While his grandfatherly exterior encourages a sense of security, the occasional glimpse of his terrifyingly evil eyes, which hide behind glasses, remind viewers not to get comfortable.

Alongside D.Gray-Man’s impressive characterisation comes equally impressive development. Throughout the series, most of the protagonists face their own personal hell. In these situations, each character must gather strength and face their fears, often learning valuable lessons along the way. This allows each character to evolve, and following their gruelling trials results in a greater emotional investment in this small group of exorcists. <-- Maybe mix the vocab up a bit, the character/characterisation is a little repetitive in that paragraph

While these concepts of contrasting personality traits, personal improvement and the seemingly harmless antagonist feel exactly like the clichéd cast expected of any action-based series, the series’ cast does not seem that generic. By not overemphasizing the character’s flaws or traumatic pasts, and incorporating them into the series’ laudable plot, D.Gray-Man’s characters gain an unexpected freshness. <-- more repetition of "cast" and "characters"

Overall: 8/10

Though not perfect, this anime has many positive attributes, which compensate for the tedious filler episodes and the series’ lack of complete conclusion. Sure, D.Gray-Man conforms to the basic formula for its genre, but with its sumptuous myriad of characters, stimulating plot twists and striking battles, it stands as one of the better shounen series out there. So while easy to rest on the belief that ‘seen one shounen series, seen them all’, I would advise at least giving it a chance.

Hope this helps :)

H.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyAce01 (Post 506768)

VivisQueen, I agree with most everything you've said except on one point. In the second paragraph of characters, you state "Who is Noah? Who is Road?". This seems rather contradictory after asking for a cut of the plot summary at the beginning. It seems cassie made the correct move of assuming the reader would already know the characters and not spending unnecessary time on plot. In the case the reader hasn't watched the anime yet, the point cassie makes is that in treating some group named Noah and some person named Road with kindness and familiarity, the Earl casts over himself a deceptive shell which enhances his character. We don't need to know who they are to understand the point of the discussion, and rather then weaken the point I believe they strengthen it by providing specific examples of what cassie is getting at.

I do see that including the names is unneeded to make the point, but in my own admittedly OCD style of writing, I always try to find examples and details of some nature to back my assertions. Without a supporting fact there is no argument. Then again, maybe that's just me.

This is, indeed, a good point and it did occur to me at the time. The thing is, you don't need five lines of dry synopsis in order to give enough details. You can easily incorporate this into the text as a (witty) aside e.g.:

Quote:

He holds familial dinners for the Noah (the troupe of heroes out to destroy him!) and treats Road, his idiotic assistant, like his mischievous grandchild.

Please note, I've not seen DGM, so the insertions about them being assistants and troups of heroes is totally made up.

Anyway, dry fact should ideally come as relevant additions to support the juicy analysis, and in small doses. You should avoid suddenly interrupting the flow of your writing with a long factual description of everything that happens. For example:

Itazura na Kiss looks, smells, and tastes like a typical shoujo. <--- subjective assertion

It begins with a cliche 'unlikely couple' scenario, where ditzy Kotoko tries to win the heart of seemingly cold-hearted Irie. In the process, she [insert tow or three key examples of generic shoujo things that happen]. <--- brief factual account to support assertion that it's typical

Nonetheless, viewers won't be able to help enjoying themselves - the comedic way in which Itazura na Kiss reworks these cliches is effective! <--- continuation of/fun twist in analysis

There is no need for me to describe all the events in the first few episodes, I don't need to mention their parents, their school, the colour of Kotoko's hair, name all their friends, go into detail of their plans etc (unless relevant).

I could not see cassie's synopsis relating to anything else in the review. Specifically, it never mentions 'the Noah' or 'Road'. With or without the synopsis, she would have needed to describe the Noah and Road.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrazyAce01 (Post 506768)

You've brought up somtething I need to mention in there actually. I didn't wade through 50 episodes of filler. The first part of the series was highly enjoyable and had me hooked, then there were 20 episodes of filler including the Lulubell arc, which was naff then after that you get to the awesome stuff. It's like, One Piece has some damn good plotlines - then you get to the Foxy arc which is terrible and after that comes Water 7/Enies Lobby - Awesome win. That's not saying that everything pre Water 7 is rubbish or filler. So I think I may have to make that a bit more clear.

As for my characters section I stand by my higher rating. I find them more engaging than other shounen casts. I may add another sentence or two in to that section and maybe cut soemthing to emphasise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VivisQueen (Post 506960)

I could not see cassie's synopsis relating to anything else in the review. Specifically, it never mentions 'the Noah' or 'Road'. With or without the synopsis, she would have needed to describe the Noah and Road.

I mentioned the Noah briefly in the first paragraph, but not in the other part. I agreed with you and cut it out after looking back and realising, yeah, it really didn't add anything to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by KiraRin (Post 506784)

Hope this helps :)

H.

Hee hee, thanks. The Naruto, Bleach and One Piece are italicised in my Word document, I just missed them when formatting the post. :baka:

Edit: Posted a new edit.

The fresh edit is good. Final niggly points below, then you can post to the site at your leisure.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassiesheepgirl (Post 503913)

Story: 7/10

Like all standard action-packed shounen shows, D.Gray-Man focuses on the age-old struggle between good and evil – nothing new there then. <--- cut 'nothing new there then' cause you've already said it's standard. This is unnecessary repetition, and cutting will allow for a smoother transition into the next sentence. In this case, evil arises in the form of the Millennium Earl who intends to use his army of ‘Akuma’ – demons – and the powerful Noah Clan to bring darkness upon the world. Fighting against him are the Exorcists of the Black Order, who each play host to a fragment of the ‘Innocence’ – mankind’s only weapon capable of defeating the akuma.

The series starts out slowly enough, following its central protagonist, fifteen year-old Allen Walker, from his arrival at the Black Order and through his various assignments. Initially the show centres on fighting akuma and investigating paranormal occurrences linked to missing Innocence fragments. Though the beginning of the series had me hooked, only when its central plot emerges, does D.Gray-Man truly get a chance to shine.

D.Gray-Man creates a feeling of unease by including surprising plot twists, which shatter the preconception that the ‘good guys’ will always win. Removing the certainty of the protagonists’ victory creates a more compelling narrative, allowing the series to maintain its viewers interest. Unfortunately the series’ best material only manifests itself during the second season (episodes fifty-two onwards). <--- this is excellent analysis. I'm finally seeing why you think this show is good One or two less than stellar filler arcs precede this and, in particular, I found myself regularly stalling during the Lulubell storyline. However, make it through the twenty-odd episodes of filler and a reward of the impressive Edo and Noah’s Ark saga prove well worth the wait. One reason for this comes from the fact that none of the battles drag on for longer than two or three episodes, a stark contrast to other shounen series like Naruto, Bleach, and especially One Piece <--- maybe add: 'which typically dedicate X or more episodes to one fight' (just so those of us who haven't watched any of those shows i.e. me can appreciate the contrast). By condensing the action into fewer episodes, each fight creates a more intense atmosphere and makes for captivating viewing.

The balance of comedy and kick-ass action demonstrates another positive aspect of D.Gray-Man. From the jokes surrounding Allen’s (bizarre? antagonistic? slapstick? cute? homoerotic? whatever relevant adjective?) relationship with Cross to ‘Komurin II’ rampaging through headquarters, in allowing the drama of the story to mix with some genuinely humorous moments, the series succeeds in providing all-round entertainment.

D.Gray-Man’s biggest disappointment is its lack of resolution. Though it is foolish to expect a full conclusion considering that the manga is still ongoing, as a viewer <--- cut 'as a viewer' I felt the series left too much unexplained. Adding to my frustration, I found that even during the final set of closing credits I was adding to my number of queries! While it guarantees that I will watch any future series, this does not excuse the lack of fulfillment it leaves.

Animation: 8/10

With splendid animation such as the activation of Allen’s cursed eye and the realistic movement demonstrated in fight sequences, D.Gray-Man’s characters receive an added vibrancy. The series’ visual design, while pleasant to behold, remains standard and provides no innovative style. Nevertheless with its smooth motion and agreeable character design, D.Gray-Man provides <--- change one of the instances to maybe 'delivers' a pleasing ocular experience.

Sound: 8.5/10

The voice acting perfectly fits each character and brings out the various aspects of their personalities.

D.Gray-Man’s handful of opening and ending themes work nicely with the series, often choosing an upbeat rock track to open and a soft, gentle song to close. This nicely mirrors the harmony between action and emotion portrayed throughout the series. Accompanied by a wonderfully orchestral score, the series’ soundtrack leaves very little to complain about.

Characters: 8/10

D.Gray-Man’s cast improves upon an already captivating (well, for the most part) plot. Displaying a medley of different personalities, the majority of the characters are complex. Most demonstrate contradictory personality traits, such as sociable Lavi who bears the lonely fate of a ‘bookman’ <--- explain briefly what a 'bookman' is. This makes them more intriguing, with the exception of Lenalee who, as the series’ weakest character, takes on the role of ‘the nice one’.

The Millennium Earl is one of the most intriguing characters in the series and on the surface he merely resembles a portly old man. This harmless façade makes him appear a feeble villain, but this is where D.Gray-Man’s excellent characterisation comes in. While his grandfatherly exterior encourages a sense of security, the occasional glimpse of his terrifyingly evil eyes, which hide behind glasses, remind viewers not to get comfortable.

Alongside D.Gray-Man’s impressive characterisation comes equally impressive development. Throughout the series, most of the protagonists face their own personal hell. These individual struggles allow each person to evolve and <--- cut 'and' and replace with a semicolon while demonstrating nothing new, this development effectively executes itself within a limited time rather than stretching across two to three hundred episodes. Following these gruelling trials in a more condensed time frame results in a greater emotional investment in this small group of exorcists.

While these <--- cut 'these' and replace with 'the' concepts of contrasting personality traits, personal improvement and the <--- cut 'the' and replace with 'a' seemingly harmless antagonist feel <--- change to 'appear' exactly <--- cut 'exactly' like the clichéd cast expected of any action-based series, the show’s characters do not seem <--- change to 'feel' that generic. By not overemphasizing their flaws or traumatic pasts, and incorporating them into the series’ laudable plot and darker tone, D.Gray-Man’s characters gain an unexpected freshness.

NOTE: You need to rework the entire first sentence. In essence you're saying 'While the concepts seem like the cliched cast expected of a series...' The cast are not concepts; concepts are not the cast. I recommend: 'While the concepts of contrasting personality traits, personal improvement and a seemingly harmless antagonist seem like cliches expected of any action-based series, the characters turn out to be anything but generic.'

Overall: 8/10

Though not perfect, this anime has many positive attributes, which compensate for the tedious filler episodes and the series’ lack of complete conclusion <--- either 'lack of a conclusion' or 'lack of completion'. Sure, D.Gray-Man conforms to the basic formula for its genre, but with its sumptuous myriad of characters, stimulating plot twists and striking battles, it stands as one of the better shounen series out there. So while easy to rest on the belief that ‘seen one shounen series, seen them all’, I would advise at least giving it a chance.

Quote:

Originally Posted by VivisQueen (Post 506960)

Anyway, dry fact should ideally come as relevant additions to support the juicy analysis, and in small doses. You should avoid suddenly interrupting the flow of your writing with a long factual description of everything that happens. For example:

Itazura na Kiss looks, smells, and tastes like a typical shoujo. <--- subjective assertion

It begins with a cliche 'unlikely couple' scenario, where ditzy Kotoko tries to win the heart of seemingly cold-hearted Irie. In the process, she [insert tow or three key examples of generic shoujo things that happen]. <--- brief factual account to support assertion that it's typical

Nonetheless, viewers won't be able to help enjoying themselves - the comedic way in which Itazura na Kiss reworks these cliches is effective! <--- continuation of/fun twist in analysis

There is no need for me to describe all the events in the first few episodes, I don't need to mention their parents, their school, the colour of Kotoko's hair, name all their friends, go into detail of their plans etc (unless relevant).

I could not see cassie's synopsis relating to anything else in the review. Specifically, it never mentions 'the Noah' or 'Road'. With or without the synopsis, she would have needed to describe the Noah and Road.

Mmhm, absolutely. Thanks for the clarification, especially the eloquent examples.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cassiesheepgirl (Post 507197)

Ah, this is clearer and makes your rating much more reasonable, although you're still more generous than I! :laugh:

"However, I would indeed like to see another example of how you liked the cast rather besides mentioning the Earl then following with a weak "and the rest was good too" bit..."

...was what I was about to say. Mentioning Lavi as justification for a higher rating yet Lenalee as justification for keeping it from higher than an 8 was a great move, succinctly done and flowing with the rest of the review. In fact, I find it an excellent example of what I just questioned VivisQueen about - a brief mention of the dry facts, but used in a manner that support the useful part of the review, rather than a standalone section that merely functions as wasted ink.

Not that we use ink. But you get the point.