Subject to change. Or maybe not. Depends on whether I missed something or if I'm unhappy with this. But I doubt it. I don't wanna spend too much time mulling over something so stupid after all. OP is over powered, for some of you who are unculturized.
Satelight brings you Spring 2013's most brain-dead, cringe-worthy, head-bangingly stupid anime. Trust me folks, you may want to have a bottle of aspirin before watching any of this crap. However, for your safety, I'd suggest NOT watching it.
That's all I wanted to say actually. But, as per custom, I'm supposed to elaborate on why you shouldn't. After all, it doesn't seem fair to the people who watched struggled through this that you avoid this show without even knowing the horrors within it. So, here goes:
Story 3/10
Alright. What really irked me about this anime is that it had freaking potential. And that potential, combined with my inability to drop anything, is what made me wade through 12 episodes of utter crap. Not going into specifics, but the story deals with two guys, one from earth and one from some generic fantasy setting, and switches the two of them from their respective worlds. Both of their names is Arata for some reason--fate, destiny, their mothers wanted their kids to have matching names, etc. Also, by intensive evaluation, their shared name might just be the reason why the series is titled this way. The show mainly focuses on earth Arata (hereby referred to as Hinohara) travelling in fantasy-setting Arata's world.
Hinohara is mistaken by fantasy-setting people for fantasy-setting Arata, and, because the swap happened while FS Arata is being chased by evil bastards for crimes he didn't commit, Hinohara inevitably finds himself thrown into that same situation. Oh, there's also something about Hinohara becoming a Sho (some OP position), getting some cool glowy sword thing (that is OP among OP), and him trying to save Fantasy Setting World (I honestly cannot remember the name) with said glowy sword and a moe companion. Overall, it should've been pretty interesting, or, at the very least, entertaining. But no. The show tries so hard to force its characters to "grow and mature" and "change" that it becomes sickening. In a sense, they took the potential of the show's setting and its background, and traded it for some really shallow relationships, generic characters, deus ex machinas, pacing issues, and awkward interactions. By awkward interactions, I mean the "ideals" that the series is trying to present is laced throughout the dialogue, therefore making the viewer cringe. This show had potential, but wasted it.
Animation 1/10
As much as I wanted to find a solid redeeming factor in this, I couldn't. The backgrounds are dull, the character designs are dull (and too shoujo-ey), the color palate is dull, the animation is dull, even the flipping "sword fights" are dull. Hinohara's face and design is as generic as main characters get, and while the fights are somewhat fluid, they don't really do much in terms of actual "fighting".
Sound 0.5/10
With Sphere doing the opening tune, I thought I was gonna hear something really nice. But no. It turned out to be the usual adventure-themed generic dribble of an excuse for a song i.e., it did not stand out. The ending is also generic dribble. The voice acting was sub-par too, with Kotoha's constant "Arata-sama!" making my ears grate.
OH OH! In my Amnesia review, I nominated the main Heroine's seiyuu for best incoherent mumbling. Now, I'm nominating Kadowaki's voice actor for best snarling in contempt. Seriously, that's all he does. Even more annoying than Kotoha's "Arata-sama!" is his constant breathing out of "Hinohara!". It's as if people need to be reminded that he absolutely hates this guy. HE REALLY HATES HIM. SO MUCH. No, it's not that he likes him or anything like that (kyuun!)
Characters 0.5/10
Hinohara. How I hate thee. Your beliefs are making me wretch. You don't realize it, but you just basically want people to believe in you more. You don't want to grow. You just want attention, and bonus points if that moe girl would like you. You don't deserve her though, you spineless shrimp. You're a pimple on the ass of society, a horrible excuse for a man, a fumbling idiot that's so dense, your friend wants to kill you because you couldn't take a hint nor take 3 seconds to explain the situation to him. All you spew out during your hero talks are just meant to make you feel better, kuuso mushi.
But don't think that you're better though, Kadowaki. Your convictions are shallower than a puddle after rain. I hope you rot in the deepest bowels of hell.
As for all of you generic side characters, you all suck. You have nothing to make you stand out, just like the MC. Continue sucking up to Hinohara for all I care. Also, take care of your bonehead leaders, since your world revolves around either spineless, or bitter emo idiots. Kotoha, if you could maybe lower your voice pitch down a bit so that it doesn't sound like a five-year-old's and stop being so sickeningly devoted to your master and Hinohara, that'll be great.
Overall: 0.5/10
It pains me that this might actually have a second season. Really. That would mean I would have to watch it because the ending doesn't solve shit and 'cuz of that I'm genuinely curious as to whether the main characters would fail fantastically.