Arata the Legend - Reviews

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.

Spring 2013 Anime Review - Arata Kangatari
- potential, but too cliche
- voice acting isn't bad, soundtrack overall is good
- really wish this got more money poured into, or a better director
- "annoying misunderstanding issue"
- 2 pairs of rival dualism is kinda cool
- Looks like Naruto has made eye trading a "thing" now -.- I do however like how the iris changes back
- Kadowaki broke out of the water prison so late when the spell released itself so long before
- LOL wtf, Kotoha climbed the fissure/mountain without help or gear np to hug Arata and so quickly too. Big plot hole.
- Got some minor InuYasha-level eye candy out of the show at least. Kadowaki's reasoning to be the villain is almost as bad as Sasuke's though...
- The climatic ending was like 5 minutes of footage haha…
- If there is another season, I can see it being better but still not all that great...

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UPDATE: Anime-Planet has removed the Blog feature where this post was originally published on March 23, 2014. I pulled the scores from my ratings, although this is NOT a formal review. Think of it more as “thoughts on…<anime title>”. I wrote my thoughts out as I progressed through the series, so contradictions may occur as my opinion shifts. To shorten the post I took excerpts from the original. Sorry for any inconvenience and please leave your thoughts below! :)

2013 Spring Anime Reviews:

• Attack on Titan - http://www.anime-planet.com/users/triviper/reviews/14071
• Gargantia - http://www.anime-planet.com/users/triviper/reviews/14072
• The Flowers of Evil - http://www.anime-planet.com/users/triviper/reviews/14073
• Arata the Legend - http://www.anime-planet.com/users/triviper/reviews/14074
• Devil Survivor 2 - http://www.anime-planet.com/users/triviper/reviews/14075
• HENNEKO - http://www.anime-planet.com/users/triviper/reviews/14076/
• Karneval - http://www.anime-planet.com/users/triviper/reviews/14077/
• Photo Kano - http://www.anime-planet.com/users/triviper/reviews/14078
• RDG - http://www.anime-planet.com/users/triviper/reviews/14079
• Crime Edge - http://www.anime-planet.com/users/triviper/reviews/14080
• Valvrave S1 - http://www.anime-planet.com/users/triviper/reviews/14081

Lame. Not worthy of time (not for me at least). The story was quite interesting, but, that idiot female mc, kotoha, ruined the anime for me! I hated how she acted clingy towards that b*stard arata. I don't know why, but i like him; he's kinda cute and i like to see him with other bishounen, but... ugh, I just hate, hate her a lot. Since I became a fujoshi, I started hating idiot female characters. But there are some who ARE clingy and too naive. Hmph. 

Anyways, last words, words... 

DON'T WATCH THIS TRASH GO WATCH ANOTHER GOOD GOOD ISEKAI ANIME IF YOU LIKE ISEKAI. another...

DON'T WATCH THIS IF YOU WERE HERE FOR BL OR YAOI, whatever. Because you're just gonna end up disappointed like me. meh. I didn't complete this anime yet but i'm just reviewing it already cuz i'm too pissed. i didn't find the BL, THE MOST WANTED THING I CAM HERE FOR!. However, My suggestions would probably only work for a few fujoshis who only have an interest in bl pairs and loath straight couples, then I highly suggest not to watch it. 

Overall, I'm not insulting this anime but just a bit sharing my disdains... i couldn't keep up that stupid, ugly, kotoha and arata romance... ew.

This was a fairly good anime. I like this anime because it had a good story line to it. What confused me was that the one main character going back in time. However it is still really good. I like the animation of the anime because it is good. This anime also had good setup of the coflicts, however the resolutions might have need just a little more work to them. The characters of this anime had very good details to them as well as the scenary. I like the music in this anime because the songs did not over power the voices of the characters. I also like the voices of some of the characters. The characters of this anime where well developed. There was also good "relationship" development between some of the characters.

Story: I don't like this show so I'll throw in as much tastefully foul language and references to male private parts as possible while remaining my usually coherent self. Now, it isn't solely due to the pussy protagonist who is as manly as a sack of air and candy bar wrappers or the fact that I couldn't give a rat's ass about what was going on or how his arch nemesis Douchefuck is a complete and utter douchebag, not all of those but all are part of the many, many problems of this cliched shitstorm.

I guess I better start off somewhere, as in the premise. I'll be spoiling some shit, but it's kinda predictable shit. Really predictable shit. Me and Hasse were watching it together because misery loves company and we could predict most of the shit that would happen because holy balls it follows so many rules in the book. Contrived coincidences, bad sense of time later on, lack of suspense and suspension of disbelief. Predictable plot progression, some completely dumbshit moments that are a punch to the balls because they are not only coincidental but the fuck man. It sometimes gets so aggrivatingly stupid that it hurts.

Premise, right. Wussy guy is bullied by this guy he used to run with. Doucheguy, as I've mentioned before. Doucheguy does some shit to his friend who is a total tool and deserves to be punched repeatedly in the face, regardless if he wears glasses or not. This friend, he's not really a friend because he's a complete and utter bitch. So, we feel bad for Arata, and I really don't remember what happened because who pays attention to that shit? Plot? Fuck that. He switches places with this guy who happens to share the same name and they go to the other's respective worlds. The rest of the premise deals with... this historical history crap, all sorts of... words and shit. I don't do that. Basically shit just got real in Fantasy World and Wussy Arata is tasked to save it because everybody else is either a dick, a regular human or a total douchewad. Or Fabulous, I'll get to him later.

I didn't really explain anything much but the premise is nothing special. It progresses nicely for the first few episodes or in random spurts but quickly goes to shit. All sorts of dumb fucking shit starts to happen and people actually trust this complete and utter pansy ass bitch Arata to save the world and shit. And don't get me started on the shit that happens later. Predictable, cliche, stupid, contrived, a total dick punch move, horrid lack of empathy, irregular developments or lack thereof, dropped plot points and I really didn't give two shits before long. My mind even fuzzed over some of the dialogues and speeches.

Punches were made, and half of them were towards myself.

Animation: First off, there's this seriously fabulous, gorgeous guy later on. You'll recognize him by how fab he looks. And his weapon. Guy's just amazing, and his city? Faaaaaabulous~ Everybody else is a pig compared to him. Stupid clothing design because who wears a sleeve detached from the shirt? It's like Tidus and his half shorts. And White Hair doesn't even wear a shirt, only a vest to show them abs off. But shoulder/arm pit fetish abound, especially with Purple. That has nothing to do with anything but I really shouldn't give too much of a damn about what goofy clothes foreign worlds wear.

What I should is the special effects, or the shitty ass fire effects. Which were shit. Just plain atrocious, completely terrible. Water magic is no better but I guess actually is, hard to do worse than that fire. Except for Arata's light magic holy sparkles of golden showering. It looks bad, kinda funny at times and isn't a good use of the budget. But the dark magic, that was entertaining. Purple is a good evil colour. The character designs range from fabulous to generic to crap to I got nothing.

And points to the EP's beings clawing up at the hole where the sun shines. Artistic and stuff. Totally irrelevant though because it has nothing to do with the plot.

Sound: OP? So-so. EP 2? Crap compared to EP 1. EP 1, that's my shit right there. That's my fucking shit because that shit fucking rocked. Damn good stuff that made everything else look like shit and thus, BGM is serviceable and voices aren't outstanding, not that I can remember them or anything.

Characters: Oh god. Not again... Captain Fabulous, he's great. Best character of this shitfest. And Maid, she's awesome. Adorably clumsy and honest. There's also Arabian Prince, Green, and Hephaestus who is a forger. I only remember Arata (Wussbag) and Arata 2 (Other Arata) and no other names, Shizou might be one but I don't know who. Names aren't important. A lot of them aren't even likable, some of them not even memorable. Hell, one time I was surprised at this total tool just stepping up and saying some shit because I literally forgot he was there. I actually forgot he was there two minutes ago. The fuck kind of characterization is this? Characterizashit is what.

Arata, he's a wuss. Total nancy boy. I can rage about his candy assiness for a paragraph without delving into his power of defensive light because he's too much of a pussy to get some offensive magic to lay the beatdown on some bitches but you know I hate him. There's also the fact that development for other characters are either irregular, crap or they're just such douchebags that you don't give a shit about it. I'm glaring at you doucheguy.

TL:DR, I didn't give a shit outside of a few, a lot of them minors.

Overall: To sum up, it's fucking shit. Shit progression, fucking shit characters for the most part, cliche storm, shit storm, bad effects, lack of suspense and excitement in general and I didn't enjoy myself watching it. Bet it gets another season.