okami31

I dropped this anime after about 8-10 episodes, even though it had a promising, dark first episode.  The problem was that very soon it just settled on the average, typical anime tropes instead of providing something new.

WHAT’S GOOD?

The animations is pretty good for the most part, but in some episodes they get budget-conscious.

The story is interesting enough but it is very reminiscent to "Bleach".  It has monsters that regular humans cannot see, and these monsters go around consuming people's souls or essences.  There are especially-trained warriors that come to our world to do battle with these monsters in order to keep the balance between dimensions.  The main character gets paired-up with a pint-sized female monster-hunter that fights with a katana (Rukia anyone?).

WHAT’S BAD?

The relationship between the main characters is typical anime.  She knocks him around and acts weird whenever there's any semblance of an emotion between them.  I guess this passes for humor but when I've seen it 500 times, it is just tiresome.

The fights are not good.  Yes, there's plenty of magic and abilities and names for them all, but they show it with zero consideration for actual tactics, combatant's positions, etc.

For example, in one big fight with a boss-like character, the enemy kept shooting volleys of energy blasts, and how does the battle-damaged heroine kill him? She charges right at him and cuts him down with her sword.  Yep, that's it.  Disregard ranged attacks vs. melee attacks, straight-line charging vs. variable and aimed distance attacks.  Sigh.

So if the fighting is not good, what's left in this anime to consider?

The relationship between a flat-chested female warrior and a puny teenager male? The ever-present high school sub-plots? The obscure make-it-sound-cool terminology?

Nope.

RECOMMEND?

I'd rather keep to my "Bleach" and "Naruto" that waste my time with this me-too fantasy anime.  

But hey, if you are looking for an average anime that does nothing new, then by all means.  You might enjoy it.