Monday, February 20, 2006

Shuffle!



Shuffle!: 24 Episodes at 22 minutes apiece
Genre: Love-Harem-Romance

Art and Animation: 4
Story and Plot: 4
Characters: 4
Sound Design: 4

What an amazing anime series. A harem drama with heart and one that gives this old and stale genre new energy and vigor.

Rin Tsuchimi, a high school student, is staying with his childhood friend Kaede. She takes care of Rin because both his parents and Kaede's mom died in a car accident. One day, the lord of the demons and the lord of the gods show up at school declaring that Rin gets to choose one of their daughters - Nerine the daughter of the demon lord or Sia the daughter of the lord of the gods - to marry! Rin gets chosen because in the past he helped both Sia and Nerine get out of some trouble. The basic plot is that Rin is the boy who gets to choose to be either a God or a Demon, with all the powers that come with that!

There is much more to the story than this. The first ten or eleven episodes will feel like the typical harem show, but once episode twelve hits everything changes. This show becomes dark fast. Every character has something that has happened in their past and it all comes back to the present. I was surpised by some the issues brought in this anime. Abortion, cloning, trying to create an ultimate life form. Rin, Kaede, Nerine, Sia, Asa, and Primula are the main girls of the story and each has a reason to want to be with Rin.

Obviously, the story is better left for each person to discover. But, in a switch from most harem shows this one has a definint conclusion. Rin does choose one girl to be with. He is also a dynamic character which means he learns and changes as the story advances. All of the girls look great and each offer Rin something different. The girl he chooses in the end is the right choice as she is
the one who changes him the most. She is also the one who more than the others pushes him to believe in himself. You will never suspect who that girl is from watching the first few episodes either.

The animation is great and quite consistent throughout. Colors are bright and rich and each character has a distinct look and feel. It is interesting to note that Rin looks like a normal guy. In most harem shows the main male lead is weak and pathetic looking. Rin in contrast is strong and good looking. The females are all beautiful and have the usual big breasts of most anime women. Panty shots and bare breasta are a common feature, but not overly done.

The sound design is great. All of the music fits perfectly well. Happy tunes when everything is going well and sad and down tone music when problems arise. The opening and ending songs are the same throughout and are well done. Nothing absolutely amazing, but all of it fits in very nice. Voice acting is also on par. Everyone has a distinct voice that goes with their characters. The females have the most acting and it is all convincing.

In the end, Rin has a lot on his plate to handle. This show quickly became one of my favorite anime ever. A great series, and one worth watching for fans of the genre and those who have already giving up on the genre. This one will steer you back into watching for more great harem shows.

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