Rahxephon Review
By iarly
Rahxephon Review
BONES
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Plot Synopsis
No plot synopsis or other information available for Rahxephon
Story & Characters
I would give it an 11 if I could! This has to be one of the best anime shows I've ever seen. I was so tensed, thinking that this was going to be another wonderful anime with a mediocre ending that I actually cried after the scene after the final credits (yeah, trust me and don't get up when the credits begin to roll in the last chapter). Because it was so good! This might be not your kind of stuff if you don't like mecha, or if you are a rabid fan that compares anything mecha with Evangelion. Trust me again, this is everything Eva should have been. And the very top of my list!
Characters. In them lies the true beauty of RahXephon. Kamina Ayato is one of the best portrayed mecha piloting teenagers I've ever seen. Forget about over angsting and hentai behavior. This is a normal guy in extraordinary circumstances, and a great chara at that. The other highlight of the show is Shitow Haruka. She is, in one word, lovely. Emotional, but not overly so, she's the lady I want to be when I grow up! Not to mention the rest of the cast, equally well portrayed, so that they feel like close friends.
At this point, some people might be scared at the plot thickness. It's true. There's a plot (thank God) and it's rather heavy, so if you don't want to commit all your attention here, better stay away from this title. You'd be missing one of the best anime series ever. And no, I'm not gonna give you spoilers. That'd be a crying shame.
- Rating
- 10 (excellent)
Art
Superb, specially for a TV series. Visually stunning, with a quality that goes beyond originality of mecha design and well done action scenes. But believe me, this series is not about the art, even if there's eyecandy for all. And no fanservice. It doesn't need it. Everything is in the right place. If there should be a blazing sky, it's there. And if there should be a common country background, it's there too.
If you are willing to forget Evangelion (and I have to admit, I so wanted to), you'd barely notice the rather subtle similarities in mecha design. Only in Rah itself. You won't find those similarities anywhere else. Other than that, you'd see original stuff here. As well as awesome animation, great chara design and detailed backgrounds.
- Rating
- 9 (very good)
Sound
Well, this is an anime that deals a whole lot with music. And very successfully, you can write that down. So much the score has an stellar role. Yoko Kanno strikes again!
As with the rest, the music seems to appear always in the right place. Grand scores for very tense moments blend with more fast, upbeat sound when the action requires it. You just can't help but notice the music, since is not one you can ignore so easily. To say that certain mechas are named after certain music related items should be more than enough to understand how important and relevant is the score in this anime.
The voice acting is high up the standard set by japanese industry. Saying
anything else would be redundant. But I think Aya Hisakawa deserves a special
mention. Her performance as Haruka must be one of the best of her (successful)
career. Another special mention for Mayaa Sakamoto, who seems to turn every song
she vocalizes into a golden hit. I know for sure that "Hemisphere",
RahXephon's opening, has been on my favorite playlist for months.
- Rating
- 9 (very good)
Presentation
No, there's nothing simple in RahXephon. Nothing is clear or straighforward, except the fact that there's more than the eye meets. You've got to pay attention, or you'll miss insignificant details that migh give you the keys to the greater misteries. I have to admit, I love the kind of anime that makes you think, that keeps you alert. If this is your dish, then go ahead. You won't regret it. Nothing I'd say can actually describe the experience per se.
I watched this show in a few hours. Just couldn't get up my chair. After I was done (and left with a very satisfied smile) I let it rest for a couple of days and went all over it again. And I liked it even more, if possible. If that alone is not enough to speak for RahXephon, then I don't know what else could.
- Rating
- 9 (very good)
Final Verdict
9.33 (very good)
Reviewed by iarly, 2y 44wk ago
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I wonder, did anyone else notice that the name of RahXephon itself us a juxtaposition of two great gods of the ancient world? A combination of Babylonian and Egyptian deity. It was interesting to see the symbolism from that. I was just wondering if anyone else caught that?
I have enjoyed this anime. A pity it wasn't really recognized cause some branded it as an Evangelion clone. The end was really open and I think it let the viewers speculate a little about the story.
But I haven't seen the movie... even if I like "Tune the Rainbow".
I have watched that anime 3x and the ending is the perfect ending you could have imagined. No BS guys in most anime either the protagonist dies or one of his/her friends dies or worst case senario everyone dies lol but anime ends perfectly thats why i give this anime a perfect 10.
I agree with you on every word you said and thx for the review its brilliant...:)
You know, what started out as a random connection of mythology is turning into a passion here. (Who wrote RahXephon?) Anyway, whoever did, obviously did some research into some of the great Western literature. This is absolutely fascinating. Xephon/Zephon is one of the archangels from Milton's paradise lost, the interesting thing being that Milton thought that music is what kept the universe going. That nature would fall apart into its separate pieces if music weren't their to govern and unify. This is really cool.
this one was pretty good, almost as good s 3\/@l\lg3l_!0l\l
never seen the series...but it seems really ncie from your review! =D i'll watch it!
Great review, RahXephon is really a great show ^^
Nice review iarly. I've only seen the movie so far but I can't wait to get my hands on the series. I hate people saying that a series doesn't deserve a perfect score though. Why would a perfect score exist if it were not possible to reach. Do you want it to be there just for false hope. Why don't we just make it so the top score is 9. But then wouldn't 9 be a perfect score instead. Just because it is not perfect in your mind does not mean that nobody else can see it as perfect.
no things can be given a perfect note!
it all depends on how u see what u are gradeing not on what others see.
you are right Iarly, Rahxephon is one of the best meka anime that I ever seen (and it will remain my fav)
)
people can like it or hate it..and I don`t think that u exagerated with anything
hmm don`t understnad why people resemble it with Evangelion..I personaly dislike Neon Genesis Evangelion (it is interesting..but not my type of anime
ohh well this is my opinion
Yep, I'm agree that nothing is perfect in this world, but I think people have a right to really love anime, right ? So I think score 10 isn't wrong. She really likes this anime (the story, I mean). I myself love this anime too, and for me, score 10 really suit for Rahxephon.