Katanagatari is the story of a sword - a man without humanity. It's a story of revenge, of the meaning of fighting, of love and triumph, of hate and loss. And what a story it is.
Story: 7/10
Katanagatari's actual plot is solid. While it isn't the most original or the most well written (it can get confusing at times, especially near the end and the importance of "history"), it's enjoyable to watch. The ending, however, is bittersweet at best and completely heartbreaking at worst, though I won't spoil anything.
The plot actually takes a back seat to characterization, which is where the show truly shines.
Characters: 10/10
Nearly every character introduced has an origin, a reason to fight, regrets, ambitions - all of it. They're some of the most human characters I've ever seen in visual media, let alone in an anime. And with the show residing firmly in Gray And Gray Morality territory, they're even more believable. Honestly, sometimes it's hard to decide which character to root for during a fight - and sometimes the character who should win is an antagonist.
Shichika's characterization is also some of the best I've seen, and it's central to the story.
Music: 8/10
Nothing revolutionary or special, but it matches the show well and it's played at just the right times. The Scare Chord/suspense music/title card music definitely does its job.
Art: 10/10
The style used in the show is original and unique. It's pretty different from the norm, and there's a good amount of both Scenery Porn and Scenery Gorn.
Final Thoughts: 8/10
Katanagatari is a unique experience. It's an action show that isn't based on the action (though that's not to say that the action isn't exciting or enjoyable); instead, the show is based more around the individuals it introduces and the effects of revenge, history, and overall humanity on those characters. And the ending of the show will leave you in a strange combination of sadness and complacent happiness. The art style is gorgeous and something you won't see anywhere else. Katanagatari is a great show and definitely made itself one of my favorites. I'd definitely recommend it.
Characterization at its Finest
Katanagatari is the story of a sword - a man without humanity. It's a story of revenge, of the meaning of fighting, of love and triumph, of hate and loss. And what a story it is.
Story: 7/10 Katanagatari's actual plot is solid. While it isn't the most original or the most well written (it can get confusing at times, especially near the end and the importance of "history"), it's enjoyable to watch. The ending, however, is bittersweet at best and completely heartbreaking at worst, though I won't spoil anything.
The plot actually takes a back seat to characterization, which is where the show truly shines.
Characters: 10/10 Nearly every character introduced has an origin, a reason to fight, regrets, ambitions - all of it. They're some of the most human characters I've ever seen in visual media, let alone in an anime. And with the show residing firmly in Gray And Gray Morality territory, they're even more believable. Honestly, sometimes it's hard to decide which character to root for during a fight - and sometimes the character who should win is an antagonist.
Shichika's characterization is also some of the best I've seen, and it's central to the story.
Music: 8/10 Nothing revolutionary or special, but it matches the show well and it's played at just the right times. The Scare Chord/suspense music/title card music definitely does its job.
Art: 10/10 The style used in the show is original and unique. It's pretty different from the norm, and there's a good amount of both Scenery Porn and Scenery Gorn.
Final Thoughts: 8/10 Katanagatari is a unique experience. It's an action show that isn't based on the action (though that's not to say that the action isn't exciting or enjoyable); instead, the show is based more around the individuals it introduces and the effects of revenge, history, and overall humanity on those characters. And the ending of the show will leave you in a strange combination of sadness and complacent happiness. The art style is gorgeous and something you won't see anywhere else. Katanagatari is a great show and definitely made itself one of my favorites. I'd definitely recommend it.