For the season, ef has surpassed my expectations better than any other. It’s probably wrong heading into a series thinking, “This is going to fail, I’m gonna drop it.” I didn’t necessarily feel as so, because of SHAFT, heaven save them [ from themselves ], was the studio; I was willing to toss in the chips and my keys. Yet, my assumptions were invalid, and I love being wrong here.
I surely believed this ef would be a harem, but it’s merely a triangle and romance, interwoven with character histories. The balance of SHAFT’s random shot perspectives to standards are actually working, they make sense (opposed to Negima stuff). Aside from the usually SHAFT distractions, the animation is good, and the backgrounds are great; many skies and sunsets.
The biggest pull for my viewing is the triangle. I feel very compelled to watch, because there isn’t a “good” side to it. Kei is a naughty one, and it’s that personality which already has taken a toll on Chihiro, IMO (personality being frightfully possessive). Miyako has some sort of disorder and probably needs to join the local Shrinks4Life group; damaged goods via le parentals. Is home life truly that impactful on youthful girls? My teenage life was pretty tense; me vs the parents, but I’m not suffering from PTSD. Poor Miyako I say, she just needs some direction, but at least she doesn’t know herself to be a possesiveXdeceitful person *coughKeicough*. I dislike Kei, I won’t even pity her.
Chihiro’s story is nice, sort of mellow-down, romance plus slice. It is a bit sad, but she has sparkling moments! Anytime, she’s on Renji about kisses, etc it’s adorable! Those moments are worth 30% of the series if you ask me.
Only qualm. It’s starting to get dark and serious, the light, more tender moments are fading and the characters (mostly Hiro’s heroines) are baring all their viciousness. Chihiro is excluded from this, she is a cutie, but it’s such a downer that her world is only 12 years, 13 hours.
I’m pleased with this, very much so yaay! Yes, ef has surprised me more than any other series, but it only slightly gains on my top Autumn series.
