Angel Beats (Review)

Genres:Action, Comedy, Drama, School, Supernatural

What is it about?

Otonashi awakens only to learn he is dead. A rifle-toting girl named Yuri explains that they are in the afterlife, and Otonashi realizes the only thing he can remember about himself is his name. Yuri tells him that she leads the Shinda Sekai Sensen (Afterlife Battlefront) and wages war against a girl named Tenshi. Unable to believe Yuri’s claims that Tenshi is evil, Otonashi attempts to speak with her, but the encounter doesn’t go as he intended.

Otonashi decides to join the SSS and battle Tenshi, but he finds himself oddly drawn to her. While trying to regain his memories and understand Tenshi, he gradually unravels the mysteries of the afterlife.

What did I think?

So, I have put off watching this for a long while now. Mostly because I hadn’t found the right mood to watch a cutesie girly school anime. I even started watching it one time, but I couldn’t get past the pink sweet intro.

Now those of you who have seen it, know how wrong I was about this. Those who haven’t seen it, just read the synopsis and you can figure out this anime is definitely NOT a cutesie girly school anime. (God, maybe I should start reading synopsizes before watching the anime 😉 )

So the whole first episode I spent mostly in utter and complete shock. But not in a bad way. Angel Beats is suspenseful, funny and even witty. Next to that, the fact that they put you on the wrong track with the title, poster and intro is amazing.

I absolutely loved the second episode. It was the right balance between funny and suspenceful and I loved that one from start to finish. I think that episode is one of the best episodes I’ve ever seen. (Once again helped by the fact that you just didn’t suspect it).

I do think the second episode is the highlight of this anime. Don’t get me wrong, the anime is still good after that, just not as amazing.

I would give this anime 5 stars, but they kinda lost me around episode 10. All the characters made a complete switch in what they believe in and for some characters this is believable, but for others it’s just a stretch too far.

So in conclusion 🙂 Good anime, amazing plot, strong start. Anime would be utterly amazing if they also had a strong finish.

Would I recommend you to watch it? Yes, it is definitely worth your time.